Posted on 02/04/2015 3:57:02 PM PST by Zionist Conspirator
Britain's right-wing Independence Party has outraged Jews by announcing it is backing a ban on shechita, a reversal of its prior policy.
Britain’s right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP) has voted to support a plan to outlaw the ritual slaughter of animals for meat without prior stunning. UKIP is the fourth largest British party in the European Parliament.
Britain’s RSPCA and the British Veterinary Association have called on the government to ban ritual slaughter. Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to allow exemptions for religious purposes such as the Jewish practice of “shechita” and the Muslim tradition of “halal.”
Both forbid stunning the animal before slaughter, which in Jewish law must be accomplished with a scrupulously sharpened blade and a single, rapid, surgical cut.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who reversed himself in the vote and backed the ban, has since been accused of driving Jews from Britain with the new policy, the Daily Mail reported.
British Jews are already considering their alternatives in the face of rising anti-Semitism at home and across Europe. Last summer alone there was a 400 percent increase in the number of anti-Semitic crimes committed in Britain.
“We respect religious groups to carry out slaughter in the UK according to how they define and read their scriptures. What we do not allow however is for the rights and demands of groups within those religion override the UK’s compassionate traditions of animal welfare.
“Animal and veterinary science has long concluded that cutting the throats of animals whilst they are fully conscious can cause significant distress and pain. We see no reason why religious groups should not take into account the concerns of animal welfare when carrying out slaughter,” the party said in its statement, calling the government’s protection of religious rights “weak, lazy and bordering on spineless.”
Agriculture spokesperson Stuart Agnew told Britain’s Jewish Chronicle newspaper he opposed the policy but was overruled. “This isn’t aimed at you – it’s aimed elsewhere – it’s aimed at others. You’ve been caught in the crossfire; collateral damage. You know what I mean.”
Both Agnew and Farage had previously vowed to oppose the ban.
About the Author: Hana Levi Julian is a Middle East news analyst with a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Southern Connecticut State University. A past columnist with The Jewish Press and senior editor at Arutz 7, Ms. Julian has written for Babble.com, Chabad.org and other media outlets, in addition to her years working in broadcast journalism.
How many FReepers (who are so quick to attack religions that are "political systems" and that forbid the eating of pork) feel the same way???
Ping. Watch for snarky comments about pork.
All sane people should leave the UK.
I don’t worship UKIP but I’m happy to see an anti establishment option and they are much better than the squishy Tories on most things. I don’t personally believe that the government has a necessary role in matters of how animals for consumption are slaughtered provided how they are slaughtered doesn’t affect the safety of the food product. I don’t think this shows “true colors” but it does illustrate the problem with countries that don’t have a bill of rights but that said we have a bill of rights and we are forcing and fining bakers for not making gay celebratory cakes.
We have the same law here in the United States.
The Muslims use electronarcosis for halal.
You're making things much more complicated than they are.
Shechitah is a commandment of A-mighty G-d. This "wonderful" right wing party wants to outlaw it.
What good is a non-"squishy soft" party if it criminalizes Divine law?
this is really too bad.
UKIP could recognize that the Jewish people have been doing their way of animal slaughter for thousands of years...
(and that it derives, at least, from Biblical law).
Even the Roman Empire tried to respect the long-established ways of its subjects ...
the result is the same, the cow is turned into steaks, pot roast, and (if you believe mcD’s) burgers.
so why can’t UKIP show a little respect, or at least deference, or at least not involve itself in matters that do not involve any significant changed outcomes?
So, yes, this does seem to be a “showing of UKIP’s true colors”
....alas, “true colcrs” that I did NOT assume applied to UKIP
people in the UK have tremendous sentimentality about animals. it’s ridiculous, but there it is.
we were there in june 2013. walking around London one saturday afternoon there were protests against: the G8, israel, government of India treatment of Sikhs, Turkish government, british national party, but by far the largest was a protest against the badger cull.
“How many FReepers (who are so quick to attack religions that are “political systems” and that forbid the eating of pork) feel the same way???”
Are you saying you think there is some secret antisemitic underbelly here at FR, or in American conservatism?
This isn’t Europe. There is no tradition of political conservatism over there, so their “right wing” is completely different, and basically goes from the moderate traditionalists in the middle to nativists, fascists, and racists at the extremes. You could look at the British “far right” parties of the 70s, or 80s and see the same elements that haunt groups like the BDL and UKIP now. So they have always been there, and didn’t arise in response to something recent.
