The European Court of Justice has ruled that authorities can order that animals be stunned before slaughter in a case that Muslim and Jewish groups warned could curb religious freedom.
The court on Thursday backed a regulation imposed in the Flemish region of Belgium to ban the slaughter of livestock that have not been stunned, on animal rights grounds.
“The court concludes that the measures contained in the decree allow a fair balance to be struck between the importance attached to animal welfare and the freedom of Jewish and Muslim believers to manifest their religion,” the ruling said.
Belgium’s Flanders regional government issued the order in 2017 which took effect in 2019 that abattoirs must stun livestock before slaughtering them.
The European Court of Justice backed the same ban in a ruling delivered today
Decision has created outrage within the Muslim and Jewish communities
The European Court of Justice backed a Belgian ban on Muslim halal and Jewish kosher animal slaughter today, sparking anger among religious groups.
It ruled in favour of a regulation already imposed in the Flemish region of Belgium which, on animal rights grounds, bans the slaughter of livestock that have not been stunned.
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The measure was seen as effectively outlawing the Muslim and Jewish traditions, which require livestock to be conscious when their throats are slit.
Jewish groups decry EU rule to stun animals before slaughter freemalaysiatoday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from freemalaysiatoday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Jewish groups decry EU ritual slaughter ruling
Local community in Belgium slam decision as denial of democracy that did not respect the rights of minority groups, raise concerns similar embargoes could be applied in other European Union countries
AFP |
Published: 12.17.20 , 15:58
The European Court of Justice ruled Thursday that authorities can order animals to be stunned before slaughter in a move decried by Jewish groups as attacking religious freedom.
The court backed a regulation imposed in the Flemish region of Belgium banning the slaughter of livestock that have not been stunned on animal rights grounds.
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(Photo: AP)
The measure was seen as effectively outlawing the Muslim halal and Jewish kosher traditions, which require livestock to be conscious when their throats are slit.