All animal slaughter is unpleasant

Banning slaughter methods in which cows and other animals have their throats slit while sensate is good.

However, to label slaughter practices as halal can be inaccurate, because most animals in an halal slaughterhouse are roughly handled and butchered, while still conscious.

Such practices are haram (forbidden) and against Islamic law.

These animals have also come from unclean, miserable factory farms, where they are mutilated by having their ears notched, are castrated, or have the tips of their beaks cut off with a searing-hot blade.

In addition, they may be injured or become ill in transit to the abattoir, something devout Muslims find objectionable.

The rest of the world shouldn’t feel superior, though: intensively reared animals are crammed by the thousands into filthy, windowless sheds or wire cages, crates, or other confinement systems, where they are unable to raise their families, root in the soil, build nests or do anything else that is remotely natural and important to them.

They won’t even feel the sun on their backs, or breathe fresh air, until the day when they are prodded and goaded onto lorries that will take them to be slaughtered.

Most religions, including Islam, preach kindness to animals.

As the Dalai Lama said: “my religion is kindness”.

And a diet that expresses kindness, that is open to all religions, and that truly respects animal rights is veganism.

Ben Williamson

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Society Building

London, N1 9RL