Last week, Greece's highest administrative court-- the Hellenic Council of State-- in a ruling essentially banned kosher and Halal slaughter of animals in Greece. As reported by Israel Hayom:
The ruling saw the court revoke the standing slaughter permit, which was provided through a ministerial decision that exempted ritual Jewish and Muslim slaughter practices from the general requirement to stun animals prior to killing them.
The ruling further called on Greek lawmakers to devise a way to meet the demands of animal rights advocates and the needs of Jews and Muslims who follow the laws about food in their traditions.
According to the Jerusalem Post:
The reason the court gave for the law being balanced is that it allows for “reversible stunning.”
The court said the law limits one specific aspect of the ritual act of slaughter, not the act of slaughter itself; as such, it does not count as interference with religious practice.
