The European Court of Human
Rights has today upheld the Flemish and Walloon ban on
religious slaughter meaning European communities such as
practising Jewish and Muslim citizens will be unable to attain
Shechita or Halal meat.
Shimon Cohen, director of Shechita UK
said:
“Monty Python is alive and well, in Strasbourg. The European
Court of Human Rights has just ruled that although banning
Shechita does infringe on religious freedom, animal rights are
more important. You couldn’t make this up!”
What is Shechita
Shechita is the Jewish religious humane method of animal
slaughter for food. It is the only method of preparing meat and
poultry in accordance with Jewish law and tradition. Shechita
conforms to all norms of animal welfare in the slaughter of
animals for food.
About the European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is the international
court of the Council of Europe which interprets the European
Convention on Human Rights. The court hears applications alleging
that a contracting state has breached one or more of the human
rights enumerated in the convention or its optional protocols to
which a member state is a party. The court is based in
Strasbourg, France and the United Kingdom is a member
state.
About the Shechita UK
Shechita UK is a
community-wide campaign that unites representatives from the
Board of Deputies of British Jews, the National Council of
Shechita Boards and the Campaign for the Protection of Shechita.
It incorporates representatives from all the Kashrus Authorities
in the UK.
Shechita UK has been established to promote awareness of and
education about the Jewish religious humane method of dispatching
animals for food, and to dispel the myths and falsehoods that
have all too often been used as means to attack Jews and their
religion.
Shechita UK is the core-group responsible for the inception of
Shechita EU – the working group established early in 2009 to
coordinate communication with the EU on all aspects of shechita.
About the Board of Deputies of British Jews
The Board was founded in 1760, and over the years has developed
its role as the elected, national representative body of the
British Jewish community. Its members are elected by synagogues
and communal organisations from all parts of the country and all
sections of the Jewish community.
The Board of Deputies protects, supports and defends the rights
and interests and religious rights and customs of Jews and the
Jewish Community in the United Kingdom and promotes the
development of the British Jewish community.
About the National Council of Shechita Boards of Great
Britain
In 1953 the National Council of Shechita Boards was established,
encompassing all UK Shechita activities and joined in presenting
a unified platform for the protection and defence of Shechita.
Nowadays the National Council is also devoting resources to
provide education about the proper practice of humane slaughter.
The Council is often consulted by Government departments and
animal welfare organisations who accept that Shechita is humane
and is conducted by trained professionals to the best standards
of practice.
About the Campaign for the Protection of
Shechita
The Campaign for the Protection of Shechita was established in
1984 to protect Shechita from external threats in the UK. It has
a nation-wide constituency and is consulted by Departments of
State.
