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Communities request urgent solution for Feast of Sacrifice
The Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG) has submitted an urgent request to the Flemish government to find a solution for the temporary slaughterhouses in time for the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice in September. Ben Weyts (pictured), Flemish minister for animal welfare, would like to see an end to the practice of unstunned slaughter, which is the fate of thousands of sheep across the region on the Feast of Sacrifice.
The Feast of Sacrifice, this year on 23, 24 and 25 September, is an important religious holiday for Muslims. The unstunned slaughter of sheep on the occasion is also important, as it honours the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son.
The European regulation on animal welfare since 2009, however, requires that unstunned slaughter take place in a slaughterhouse. But due to lack of space, Flanders has in the past officially recognised about 30 temporary slaughterhouses in order to meet the high demand of Muslims during the Feast of Sacrifice.
The municipalities have reacted concerned that Weyts’ intention to stop the use of temporary slaughterhouses, according to EU regulation, might disrupt the good local understanding and cooperation with the Muslim community.
The VVSG was told last December that the government would provide more clarity on the issue by 1 March this year, however the association is still waiting to hear more.
Comments
You should be looking to ban it, not bend over backwards to cater for cruel religious nonsense.
Fear is probably a factor in the failure to "provide more clarity". Belgium ignores or circumvents so many EU regulations, this will be just one more.
“ … might disrupt the good local understanding and cooperation with …” What do you know. This tiny country isn’t particularly famous for being a “Muslim community” as far as I am aware (is the EU for that matter?)... So oughtn’t things to be a little the other way round somehow, if just a little? Or are host countries supposed to accommodate all immigrant communities with strange habits these days? Furthermore: the Middle-Ages are over: PLEASE don’t bring them back with nonsense and cruelty that should have been banned everywhere and for a long time!
Regardless of whether they are stunned sacrificing animals for any reason even to eat isn't good. There are plenty of other ways to get, protein and so whilst I'd approve nor do I approve of killing a pig , cow, sheep, bird, fish frog etc just to fill over over bloated stomachs.
I don't approve ophs typo
@CC-R --- Couldn’t agree more. But it may take a long time before reaching that level of civilization everywhere… For now, it will be demagogues trying to (re)gain power defending the ‘meat industry’ from here to the US, not to mention Africa, Australia, and particularly Asia where abominable things are daily occurrence in the field, all part and parcel of the general indifference!