On the other hand, go back to the 70s or 80s in American politics, and you won’t see any conservatives worrying about Sharia law or burkas, and only concerned a bit about the state-sponsored terrorism from places like Iran and Libya, which we still viewed as a strictly military problem. What you may mistake for the same kind of nativist sentiment that happens in Europe is a recent development here, and it isn’t nativism, it is a defensive response to radical Islam’s attacks on us. I’d say that, in fact, American conservatives were so naturally inclined against bigotry that they resisted seriously associating Islam itself with the violence until 9/11 made it essentially impossible not to.
So, I don’t think you have to worry about American conservatives following in the footsteps of the European far right on stuff like this. I’d be much more worried about the American leftists, since they have already enthusiastically embraced the same kind of “antizionist” stuff that the European racists have been taking cover behind for a long time.
How long has the ban on fox- hunting been in place?
If they renounce their own little ceremonies nobody should be suprized when theirs are next.
I get it.
We have the same laws and people here are working to stop any religious exemptions in the United States as well. (actually in the 80’s Florida worked towards this)
It isn’t anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim or anti-Santeria.
Some people believe with every fiber of their being that it is a cruel way to slaughter animals.
They believe that protections from cruelty and inhumane treatment shouldn’t exempt any person, religion or organization.
It’s not personal— it’s their belief.
I guess what I’m saying is that I don’t think this is some proof that UKIP is anti-Semitic. Maybe they are but this isn’t proof that they are.
Forget the fact that schechting is more humane than any other method.
::Sigh:: I will try my best to tell you what I am saying.
Chrstians assume Judaism is merely a historical stage in the development of chrstianity. This is the one and only reason that chrstians support Jews at all.
Judaism is not chrstianity. In fact, it has many things in common with islam--things that FReepers are not at all shy about condemning.
How many times have Orthodox Jews read nasty remarks about shooting moslems with bullets wrapped in bacon (because moslems don't eat pork)? Have FReepers forgotten that Jews don't eat pork, because of a Divine law?
What about the condemnation of islam as "not really a religion" because it is a total way of life. Do people not realize that Judaism is an all-embracing way of life--in fact, not just a "religion" but quite literally a Theocratic state in exile? It regulates every aspect of life every single day, from rising in the morning to lying down at night. What are Jewish FReepers to assume when they read all these remarks saying that such religions are not legitimate religions at all? Does this include them too?
And how many times have FReepers condemned the stoning of adulterers and adulteresses as "savage?" Now please understand: Jews are not able at the current time to carry out capital punishments, and when they are the requirements are so stringent that it very rarely happens. But this doesn't change the fact that the Torah demands death by stoning in certain cases. Is the Bible "savage?" Is it being implied that Jews will have to alter their G-d-given laws in order to be good "modern" Americans?
Toothless, disempowered Judaism is not Judaism proper. It is a temporary historical situation. One day the Holy Temple will be rebuilt and the Davidic King will rule from Jerusalem and the illusion of Judaism as a mere "religious denomination" will be exploded. Will FReepers (and chrstian conservatives) go on the warpath when this happens?
That's what I'm trying to say.
If they renounce their own little ceremonies nobody should be suprized when theirs are next.
The last I heard, fox hunting was not a Divine commandment.
Some people believe with every fiber of their being that it is a cruel way to slaughter animals.
1)Shechitah was commanded at Sinai and has been carried out since that time. To reject this is to reject G-d.
2)Non-Theists have no business subscribing to any moral/ethical standard whatsoever. The only logical philosophy for any non-Theist is "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die." The very reason we are in this mess today is because of the totalitarian moral conceits of non-Theists. Right and wrong depend on the Divine Will. If these people truly believe that only matter exists, let them stick to looking for moral standards in test tubes, microscopes, and telescopes.
“One day the Holy Temple will be rebuilt and the Davidic King will rule from Jerusalem and the illusion of Judaism as a mere “religious denomination” will be exploded.”
No. One day a large number of Jews will become Christians (please note, I show respect to BOTH groups by typing their names out as the proper nouns they are). Jesus is the Davidic King. There will be no other Temple.
“Will FReepers (and chrstian conservatives) go on the warpath when this happens?”
It won’t happen, so your question makes no sense.
” UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who reversed himself in the vote and backed the ban, has since been accused of driving Jews from Britain with the new policy, the Daily Mail reported. “
UKIP is not driving Jews from the UK, it is the Muslims that the Leftists imported for the last 20 years that are doing it.
Then there shouldn’t be any law against polygamy?
To be honest, as much as I dislike Islam, this whole animal rights nuttery has gone too far.
Look, Kosher and Halal meat should be labeled for convenience, but animals are a commodity and are here for us to eat and enjoy.
People shouldnt be engaging in sadism, because this often becomes sadism against actual people, but religious slaughter isn’t some grave evil. For crying out loud, you just had a guy set on fire in IS. Priorities.
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