EVER since witnessing – as a 12-year-old – the sickening slaughter of calf by a rabbi who slit the animal’s throat and impassively watched it in its death throes, I have sworn off religiously-slaughtered meat, and have gone to great lengths to avoid all kosher and halal produce.
So you can imagine my disgust when – a couple of weeks back – the BBC Radio 4 consumer affairs programme, You and Yours, reported – in an overall tone of approval – that an increasing number of supermarkets in the UK were stocking ritually-slaughtered meat to sweeten their Muslim clientele. The programme contained not one word of criticism of this barbaric form of slaughter.
But then came the backlash. Last Friday You and Yours reported that it had received a substantial number of emails and letters from people deeply concerned that halal meat was entering our food chain. I, of course, was one of the many who emailed the BBC to complain.
According to You and Yours, halal meat “accounts for around a quarter of the UK’s meat trade”. When Muslim’s make up only three percent of the UK population it follows that a good deal of this meat is finding its way into institutional catering operations and food outlets not trading as halal establishments.
This is quite unacceptable.
Tim Buckley of Suffolk was one of those who complained to the BBC:
Nowhere was the point put that halal meat produce involves unnecessary cruelty. The animals have their throats cut when conscious ….
And Dale Godfrey said:
I think many people who quietly note the rise of in halal meat, especially in public catering, would be horrified if they realised what this meant in terms of animal welfare.
You and Yours spoke to Masood Khawaja of the Halal Food Authority, who gave an assurance that “slight electronic stunning” is permitted in halal slaughter.
The animal is only stunned to be immobilised. The animal should not be dead prior to slaughter (sic). All the flowing blood should be drained out of the animal because flowing blood is not allowed in Islam.
He pointed out that a Muslim prays over the animal at the point of stunning and slaughter.
So that’s OK then.
But You and Yours also made clear that “not all animals are stunned prior to slaughter”.
There is a debate in the Muslim community as to what constitutes halal meat. Some groups like the Halal Monitoring Committee do not consider stunned animals to be truly halal.
It is legal to kill unstunned animals in European Union countries because religious exemptions have been put in place to accommodate the dietary requirements of Muslims and Jews. This is outrageous, and just another sickening example of how groups can get special treatment simply by playing the religion card.
You and Yours asked the Food Standards Agency whether there was a requirement to indicate that meat is halal, and this is the answer it received:
If a meat product is labeled and marketed to a consumer as halal, the animal would have to have been slaughtered using this method. If the meat is not intended for the halal market, there is no law that requires the method of slaughter to be on the label.
This no doubt means that institutions such as hospitals, schools and prisons would rather ALL their meat be halal. This would be more cost effective than having to cater separately for Muslims, but such a policy is a clear violation of the rights of those who do not want to consume halal produce.
Finally, what do you do if, like me, you are passionate about curry, but don’t want halal meat?
The choice is to prepare your own, bite on the bullet and go vegetarian – or walk into a restaurant and demand pork!
According to You and Yours the majority of Indian restaurants in the UK are Bangladeshi-run, and Bangladeshis are Muslims. The programme suggested that between 70 percent and 99.9 percent of these establishments serve halal meat.
Depressing, ain’t it?
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 am
Typical – the rights of the religious are zealously protected, and the rest of us left to fend for ourselves. If atheism were a recognised religion (if you’ll pardon the oxymoron) this would never happen. Suddenly the spoof internet “religions” such as the Invisible pink unicorn or the flying spaghetti monster seem to make a modicum of sense. If these non-religions gat get the same status as religions, then things like this might get sorted….although the risk is that the non-religion becomes a religion, thus defeating it’s own objective!
P.S. keep up the good work !
