In a new move Belgium bans halal slaughter of animals in its Walloon region which consists of 55% of Belgium’s territory and 1/3rd of its population.
The bill was passed by the environmental committee and will be implemented from 1st September 2019 which will prohibit the halal and kosher meat affecting the Muslim and Jewish community of the area because both religions requires slaughter of the animal.
Muslim community of Belgium raised their concerns through religious councils. European Jewish Council (EJC) also opposed the legislation and called it a ‘scandalous’.
Moshe Kantor, the president of EJC said that ‘This decision, in the heart of Western Europe and the centre of the European Union, sends a terrible message to Jewish communities throughout our continent that Jews are unwanted.’
The other part of Belgium ‘Flemish region’ will also hold voting in their parliament for similar law which was proposed in the parliament. Other countries such as New Zealand, Switzerland and Denmark have already passed legislations against slaughtering of animals.