Faith

Dutch Parliament Approves Controversial Ban on Religious Animal Slaughter

AMSTERDAM (The Blaze/AP) — The Netherlands’ parliament has passed a bill banning any slaughter of livestock without stunning (rendering the animal unconscious prior to killing it), removing an exemption that has long allowed orthodox Dutch Jews and Muslims to butcher animals according to their centuries-old dietary rules. According to The Times of India:

It stipulates that livestock must be stunned before being slaughtered, contrary to the Muslim halal and Jewish kosher laws that require animals to be fully conscious.

Watch a report from Al Jazeera that provides background on the issue:

However, the bill, which was drafted by the Animal Rights Party (ARP), must still pass the senate and the government says it may be unenforceable in its current form. ARP is the first group of its kind in Europe to capture seats on a national parliament.

Before the bill’s passage, ARP head Marianne Thieme said, “This way of killing causes unnecessary pain to animals. Religious freedom cannot be unlimited. For us religious freedom stops where human or animal suffering begins.”

The threat of a ban led to outcry from Jewish and Muslim groups who say it infringes on their right to freedom of religion. They argue ritual slaughter – done by swiftly cutting animals’ throats with a razor-sharp knife – is no worse than stunning. According to Chabad.org, Simon Cohen, campaign director for Shechita UK, which represents slaughterhouses in the United Kingdom, was less than pleased with the bill. He said:

“If you’re telling me that what I’m doing is cruel, then bring forth the evidence. Provided they can’t prove these methods are cruel, they have no right under Article IX of the European of Human Rights to outlaw them.”

The bill passed Tuesday with support on the political left, which sees ritual slaughter as inhumane, and on the right, which sees it as foreign and barbaric.

Comments (69)

  • Present Relic
    Posted on June 29, 2011 at 7:52am

    i can‘t wait for the lib’s to start a new campaign against a lion‘s eating habit’s

    “think of all they pain that lion is inflicting on it’s prey, eating it before it is even dead…………What animal’s!!!”

    they will most likely want them all killed for their eating habit or try to feed them the ***. Recycled meat (if you don’t know what it is research it)

    Report Post » Present Relic  
  • greenlee
    Posted on June 29, 2011 at 5:35am

    I work with 2 muslims and they tell me that this happens all the time… in backyards across America. Where is the left on this? Why don’t you hear anything from PETA about this “religious” slaughter? The muslims are into cutting the throat of helpless animals and people.

    The peace loving religion of islam.

    Report Post »  
  • To the Point
    Posted on June 29, 2011 at 1:37am

    This is what many are missing:
    While slathering may look inhumane to a spectator, it is a painless process for the animal. The fact that the animal is still jumping around after the slathering may seem repulsive to the viewer, but that has little to do with whether the animal feels it, or whether it is even alive at that time; the nerves are still working, but it does not feel pain. I am not certain, but I think that if the leg of an animal is severed, it will still be moving even though the foot feels no pain.

    The method that look inhumane to a viewer may be painless to the animal, and methods that seem humane to the viewer may bring the animal more pain.

    Research the subject before commenting.

    Report Post » To the Point  
  • aaron11
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 11:21pm

    Didn’t Jesus participate in animal sacrifice? … Pretty sure at least at the age of 12….

    Report Post » aaron11  
  • Paladin27927
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:25pm

    Ever see video of pig slaughterhouses? Saw one that made me sick, damn fat hillbilly bitch was sitting at a conveyer belt with baby pigs flowing by. She systematically picked each one up at a time, and ripped its baby teeth out with a plyers….then cut off its genitals, then placed it back on the belt screaming in pain….only to pick up another and do it again. No anaesthesia, no nothing. Absolutely horrific that people will engage another life form with total disregard because it cannot defend itself. The purpose was to control the population of that slaughterhouse. Disgusting. Doing that for profit is the work of the devil. Money is the root of all evil.

    Report Post » Paladin27927  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 8:32pm

    Personally I think a long painful death might be the way to go… If that is the moment of transition to the afterlife it’s going to be so much sweeter..

    Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
  • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 7:28pm

    Wtf!!!

    Report Post »  
  • bruce_baker
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 6:44pm

    I LOVE animals. They’re delicious!

    These busybodies might do better to try to catch some of the Socialists that are stealing their money.

