Poland: a ban on religious slaughter provoked an international scandal

All week, Poland and Israel exchanged diplomatic barbs. In Tel Aviv, accused the Poles of anti-Semitism, and in Warsaw, said the Israelis to intervene in the internal affairs of another state.

causing a diplomatic storm was adopted in Poland ban on kosher and halal slaughter.

Recall that last week, the Polish Parliament voted for a ban on the ritual slaughter of animals without prior stunning. This decision makes Poland one of the few EU countries where this practice is prohibited, without exception, and put a final end to the six-month struggle with parliamentarians Ministry of Agriculture.

Ministry of Agriculture of Poland considers that the decision of the parliament shows a lack of respect for the long tradition of religious freedom and religious communities will lead to economic losses, "Poland is one of the largest food producers in the European Union and is the only country in the group that did not to take action against the slaughter of animals in accordance with the specific procedures established religious rites, but now the situation has changed and it will not fail to bring a certain impact on the economy of the country ».

ban on ritual slaughter, initiated by animal rights came into force in January this year. Zoozaschitniki noted that the regulation authorizing the ritual slaughter of livestock when cutting the animal's throat, contrary to the law on the protection of animals, which requires the stunning of animals before slaughter, and do not allow for any exceptions to this rule. Validity of Regulations expired December 31, 2012, and the Constitutional Court, agreeing with the opinion of zoozaschitnikov, decided not to renew. Hope Muslims and Jews that their side will rise diet, did not materialize. Last week, the Polish Parliament by a majority of 222 votes against 178 voted to keep the ban in place.

Now representatives of the Jewish and Muslim communities of Poland will either have to buy a more expensive import kosher or halal meat, or become a vegetarian. Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich threatened to leave his post if the Diet approves ban on ritual slaughter, as no idea how to perform their duties in a country where his religious rights are limited. After this scandal has international dimension - the Israeli government issued a formal condemnation of the Diet Solution ban on shechita. "Poland is historically linked to the Jewish people, and this decision has caused great damage to the process of revival of Jewish life in this country - said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor."

Sources: newizv.ru , meatinfo.ru