In Australia, animal rights groups are criticizing a decision by federal and state agriculture ministers to allow ritual slaughter of animals without first stunning them to continue at four slaughter houses in the country. Nov. 10 and Nov. 13 articles in The Age report that the previous federal government two years ago ordered an investigation into the practice of Halal and kosher slaughtering of animals while they are still conscious. Authorities have agreed to release two scientific reports that have been written, and to engage in further consultations.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald last week, Princess Alia bint al-Hussein of Jordan, sister to King Abdullah II, has written Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd urging him to withdraw the exemptions currently held by the four Australian plants. She says that killing without stunning is not required by Islamic law and that permitting it in Australia could undermine efforts in the Middle East to require stunning of animals before slaughter. Only a tiny percentage of meat exported from Australia is killed without stunning, but industry sources are concerned that the exemptions will tarnish the image of the entire industry in Australia. Australia's Meat Trade News Daily says that Australia's Fletcher International Exports-- the largest halal seep meat exporter in the world-- has convinced its customers to accept meat that has been killed with prior stunning of the animals. [Thanks to Steven H. Sholk for the lead.]
