Ritual Slaughter, Religious Freedom, and Animal Welfare

EUROPEAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS
By Patryk Szambelan

Ritual slaughter, formally called “particular methods of slaughter prescribed by religious rites”, is permitted by EU law. Ritual slaughter is a technique of killing that is used to obtain kosher and halal meat. Such meat must be properly drained of blood, which is done by cutting the throat of a fully conscious animal, keeping it alive until it dies of exsanguination. Contrary to what Jewish and Muslim leaders claim, during the process animals experience desperate panic accompanied by harrowing pain, all in the name of religious dogmatism. Yet, the .... EU is of no help to the cows, goats and sheep, which are unlucky enough to become victims of the barbaric, doctrinally motivated practices. [link]