    Report Post » bruce_baker  
  • symbolsofa
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 6:38pm

    The Muslim World League (Rabitat al-Alam al-Islami). It was founded in Makkah al-Mukarramah in 1962 A.C. (1382 A.H.) with 55 Muslim theologians (Ulama’a), scientists and leaders on its Constituent Council from all over the world. MWL is a member of the United Nations, UNESCO and the UNICEF. In January 1986 it held a joint meeting with the World Health Organization (WHO) and made the following ‘Recommendation’ about pre-slaughter stunning (No 3:1. WHO-EM/FOS/1-E, p. 8):

    “Pre-slaughter stunning by electric shock, if proven to lessen the animal’s suffering, is lawful, provided that it is carried out with the weakest electric current that directly renders the animal unconscious, and that it neither leads to the animal’s death nor renders its meat harmful to the consumer.”

    Report Post »  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 8:31pm

      The amount of shock needed, may vary per animal. it the animal is resilient it may take more than one shock. Just look at problems with the electric chair, when improper shock occurred. Mistakes of that sort cause more pain and are far less humane.

      Report Post »  
  • SUEB
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 5:33pm

    Let me ask you this…If you were in a room watching carefully the other side of the room and saw a friend or close person having their throats slashed and hear their cries of agony…. how would you feel. Would feel just fine or would you have a panic attack knowing that anyone in this room would be next. There is a humane way of killing an animal. Have you ever seen the way muslims kill animals. They kill animals like they kill humans. They just slit their throats with other animals standing around them and the blood goes all over the place. If you have a conscience or any feelings as a human being of love you would not stand for brutal killings. When you look into the eyes of any animal you see that they are NOT cold but filled with love. You CANNOT allow any human or animal be brutal killed. What goes around comes around. Slit the throat of an innocent animal today without compassion and you will have yours slit sooner or later.

    Report Post »  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 7:18pm

      Sueb you have never been into a non religious slaughter house have you? What you describe describes any commercial/industrial slaughter house. Unless you are vegetarian, you are a hypocrite if you go after religious slaughter rather than all forms of slaughter.

      Report Post »  
  • symbolsofa
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:03pm

    Nor take life – which God has made sacred – except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand justice or to forgive): but let [the heir] not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the Law).” (Qur’an 17:33)

    “Fight in the way of God against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! God loveth not aggressors.” (Qur’an 2:190)

    “There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in God hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break.” (Qur’an 2:56).

    “We ordained therein for [the Children of Israel]: ‘Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.’ But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself.” (Qur’an 5:45)

    “If [non-Muslims] withdraw from you and do not war against you and offer you peace, God alloweth you no way to [to war] against them.” (Quran 4:90)

    “O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, God is to you ever Merciful.” (Qur’an 4:29)

    “O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) the rich or p

    Report Post »  
  • theTEXAN
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:37pm

    My ageing dog had to be “put down”. The vet worked thru his back leg, while I stroked his head. The damnable drug the Vet used stopped his breathing. My poor dog could see only me. She died wide-eyed, and pushing me away with her front legs, thinking that I was stopping her breathing, unable to even cry out! No breath…..

    Report Post » theTEXAN  
  • ZAP
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:31pm

    No need for animal sacrifices. JESUS CHRIST is the only atoning sacrifice needed.

    Report Post » ZAP  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 3:00pm

      While I agree, there are a number of religions that do sacrifices, Jews, Muslims, Hmong, some Hindu traditions, Voodoo, A few native American tribes, and a few others.

      Beyond that many farmers kill animals alive on their own farms. Hunters kill animals alive.

      Slaughter houses kill animals alive in mass production.

      Report Post »  
  • theTEXAN
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:20pm

    Not a painful death? No suffering?? Wait a minute. When you cut the throat, you not only let out the blood, you also stop the breathing mechanism. Stop your own breathing mechanism for 5 minutes or so, (Belt, rope, plastic bag, whatever). THEN tell me no pain, no suffering! Go on, try it!

    Report Post » theTEXAN  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:37pm

      Are you telling liberals and progressives to suffocate themselves?

      Report Post »  
    • wraith67
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:37pm

      It doesn’t stop the breathing. Go watch the Nick Berg video or the other jihadi snuff-porn on the internet.

