Avoiding issue of ritual killing
Once again Elizabeth Allison ("Animals suffer in slaughterhouses", Mailbox, August 28) shies away from giving her views on ritual killings. To avoid the issue she branches off on to the accidents which occur when animals are stunned.
She states that it is estimated that 230,000 cattle a year are not stunned effectively. I agree that is 230,000 too many. But it is said that more than 114 million cows, goats and chickens are killed under halal rules in Britain each year. The Government's Farm Animal Welfare body has called for all animals to be stunned before slaughter. Halal is condemned by the RSPCA and the Government's veterinary advisers, animal rights groups and me. But not, it seems, by Elizabeth Allison.
She may as well say that because some cats and kittens die accidentally, it is all right for them to be left to die in cardboard boxes or for the yobs to shoot them with airguns.
So come on, Ms Allison. Pin your colours to the mast and don't skirt round the issue.
G A Wright, Leicester.
3 Comments
by karin, Oadby
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 8:37PM
“I think the 'pc' brigade must be almost cut in half by that fence that they are sitting on... halal is cruel and immoral but it is also a cultural requirement...oh dear... what to do???”
by Lee, East Leicester
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 6:22PM
“Well done G A Wright for being brave enough to speak out against the barbarity that is halal slaughter.Just because it is a "religious requirement" it should NOT make this cruelty immune from criticism or disgust.The hypocricy of these so called animal welfare groups never ceases to amaze me.Their silence is deafening regarding this issue.Come on Elizabeth Allison what have you got to say on this issue ?”
by Jane Fooberry, suburbia
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 2:20PM
“I'm afraid that drawing attention to the barbarity of Halal slaughter is just not on nowadays.”