Rog
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:18 am
This is part of why i went vegetarian recently. I find the whole “meat trade” be be vile. I would have no problem killing and eating, for example, a deer that lived wild and which was cleanly shot. What i object to is the treatment of animals as “products”, to be packaged, transported and treated in a way that you would never treat a human – even if they cant talk, they can still feel pain, and they can definitely feel fear. People need to consider what they are eating, rather than just seeing it as another packaged good from the supermarket
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:09 pm
More and more people of faith are moving to a place of compassion for animals. In fact, a Muslim Imam was one of over 30 faith leaders from more than 20 faith traditions who came together last year at Best Friends Animal Society in the US to initiate dialogue about our spiritual relationship with animals. What followed was, “A Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion,” unveiled last November in the historic Cannon Caucus Room at the Capital in Washington, D.C. (Visit http://www.network.bestfriends.org/religion to read and endorse the proclamation)
These assembled leaders all agreed that such things as animal exploitation, in all of its horrendouse forms, must cease. However, we must stand in solidarity and support their efforts if our voices, on behalf of the animals, are to be heard. We must be an example to the greater faith community that these barbaric rituals must cease.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I am a Muslim vegetarian, but not for the reasons of the halal method of slaughter, which is not discussed properly in this article by the author.
The method, if followed ABSOLUTELY STRICTLY would guarantee an pain-free death for the animal.
Perhaps the author should be reminded of the original rules for halal slaughter:
So what makes meat halal?
The principles of halal can be split into 3 areas;
The actual slaughter
The welfare of the animal
The state of the slaughterer.
The Slaughter
The following procedures constitute the ideal procedure for slaughtering an animal…
The animal is given a drink of water and is to be placed lying down facing Mecca
(note: how many animals in Europe are transported to Italy in searing heat without water or rest, mainly equines : Source: Viva )
The animal must be calmed (compare with animals crammed in western abattoires)
The animal is not allowed to see other animals going to slaughter or being slaughtered and ideally not let to smell other animals’ blood (again Western mass-marketed abbattoirs are the worst for separating animals).
The animal can at no time see the knife
The knife must be razor sharp
A prayer must be read and the intention to take the animal’s life for the correct reasons must be made
The neck must be slit in one clean pull of the knife cutting through the skin and oesophagus right to the back of the neck
The animal must be held securely until all life has left it.
So why am I vegetarian? I am vegetarian purely because, like the millions around the world who follow faiths OR are faithless, who do not know where their meat comes from, now abstain from eating meat. Yes, a lot of Muslim slaughterers do not follow the correct procedure above, and have become copies of their Western counterparts in selling animals for mass consumption and as commodities.
Islam is often depicted as cruel and barbaric, and this picture which looks like it has been taken somewhere in the Indian Subcontinent is typical of igniting hostility to a religion which treats its animals with respect and compassion.
I am surprised that Spain and other countries still enjoy barbaric rituals -animal cruelty purely for games and leisure, and that religions are the first to come under attack from uninformed vegetarians.
Perhaps the author should re-read a few pointers before attacking both the Jewish and Muslim faith.
I would suggest Channel 4’s Slaughter in the Abbatoir.
Sincerely
Jasmine Hadi
BBC
October 6th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
how could you?
December 8th, 2008 at 6:44 am
Jasmine Hadi mentioned the right way that should be followed to slaughter animals. I would just like to add few thoughts…
- Stunned or electrified animals are not dead, it takes up to one hour before an electrified animal is actually dead. Stunning and electricity put the brain in a coma due to errors in neuronal signals, the brain can still feel pain. On the other hand, slitting the throat stop the blood supply for the brain causing its immediate death within 3-10 seconds.
Which is more cruel?
- Blood is full of uric acid, body usually discard it and filtrate the blood through kidneys, when the heart stops the blood coagulate or get absorbed by the flesh and muscle tissues.
What would you rather eat? meat full or urine or urine free meat?
- Blood is the ideal medium for germs to live in. A piece of meat saturated with blood is even better.
What would you rather eat? Meat with germs or germ-free meat?
December 18th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
In Cruel and barberic Halal method the wind pipe get cut-off , the nerve to the Brain which is responsible for the pain
gets cutt-off and animal feels no pain at all and heart still pumps blood out of the body even after it disconnect from the Brain
.In ancient time the kings punish the criminal by placing their neck under the falling heavy large blade,which behead them in just one stroke.