      Report Post » wraith67  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:04pm

    Don’t hurt the animals, but if you want to chemically burn your unborn human babies, chop them into bits and suck them through a vacuum, or induce labor and crack their skulls then throw the body parts in the garbage – that’s TOTALLY cool, and legal, and paid for with tax dollars, and hundreds of thousands will applaud it march in support of it.

    Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
    • hi
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:11pm

      Good point!

      Report Post » hi  
    • USACommoner
      Posted on June 29, 2011 at 2:15pm

      Sad but true. I’m so glad I live in America where I can still pray in…what? We can’t pray in school anymore…? At least I can place a cross as a headstone at my…what? Crosses are being banned in graveyards now…? …who? The ACLU? “AMERICAN Civil Liberties Union…? Where did they come up with that name?!

      Report Post » USACommoner  
  • nomercy63
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:39pm

    We have completely lost all respect for life regardless, yes we need to eat but all life no matter what it is, is sacred and has it’s place in the world!! I remember my nutbag Christian sister saying that my young sons dogs won’t go to heaven because they have no souls, yea had to deal with that one for a long time, don’t talk to my sister anymore!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • kindling
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:31pm

      I am Christian and choose to believe I will see all my pets when I get to Heaven. I have a sister like yours….she told me my pets will hate me when I get there for having them put to sleep. I had to struggle with that during the hard days of loosing a much loved pet. I rarely talk to her either.

      Report Post » kindling  
    • jblaze
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:14pm

      nomercy63
      Please tell me that you are joking!

      kindling
      How can you call yourself a Christian if you do not believe the Word of God? Give me the scripture(s) that state that animials become sons of God at the resurrection to eternal life? For that matter give me the scriptural proof that at the instant we die, we float off to heaven and then just so we can be resurrected from the grave, we all make a mad dash for it! Please!

      Report Post » jblaze  
  • HiredMind Blog
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:36pm

    Was Theo Van Go slaughtered according to Muslim tradition?

    Report Post »  
  • Monica2
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:21pm

    The practice is barbaric, letting an animal die a slow and painful death in the name of religion is absurb.

    Report Post »  
    • CaptMickeyd
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:33pm

      Religious sacrifice does not allow a slow and painful death. It is actually a very quick death, and there is little evidence to say that the animals suffer much pain. I doubt you have ever seen a religious, ritualistic sacrifice from the Jews or muslims. I have seen a passover lamb being slaughtered, and it is quite quick, and the animal does not thrash around in pain before it dies.

      Report Post » CaptMickeyd  
    • HiredMind Blog
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:39pm

      Doing anything in the name of religion is absurd.

      Report Post »  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:47pm

      Deaths in slaughter houses are often longer and more painful actually. Cows dangling alive from overhanging hooks, feet tied together.

      Would you ban meat eating?

      Report Post »  
    • jblaze
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:00pm

      Monica2
      Your ingnorance is showing! Please look into this before making uninformed statements!

      Report Post » jblaze  
    • Chief Moolah Eggplant
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 11:31pm

      God offering up his son to be sacrificed is inhumane!

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:10pm

    I wonder if that works on suicide bombers? Just ban them.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:02pm

    There’s an easy solution for the muslims…they can go back to where they came from when they get hungry.

    Report Post »  
  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:55pm

    Maybe this is why the anti-christ in Dan 9:27 causes the sacrifices to cease.The Jews will soon have a Temple and start sacrifices.

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • autumnsmommie
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:48pm

    Regilion or animal rights??? Religion for me. Are they going to require hunters to stun animals if it takes more than one shot to kill it? When I was younger my mother had my uncle, my husband and I slaughter her 3 of 4 turkeys. One for Thanksgiving, the other for christmas and the last one for New Years. Very friendly turkeys. They were our pets for two years. Did not bother me to eat them.I felt they were the best Turkeys I have ever eaten. And no we did not stun them before cutting their heads off. They layed their heads downs and willing let us kill them. They did not make one flinch. What I am try to say, do not mess with people religious practices. Are they going o sue them? Crazy left at it again.

    Report Post »  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:44pm

    I agree. Actually, the older I get the more I regret killing anything. I love animals.

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • J.C. McGlynn
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:42pm

    The religious way is not the politically correct way.

    Report Post » J.C. McGlynn  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:07pm

      Good good good.Causing suffering for purely ritualistic reasons is barbaric and should not be accepted.Is islam really unreformed Judaism?

