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Comment by Alan Lake on October 10, 2015 at 2:27

'Beef party': Indian BJP MPs beat Muslim member in Kashmir assembly:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34473354

Comment by Antony on September 29, 2015 at 7:48

Wildcat Haven assets ?! ; http://www.andywightman.com/archives/4328

Comment by Alan Lake on April 9, 2015 at 23:28

Polish ban on kosher and halal slaughter overturned

Published time: December 11, 2014 15:36

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A Polish court has ruled the ban on the slaughter of animals without stunning, a practice for kosher and halal rituals, is unconstitutional. Hailed as a "triumph for religious liberty," the ban had been pushed for by animal rights activists.

President of the Conference of European Rabbis, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt said in a statement the ruling meant that kosher slaughter "can continue in Poland as it has done for generations."

"The constitution guarantees the freedom of religion which includes the carrying out of all activities, practices, rites and rituals which have a religious character," Judge Maria Gintowt-Jankowicz stated in her final verdict.

"The same constitutional protection also extends to religious activities which differ from conventional behavior which prevails in the country - including activities that are perhaps unpopular among the majority of society," she added on Wednesday.

Ritual slaughter (Jewish 'shechitah' and Muslim 'halal') has been banned in Poland since January 1, 2013, after a vigorous campaign waged by local animal rights activists. Jewish communities argued the ban violated the fundamental right to practice their faith, insisting that biblical slaughter practices (without stunning animals first to reduce their pain) meant that animals had to be conscious when being killed.

The Polish High Court stated the protection of animals "does not take priority over constitutional guarantees of religious freedom." The judge ruled that "religious freedom is a supreme value in accordance with the constitution of Poland and stands above any other law and is not restricted."

The Jewish and Muslim communities each number between 20,000 and 30,000 people in a country of over 38 million. Prior to the ban, Polish farmers had exported up to 500 million euros worth of kosher and halal meat a year. However, the moratorium forced Poland’s Jewish and Muslim communities to import meat in a country that was once a key exporter.

"Religious freedom for Jewish communities in Europe has been under threat from those who would ban ritual slaughter and male circumcision, two fundamental Jewish rites," a survivor of the Holocaust, Abraham Foxman, with the US-based Anti-Defamation League, told AP.

He said Poland's highest court struck an "important victory for religious freedom, not only for the Jews of Poland but also for other European Jewish communities."

A board member of the Jewish Community of Warsaw said the tribunal "gave a very good signal that Poland is not an anti-Semitic country," Piotr Kadlcik told Reuters.

Comment by Alan Lake on November 14, 2014 at 10:58

Of course, those are the Gazans that the Guardian's aristocrats adore.

Human filth, both of them.

Comment by Antony on November 12, 2014 at 6:39

Abuse of Australian cattle exported to Gaza ; http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/dec/12/cattle-abuse-gaz...

nice to know where all you're EU taxpayer's money is going to, I don't see all the MPs who voted for a hunting ban complaining about this.

Comment by Antony on September 29, 2014 at 10:06

Mountain Hares massacred on Lammermuir grouse moors ; http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2014/09/28/mountain-...

this could have gone in the power elite section, or why Britain will go bankrupt, this sort of thing is one of the reasons why most Scots (including the "No" voters) want the Toffs sent packing.

Comment by Alan Lake on June 22, 2014 at 21:56

Heartless Obama admin puts 1,200 military dogs to death

http://www.dcclothesline.com/2014/06/20/heartless-obama-admin-puts-...

Comment by Kinana on March 15, 2014 at 22:59

Comment by Antony on February 15, 2014 at 16:34

Royal's hunting hypocrisy ; http://www.channel4.com/news/hunting-hypocrisy-princes-accused-over...

Comment by Antony on February 5, 2014 at 7:04

Muslims crucify cat & dog ; http://themuslimissue.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/muslims-crucify-a-do...

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