In this method too, wind pipe get cut-off , nerve from heart to the brain get cut-off which is responsible for pain and Heart still pump for few second and
blood oozes out of the body.In both method the result is same.Think Technically.So why Halal method is adopted.In Halal, knife can slit the throat only
upto the Neck bone.A person holding knife can not cut the whole throat to the neck of the animal because in between strong neck bone is there.Or simply saying
he cannot behead the animal completely.So why to let the animal die with the half cutted throat ?Muslim says that after the knife’s sharp cut on animal throat
the heart has no link with the brain and it pumps the blood out of the body.In traditional beheading method same thing happens.I dont know why Halal method is
still preferred.And one more thing , can any one give the gurantee that in each Halal the Knife Cut is perfect ? or the butcher butcher is able to cut nerve from heart to
the brain of the muscular animal in just one first knife cut ?What about slaughtering the camel by Halal method ?The large SAW like weapon is inserted in the throat
of the camal horizontally ?Okay , i agreed to the Darwin’s Theory that “Survival of the Fittest “.Islam originates from Saudi Arab.Once there was just sand every where.
No vegetation at all.And muslim people are forced to eat meat by killing the animals.But now Middle-East countries are major supplier of petoleum to the whole world.
They are very rich and can import or produce any vegetation.But still they are fond of eating JUST meat by killing animals brutely..!!
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Just a comment aimed at all the “pro halal” commentators on this blog, I eat meat, and it is MY HUMAN RIGHT to choose the method of slaughter for meat produced which is for my own consumption, in line with my views the stunning is less cruel, I for one will make my views known to the supermarket chains that I will only knowingly buy NON halal meat, and in a free and democratic society surely that is my right.
If I ever found myself eating food in a government institution, such as a hospital or prison, I would want to know how my meat was produced, and would make it my business to find out.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Forget the arguments about whether Religious slaughter is cruel or not, the law in this country is quite clear about how animals are slaughtereed an exception is granted for Jews/Muslims only.
Religiously slaughtered meat should not enter the main food chain. It concerns me how places like Masala Zone and Tiffin Bites sell alcohol and do not make it clear on the “restaurant” front that they only serve religiously slaughtered meat. Surely this will attract people from outside the small minority (<3%) for which this meat is intended for consumption by. I urge everyone to contact their MPs requesting clear labelling on relgiously slaughtered meat and the venues that sell it.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
people . this is a sincere request to all . do not say or tell any one your views until you know the real truth . Yes according to many of the non muslims it is very cruel to kill animals like that. what they dont know is the real process of sacrificing the animal written in quran.if you read the quran and the hadit you’ll see how it should be really done . But not all muslims are true followers .they do a lot of things which should’nt be done. then why should every muslim and way of sacrificing be blamed. not all christians or hindus or buddhist are faithful.then why don’t you talk about their wrong actions? why only about the MUSLIMS?
There are a lot of christians who dont even believe in jesus,they are also corrupt,they are also doing the things which are not allowed in christianity.then why dont you find their wrongs? why dont you mark them as you do to muslims? why do you allow them to go away with their wrong actions so easily? Is it because of their religion? I don’t understand why are you all after islam? is it because it IS increasing its followers day by day or is it because its followers are more faithful? If you all read the quran leaving behind all your wrong thoughts about it you’ll see the truth behind actions that we do. it will most definately show you the real religio that god almighty allah has sent.but that is if you read it carefully and have the aim of learning the truth. I BELIEVE ISLAM IS THE ULTIMATE TRUTH AND SAVED MY LIFE IN EVERY WAY . THANK GOD THAT I AM A MUSLIM AND NOT A NON BELIEVER WHO IS ON THE PATH TO HELLL
January 9th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
shamita, have you actually looked at the rest of this site, you clown?
January 14th, 2009 at 9:30 am
One thing i want to tell shamit Yasna.She is saying ” I don’t understand why are you all after islam?
is it because it IS increasing its followers day by day or is it because its followers are more faithful? ”
I want to comment on this , reason why Islamic follower are increasing because they force other religions to get
convert to Islam.Even in Quran it is written, Those who is kafir (is not the follower of Allah) , Kill them all.
And second reason , people fear from Islamic violent nature.In pakistan , he who is not from muslim religion is
forced to get converted to islam.In Saudi Arab , NO one can worship his religious GODs if he is not Muslim.
YESS..IT IS DAMN TRUE.House maid complaint to the police that they worship their religion other than Islam.
Police came and throw out thier religious books and pictures.SO this is Islam Madam.I worked in Saudi Arab as telecomm
Engineer.I know this truth.In Ramadan , Muslim dont even allow other to cook food EVEN IN THIER OWN HOME…!!!
