Dutch Ban on Barbaric Ritual Slaughter
A small Animal Rights Party in the Netherlands, the first such group in Europe to win seats in a national parliament, has managed to have a bill pass through the lower house of parliament. This bill stipulates that livestock must be stunned before being slaughtered. The Dutch parliament has now voted to ban the ritual slaughter of animals. As yet it must be approved by the upper house before becoming law; however, it is about time a European country took a stand against these barbaric practices. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-28/europe/29712523_1_religious-freedom-slaughter-halal
The method of ‘dispatching’ an animal (yes it is that cold) used in halal ritual slaughter requires the animal to be fully conscious. The following is a VERY graphic depiction of halal butchery. This is brutal and disturbing so I urge you not to watch if easily offended. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNzWUKk1c7I
The Jewish ritual of shechita (ritual slaughter) is similarly horrifying. In the following video the Animal Rights group PETA did put pressure on kosher slaughterhouses to ban the “shackle and hoist” methods of sadism depicted. However, as stated so far no attempt has been made to end this torture. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO5KaPUNkAQ It amazes me that any form of acquiescence is allowed in such horrendous forms of barbarism. Again I must warn you that the following video also contains shocking material. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvlTECbPagI&feature=related
That Europe and especially Britain claim to be animal lovers yet the above scenes can go un-noticed seems uncanny. There are plenty of Animal Rights campaigners who must surely have a conscience. Why have these people not brought it to the attention of their groups. There is information available but most appears to be individually in nature. As such the general public do not seem to be aware of just how barbaric the practice of ritual slaughter is. Certain meat products are labelled either halal or kosher, however, because the majority are not informed about how the meat is ‘prepared’ it is just assumed to be ‘safe’ for Muslims or Jews. Anyhow it doesn’t taste any different does it… A perfect example of this is articulated in the following radio show. A caller expresses his distaste at being served halal food on an Australian internal Quantas flight. As he points out someone on a restricted diet or vegetarian would be able to specify their food needs. Why then are non-Muslims not given the choice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8QDmbb9rmM Clearly the host misses the point and fails entirely to consider that a non-Muslim may be offended by the nature of halal preparation.
With the above in mind a particularly inspired argument runs thus on Catholic Moral Theology “Perhaps it is time for another shift in understanding…but this time for all the Abrahamic religions. Perhaps right relationship with God and non-human animals, understood in light of scripture’s claim that they are our kin and companions (see Genesis 2: 18-19), implies that God also does not delight in their unnecessary slaughter for food–whether via kosher, halal, or factory farming practices.” http://catholicmoraltheology.com/dutch-move-to-ban-jewish-and-islamic-slaughter-of-non-human-animals/ I suggest that all Animal Rights organisations reconsider who they work for. After all this is supposed to be all about the animals.
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