"Animal rights come before religion" - Ban on religious slaughter of animals begins in Denmark

A ban on kosher and halal slaughter in Denmark began Monday. Announcing the ban last week, Danish Agriculture and Food Minister Dan Jorgensen said, "Animal rights come before religion".

In order to be considered kosher under Jewish law or halal under Islamic law, animals must be conscious when killed. The new rule, which follows similar regulations in other European countries, requires animals be stunned before slaughter.

Danish Halal, a non-profit halal monitoring group, launched a petition condemning the ban. The group calls it "a clear interference in religious freedom limiting the rights of Muslims and Jews to practice their religion in Denmark". 

1. Israeli Deputy Minister of Religious Services Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan, apparently responding to the ban, said, “European anti-Semitism is showing its true colours across Europe, and is even intensifying in the government institutions”. 

   
   

   However, Finn Schwartz, the president of Denmark's Jewish community, rebuffed claims that the ban was anti-Semitic, calling the relationship between the Danish government and Jewish community "perfect". Schwartz also questioned the minister's claim that the ban would ban kosher slaughter in Denmark. The last kosher animal slaughter in Denmark reportedlyhappened more than ten years ago.
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   Despite the criticism, many on Twitter praised the ban.

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