K A S H R U T . C O M_©

June 9, 2025 from Matzav.com:

"British lawmakers were set to deliberate today on a proposal that seeks to prohibit shechitah without prior stunning—a practice central to both kosher and certain halal dietary laws. According to a report by The Independent, the petition that triggered the debate has amassed over 109,000 signatures and characterizes the method as “barbaric,” asserting that it clashes with what it calls 'modern British values.'

"If the proposal were to move forward, it would revoke religious exemptions that currently allow shechitah and specific halal practices to proceed without stunning animals beforehand. Proponents of the ban insist that animal welfare should take precedence, while opponents argue that both kosher and halal methods are deeply rooted in religious tradition and incorporate strict standards of humane treatment.

"Under current legislation in the UK, stunning animals before slaughter is generally required. However, religious slaughter is granted exceptions. In actual practice, the overwhelming majority of halal meat is stunned before slaughter, while kosher meat is not. These practices are all carried out under government supervision, with the Food Standards Agency ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

"Many critics of the petition have voiced concern that banning non-stun slaughter would threaten the religious freedoms of both Muslim and Jewish communities in the UK. They stress that observance of religious dietary laws is a fundamental component of their cultural and spiritual life.

"Ahead of the parliamentary session on June 9, supporters of religious slaughter have urged the public to reach out to their Members of Parliament. Meanwhile, the Halal Monitoring Committee has signaled its intention to engage with lawmakers in an effort to provide a clear and factual explanation of traditional slaughter techniques."