If they smells the cooking food , Then the person has to face his fate.\
we are just against killing animal mercilessly in Islam.
In our religion we have a concept of past life and re-birth in any form , may or may not be in human form.
This is true.In Islam , there is no such concept.Thats why they think animal are just animal.Even a peron might be
a an animal in his any of his past life.Yes, this is not the laughing joke.Just answere my this simple question.
If god is equal to all , he loves every human then why some only see happiness and other sorrow, why some are rich
and other are poor.What is destiny, what factor decides destiny ? Some says we face bad luck because we did some mistakes in
our present life.But this may or may not be the case.A child born paralysed or infected or suffering from brain or heart disease
right from his birth.He just entered this world and done nothing good or bad.What was his mistake then ?
when someone is helpless he or she forced to eat meat but If food is available even then
killig someone to quench thirst and hunger is not humanity.
May 29th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
this is fucked up the muslim's are FUCKED UP
June 20th, 2009 at 1:59 am
In my opinion there is no holy way to kill an animal, it cannot be justified as "religious killing" or "religious meat". If you are going to kill a sentinet being with remembering that animals have emotions, complex nervous systems, brains, eyes, many of the same organs we have, then you find the absolute most painless way, but that includes allowing the animal to have not lived a tortured life or cruel life, cramped in cages…they suffer greatly,most of the animals meateaters enjoy..if stunning is scientifically proven to create the most painless death, I agree with it then. Animals are conscious beings, and killing them while they are conscious is cruel. Though people think animals are inferior, always remember thou shalt not kill, do unto others as you would have done to you. Just because you are not a cow, sheep, lamb, does not mean you have the right to know how much pain it feels. The life of suffering for these animals prior to death, how can you enjoy your burger knowing that? there are sites that provide cruelty free, free range etc,like in USA, grassfedbeef.com
July 5th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Appreciated Juhi.Same guy with comments 24 weeks ago.
August 18th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
The Best Link For All These Discussion : –
http://www.aryasamajjamnagar.o.....een….
August 19th, 2009 at 11:21 am
In the above mentioned lines ''Those who is kafir (is not the follower of Allah) , Kill them all.'' i holy quran this words were relived during the war. Allah was making Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) to kill the kafir in the battle ground not in this earth as quran says '' those kills a man he had killed all man kind '' prophet Mohammed was a commender in that war and allah was showing him the direction please read hadith for complite knowledge of verses relived. For example in a war between two countrys like Iraq and amrica they will kill each other and they president will direct them to do so. If it would be to kill a kafir where ever you find then i think no kafir would be left as during that period islam was much powerfull. Secoundly for Halal meat this is very good and pure form of meat compare to dead animals please use your common sense. If a muslim is doing a animal halal and eating whats the problem Mr.Bush has killed more than 2cr human beings both religion people has been killed work for that which is good try to stop terror why wasting time.
HOPE A GOOD UNITY
SHAHNOOR
HYDERABAD
INDIA
August 26th, 2009 at 10:34 am
What a stupid and dangerous commentator you are. The Christians tortured scientists and pioneers who claimed the world was round and committed awful atrocities in the name of the Lord, Christian women of voting and inheritance age had no rights until the early 20th century, Catholic women no control over divorce or abortion…. I could go on…. but never in a million years would I insult another religious group. I have too much respect for other humans. Why don't you do us a favour and take your vulgar language to some website like "Ignoramusus are us".
September 20th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Best wishes
In short , some comments were anti Islam – You want us to follow your way of killing an animal – WHY should we listen to you – This way was revealed to us by the One Who created these animals. He is Almighty – God – Allah – the Omniscient –
Let scientists – check the meat – and come out with results which meat is healthier to consume.
Thanks to all objective commentators- What about hunting !! Those who say the Islamic way of killing is cruel – watch the way people hunt – or other animals kill esp hyenas .
Check this out – Muslims don't eat pigs 'cause pork/bacon/ham is full of diseases – and please study the behavior of pigs/boars.
Thanks for your time
P.S = Islam means peace – and True muslims would not harm a "fly".
They respect all religions – as long as they don't attack or harm them. fair enough !!
