UK group calls for ban on halal, kosher slaughter

The Muslim and Jewish method of animal slaughter, which involves slitting animals’ throats and allowing them to bleed to death, should ...

The Muslim and Jewish method of animal slaughter, which involves slitting animals’ throats and allowing them to bleed to death, should be banned in Britain immediately, a government-funded group said on Tuesday.

The Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) says kosher and halal slaughtering cause severe suffering to animals, with cows taking up to two minutes to bleed to death.

Muslim and Jewish groups reacted angrily, with the Muslim Council of Britain calling it an attack on the Islamic way of life. They say halal slaughter causes a sudden loss of blood from the head, causing little pain. ‘‘We believe the Islamic method of slaughter is humane,’’ Dr Shuja Shafi from the Muslim Council said.

In a statement, the Jewish Board of Deputies said the group was ‘‘saddened and angry’’ . ‘‘Our method of slaughter is as humane as any other method,’’ it said. (Reuters)

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