Denmark Bans Halal and Kosher Slaughter as Minister Says ‘Animal Rights Come Before Religion’

New law, denounced as 'anti-Semitism' by Jewish leaders,
comes after country controversially slaughtered a giraffe
in public and fed him to lions

THE INDEPENDENT: Denmark’s government has brought in a ban on the religious slaughter of animals for the production of halal and kosher meat, after years of campaigning from welfare activists.

The change to the law, announced last week and effective as of yesterday, has been called “anti-Semitism” by Jewish leaders and “a clear interference in religious freedom” by the non-profit group Danish Halal.

European regulations require animals to be stunned before they are slaughtered, but grants exemptions on religious grounds. For meat to be considered kosher under Jewish law or halal under Islamic law, the animal must be conscious when killed.

Yet defending his government’s decision to remove this exemption, the minister for agriculture and food Dan Jørgensen told Denmark’s TV2 that “animal rights come before religion”. » | Adam Withnall | Tuesday, February 18, 2014

NATIONAL SECULAR SOCIETY: Denmark bans religious slaughter » | Friday, February 14, 2014

WORLD BULLETIN: Denmark to ban halal and kosher slaughter methods » | World Bulletin / News Desk | Friday, February 14, 2014

Brigitte Bardot Accuses French Police of Brutality

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Brigitte Bardot today accused French police of "savagery" after a man was left in a coma when they cleared anti-bullfighting protestors from an arena.

Dozens of animal rights demonstrators were hurt during the clearance in Rion-des-Landes, close to the Spanish border in south west France, on Sunday.

Around 80 of them had attended the bullfight, including members of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which is run by the retired movie star.

One of the eight most seriously hurt was airlifted to hospital in Bordeaux, and has since been placed in an artificial coma because of his head injuries.

“If the barbarity behind the torture of bulls and their bloody deaths are tolerated in certain regions in the name of an obsolete, ridiculous, indecent and sadistic tradition, then the right to protest peacefully should also equally and legally be respected in a democracy,” said Ms Bardot, 78.

The family of the injured man – identified only as Alain – are now set to press criminal charges against the police, saying they caused his injuries on purpose. » | Peter Allen in Paris | Monday, August 26, 2013