Polish Jews take kosher slaughter ban to court
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
30.08.2013 14:43
Poland's Union of Jewish Religious Communities (ZGWZ) has submitted a complaint to the country's Constitutional Court over the nationwide ban on kosher and halal slaughter methods.
The Constitutional Tribunal. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Constitutional Court. Photo: wikipedia
In a statement released by ZGWZ, the union argued that there is currently “a collision of two laws” in Poland.
According to ZGWZ, the law on animal protection contradicts that on religious minorities and their freedoms.
In July, MPs voted down a draft amendment to the law on animal protection that would have allowed for the slaughter of animals without prior stunning, if carried out so as to follow religious customs.
“After the rejection by parliament on 12 July of the government's draft amendment to the law on the protection of animals... the legal situation of the Jewish community, whose duty is among others overseeing the supply of kosher food and ritual slaughter, became unclear,” ZGWZ noted.
Poland's Union of Muslims will also be filing a separate application to the court.
Around 80 Polish firms, mainly selling kosher and halal products abroad, will take part in an independent lawsuit against the state, seeking financial compensation for losses incurred during the ban.
Slaughter without prior stunning was made illegal from 1 January 2013, after animal rights activists lobbied for the matter to be taken to Poland's Constitutional Court.
The Polish government's attempts to reintroduce the practice were rejected by a majority of MPs in parliament, with 228 voting against, and 178 for the motion. (nh)
Source: IAR