October 27th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Why should you listen to us and follow our way of doing things? Maybe because you are living in England? Last time I checked, this was still a Christian country! If I was in a Muslim country I would expect to follow the laws of customs of that country. I have no real problem with Muslims following their own religious practices (including Halal meat)in their own homes here in the UK, but when it is foised on to me without so much as a by your leave (I work in my local hospital which has recently announced that all meat served in the canteen will be Halal because Muslims can’t eat non-halal and the rest of can eat Halal) I draw the line.
November 6th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
I m surprised to see that people try to justify their barbaric, shameful acts in the name of god and religion….If all the creations on earth is god created, then how the hell one can take life of the other creature in the name of god…..How come someone eating animal after killing it can do something good to god….
Please do not kill animals in the name of god, the one supreme power who himself created these animals and sent on earth to live with us…then why going against god wish and kill them.
As far as Islam is concerned, it allows people to sacrifice the animals with care on EID and not everyday simple to satisfy your taste buds.
According to hinduism, buddisum, jainisum all the life’s are precious and we humans have the duty to save the life in whichever way we can.
January 4th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
hello all there and Salam,
A lot could be said on this topic…a lot more than what is said here..
the Anonymous above is surely Hindu, i believe. ” dont kill animals please, you all muslims and jews and other, cos we believe human will die and reborn in any shape…so it could be an animal….OR A PLANT TOO.. so why eat vegetables then. Dont the plants feel.they show all signs of life.so next time you eat a curry, think about about rebirth as a chilli or a potato or tomato. Infact, an experiment showed a flowers blossoming earlier than the others of same specie when a musician daily played music near by. So they have SENSES too.”
Some people went vegetarian after some horrific experience..Good for them as its better to eat vegetables than to eat some blood filled (non halal) meat which causes disease like Swine flu….and bird flu.
Since Muslims and Jews are considered to be the CRUEL PEOPLE to animals so why dont you leave them ALONE.LET THEM EAT WHAT THEY WANT, and eat what you like.they aint forcing you to eat HALAL and KOSHER. so its personal choice.when comes to hygiene HALAL / KOSHER is more beneficial than non hahal electrified meat. As a matter of fact, even imagining that blood filled meat makes me vomit….eughhh.. Since all hindus are not vegetarian, since some vegetarian do not eat potatoes, since all muslim and jews do not eat halal, since many christian dont bother about halal or non halal, Since many Christian in ETHIOPIA Slaughter the animals HALAL in the name of ALLAH and sell it to muslims, since ARAB WORLD always has been growing vegetables, more or less, & it was not the a problem to eat animals only cos of non availability of vegetables in ARAB WORLD (what do you think what animals ate those days…oy yeah…the rocks and sand..) and last but not least since EVERY ONE OF YOU was born with CANINES…so here is the biological proof that manking has been eating meat since its creation….I BELIEVE its matter of choices available to you.
SO please EAT FRESH and HEALTHY, and Stay clean.and all meat eaters…please eat some green always with meat…its good for you and revives the taste of meat meal. AND dont bother about these vegetarian sayings while eating meat.. it spoils the taste of meat meal..
ENJOY YOUR FOOD. and long live food lovers and fresh & healthy eaters
NO OFFENCE MEANT TO ANY RELIGION OR MORAL BELIVERS.
February 8th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I – Halal Method
1. The first three seconds from the time of Islamic slaughter as recorded on the EEG did not show any change from the graph before slaughter, thus indicating that the animal did not feel any pain during or immediately after the incision.
2. For the following 3 seconds, the EEG recorded a condition of deep sleep – unconsciousness. This is due to a large quantity of blood gushing out from the body.
3. After the above mentioned 6 seconds, the EEG recorded zero level, showing no feeling of pain at all.
4. As the brain message (EEG) dropped to zero level, the heart was still pounding and the body convulsing vigorously (a reflex action of the spinal cord) driving maximum blood from the body: resulting in hygienic meat for the consumer.
II – Western method by C.B.P. Stunning
1. The animals were apparently unconscious soon after stunning.
2. EEG showed severe pain immediately after stunning.
3. The hearts of the animal stunned by C.B.P. stopped beating earlier as compared to those of the animals slaughtered according to the Halal method resulting in the retention of more blood in the meat. This in turn is unhygienic for the consumer.
IT’S CALLED FOOD