      Report Post »  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:22pm

      Frankly, this is really a stupid thing to be arguing about. There are other things going on that need our attention that are more important than this! http://wp.me/pYLB7-142

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:51pm

      Rose, have you looked into slaughter houses lately. Chickens stuck head first into funnels alive, having their throats slit. Not out of religion but because food. Unless you are a vegen you are a hypocrite.

      Even chickens plucked alive for their down! So that one chicken can grow more down.

      Report Post »  
    • jblaze
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 3:57pm

      rose-ellen
      You don’t know what you are talking about! Look into it before you make a judgement!!

      Report Post » jblaze  
  • momprayn
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:41pm

    I‘m not Jewish but it’s my understanding that the Jews are right – plus I just learned recently that when they sacrificed animals in the Old Testament, they would first hold a certain area around the neck I think – where it would act as a “numbing” effect, so the animal does not feel any pain…so it’s not cruel. God wouldn’t have that anyways. I agree with the Jews here.

    Report Post »  
    • Wayner
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:56pm

      The Bible says “that God is not pleased with the blood of lambs or goats” but he wants us to sacrifice (not literally) ourselves to Him in faith.

      Report Post »  
    • Disnylv
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:09pm

      Can we Taz or numb the leftist any more than they are? Cass Sunstein
      Can wait to pass this regulation

      Report Post »  
    • hi
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:09pm

      Wayner Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. We only need to believe n Him, not sacrifice ourselves. Otherwise, His dying on the cross was for no reason.

      Report Post » hi  
    • rrjenn
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:31pm

      Why would God care one way or the other as to how animals are slaughtered? All the mumbo jumbo religions practice are just superstitious nonsense. The sooner this nonsense is eradicated from society the better off we will all be. Stunning the animal is just a simple way to insure the animal feels no pain and should be the law everywhere where intelligent people live. Let the jews and muslims stay in their retarded countries and leave the rest of us out of their mumbo jumbo comical practices.

      Report Post »  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:31pm

      Slaughter houses are probably less humane actually. Did they ban meat eaters?

      Report Post »  
    • jblaze
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 3:55pm

      The way the Jews do it IS more human! Look it up people! Don’t just guess and/or follow ignorance. Read Kevin Trudeau’s book where he talks about this subject of slaughter houses.

      Report Post » jblaze  
    • Wyatt's Torch
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:11pm

      Why stop there? They should also ban windshields on cars. Think of all those poor defenseless insects and occasional birds that are victimized being squashed on the glass as people drive to and from their places of worship. How many more rabbits and squirrels must die from zealots running them flat while driving to temple? All those senseless deaths in the name of zionists trying to practice their religion, shameful.

      Report Post » Wyatt's Torch  
    • Sound The Trumpet In Zion
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:46pm

      It sure is a good thing that all of these animals are able to talk to all of these “Dr. Doolittles” (do little is very appropriate) and is able to describe to them the exact type of pain and the level of pain that they feel, after all if they wasn‘t able to describe the amount and kind of pain they felt in human language then these wackos would have to admit that they don’t know what they are talking about. Personally though, I think that are full of BS claiming that they know what kind and how much pain they are in when this happens, which also brings to the idea that these animals must also come back to life to describe their pain to these wackos.

      Report Post » Sound The Trumpet In Zion  
    • frongjumping
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:59pm

      Momprayn, you’re exactly right about the Jewish process of ritual slaughter, called shechita or shechting. Not only is it not cruel, it’s actually designed specifically to be the most humane method of slaughter possible. The animal is put under no stress beforehand and dies before feeling any pain, due to the way the cut is made and the use of a carefully inspected knife with absolutely no nicks or blemishes. Done right, it’s the very antithesis of cruelty.

      I’ve read about the way the Muslims do this, though, and it really is barbaric. Muslim law requires that the animal be left alive with its throat slit so that it can hear some prayers being said, and then they let it slowly bleed to death. It’s an absolutely horrific way to die, and to make matters worse, they do it in conveyor belt fashion with piles of animals just lying there, suffering. The Dutch parliament at least got it half right by banning this crap.

