Re: HMA - Halal Monitoring Authority in Canada (For Torontonians)
Peace All
I've recently got a message back from the Vegetarian Society in the UK ...
Thank you very much for you email and while I have no doubt you believe the statements you have made they are not supported by science. The halal method of slaughter was, as you know, introduced centuries ago as a kinder way of killing in comparison to methods that were common at the time. It was essentially an animal welfare concern that has become enshrined at a point far back in history and ignores advancements in science and understanding. The use of the captive bolt pistol, when used correctly, causes instant unconsciousness. The Government's scientific advisory body, the Farm Animal welfare Council, comprised of a panel of eminent scientists and veterinarians, have twice researched this subject at length and recommended both times that throat gutting without pre stunning should be banned. They are clear, animals do not lose conscious ness immediately and can take anything from 30 seconds to more than 2 minutes to do so. The vertebral artery which is not severed continues to carry blood to the brain. The argument that an animal needs to remain conscious to pump blood from its body is also incorrect. A similar amount of blood is expelled whether conscious or unconscious – about 55 per cent. The rest remains within the carcass. The FAWC was quite clear that the process of severing veins, arteries and esophagus causes massive trauma and suffering. I have witnessed all types of slaughter, religious and non religious and there is no question that the FAWC is correct. I know this will not sway you but I have devoted a great party of my life to trying to end animal suffering and Hala and Shechita slaughter cause extreme suffering.
The fact remains that 90 per cent of the Hala meat sold in this country is form stunned animals. Kind regards – Tony Wardle
Associate Director
Editor - Viva!Life
I had sent this:
I firstly congradulate you on the good work you are doing. I wanted you to know that if the Telegraph have correctly quoted you about the statement regarding stunned meat that the assertion about most Muslims are happy to eat stunned meat is a misnoma.
Most Muslims are infact unaware of their religious requirements to eat true Halal meat, settling for the stunned option. Also it is important that you realise that stunning the animal before slaughter sends immense pain through it's nervous system causing it to faint. The slow beating heart means when slaughtered the blood is retained in the meat and that can lead to medical repurcusions in the consumers of that meat.
We as Muslims are instructed to be kind to animals, that we must tease them away from the flocks/herds when slaughtering, providing some water to drink before the cut with a sharp knife in one single action to minimise the pain. The receptors of pain as you know are on the skin and the nervous system. The draining of the blood from the jugular vein reduces the flow of blood to the brain so the pain cannot be registered and at the same time the blood is flowing out of the body not fouling it with toxins.
This may seem gruesome to you because the observed effects seem to be more severe with the latter method, but the lesser evil is most earnestly the true halal method for both animal and consumer.
You can disagree with this, but as a Muslim who eats halal it is important that these things are understood.
Thanks again
It is shocking that people can decide what is or is not humane on behalf of the Muslims or anyone else. It is about time Muslims in the UK and elsewhere start to become scientists reaserching for ethics in favour of Islamic practices, which are much better for animal and human.
So do they allow slaughtering after stunning or do they kill the animal through stunning.
