Jews & Muslims must end "cruel" Halal-Kosher Slaughter

Scientists from the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) have claimed the slaughter approach adopted by Jews & Muslims is cruel and as a result should be ended.

They claim that the slitting of the throat without stunning causes the animal "significant pain and distress" which is disputed by both Jews and Muslims. London Muslim believes the approach taken in some abattoirs is more distressing than the approach taken by Muslims which as a result of the sharp blades used to cut the neck results in a massive hemorrhage and near-instant death.

While the Government correctly maintains its Religious tolerance and continues to allow Jews and Muslims an opt out from the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 unfortunately the Muslim cause is not helped by the different approach to stunning taken by the Halal Monitoring Committee and Halal Food Authority.

The FAWC have called for a debate with Jewish and Muslim communities however, my concern revolves around the inactivity of The Muslim Organisations' Working Group ( MOWG) which had been meeting at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) since its inception in 2000. The Group was originally established by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (currently known as Defra). The membership includes representatives of various umbrella organisations, such as, Union of Muslim Organisations, Muslim Council of Britain, Islamic Food and Nutrition Council, Islamic Medical Association, Islamic Shariah Council and Islamic Cultural Centre of London etc. In addition, various Halal Certifiers, such as the Halal Food Authority, the Halal Monitoring Committee and the UK Halal Corporation Ltd, along with relevant food business representatives are also part of this advisory group.

At quarterly meetings The MOWG used to highlight areas of concern to Muslims on food safety and standards to the Agency, however, according to the FSA "Currently, as part of its restructuring process, the FSA is in the process of exploring the best way to engage with the faith communities, and pending the outcome, no MOWG meeting has been scheduled for the near future".

London Muslim finds the current inactivity of the MOWG unacceptable and urgently calls on the Government to conclude its review and ensure the Muslim community has a mechanism for ensuring its voice is heard by Government in this important area.