      Report Post »  
    • drewst
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 6:29pm

      Look up Agriprocessors and watch the agonizing deaths done by supposed kosher slaughterhouse. The cows are clearly tortured and terrorized by monsters. Then go watch a video of Al Qaeda sawing off a human’s head. Not much different. Both are monsters. I have plenty of good vegan food that does not do atrocities. And remember also that the Jews and Muslims both reject the gospel of Jesus even though there is so much evidence for it, including prophecies like Dan9 that says when he will come and what will be done to him. And remember also a golden rule of doing to others while you watch videos of how they torture the cows. Judaism and Islam are both proven wrong and evil by rejecting the gospel of Jesus, and what they do to non-human beings is also atrocious. People, you should not agree to evil treatment of others. You can do better.

      Report Post »  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 6:55pm

      If correct method is done right, animals slaughtered to kosher standards dies in seconds. Clubbing an animal kinda like someone would do to baby seals to stub actually causes more pain.

      Report Post »  
    • techengineer11
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 8:35pm

      Coincidentally I watched a German Nationalist propaganda movie a week or two ago about their problem with the Jews. At the very end of the film they go into great detail on the Jewish methods of slaughter. Just like back then the Jews of today are raising hell… It is pure madness and evil. If you could only have seen the way they slaughtered those cattle… It is the definition of Barbarianism.

      Unfortunately the Jew run Google company would not allow the video to remain on their youtube very long.. Could you just imagine the reaction if the average American witnessed how these freaks treat animals.

      Report Post » techengineer11  
    • techengineer11
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 8:40pm

      jblaze: I’d be willing to bet that you have not witnessed a Jew slaughtering cattle? I assure you that it is inhumane.

      Report Post » techengineer11  
    • SgtB
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:25pm

      @RRJen,

      I wonder, have you ever been stunned? Stunning, or otherwise known as electrocution, is not a painless event. If you ever get the chance, you should allow yourself to be stunned. You don’t just drop unconcious upon electricity coursing through your body. Even when a human is hit with an enormous amount of electricity, rarely does it ever render the person unconcious immediately, and it hurts like hell. Not to mention that the electicity coursing through the animal causes all of its muscles to contract and all of its hormones and adrenaline are released into its blood stream. The reality is that slitting an animals throat causes swift and a more complete unconcious state without damaging the meat and without the use of mandatory technology. It is my belief that the animal rights people have mistaken the firing of nerves while an animal is being slaughtered, with consciousness. As proof of how fast slitting a throat can cause an animal to lose consciousness, just have someone put you in a sleeper hold and see how fast you go under. The loss of oxygen to the brain completely halts conscious thought incredibly fast.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • SgtB
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:36pm

      @Drewst, It appears that you are a vegan because you feel for the animals. Well, I have to ask; why don’t you feel for all of the organisms that you slaughter to feed yourself? The DNA in lettuce and the DNA in a cow contain the same elements and base pairs. Heck, they even make alot of the same proteins and respond to stimuli. Plants are able to grow toward light and they grow out over water, this means that they are to some extent aware of their environment. Why do you not think of these creatures as conscious then? Seriously, why? Vegans should grow up and realize that every form of life on this planet eats other forms of life in order to survive. Even trees eat other creatures. Some plants even seek out animals to kill and eat (flytraps come to mind). So if every being on this planet relies on another being to be its food, why is it so wrong? Keep in mind that HUMANS are the only species on this planet who have the ability to kill another animal humanely, also, we are one of the most efficient at using the body of that which we kill. That means that we as humans kill less than other animals of our size.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • techengineer11
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:57pm

      SgtB: sorry but i saw examples of the slaughter just last week… I can assure you that it was not fast not painless but very barbaric.. The animals would even get up and walk around with blood squirting out up to 10 feet.. Was one of the more disgusting distubing videos I’d ever seen…

      I know that many on the Blaze are enaged in some type of twisted Jew worship but just admit that you are wrong on this one and that all animals should be euthanized in a humane manner.

      Report Post » techengineer11  
    • Thatsitivehadenough
      Posted on June 29, 2011 at 1:19am

      This is a cover up for the left who’s goal it is to destroy religion and any belief in God. Under communism believing in God is illegal and considered a sickness. They should keep their practices in place and fight this all the way.

      Report Post » Thatsitivehadenough  
    • The Big Pickle
      Posted on June 29, 2011 at 8:51am

      Europe…Please Please Please kick all these muslim vermin out of your beautiful countries. It’s the only way to prevent Crusades II.

      Oh, King Richard “The Lion Hearted”, where art thou?

      Report Post » The Big Pickle  

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In