Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Video: 'Horrific' animal cruelty at UK halal slaughterhouse

Video: 'Horrific' animal cruelty at UK halal slaughterhouse

By Natty Walker     12 hours ago in Environment
Shocking video footage released by a humanitarian organization shows animals being abused by workers at a factory in the UK.
Animal Aid, an animal rights organization, covertly filmed inside the Bowood Lamb facility in North Yorkshire last December. Scenes from the video include graphic footage of sheep being thrown, kicked, stepped on, and pushed. Against halal law, workers used incorrect or dull knives to slice through the animals' throats without killing, leaving the sheep to bleed and suffer. In the background, sheep can be seen writhing and squirming in the air while hanging upside down, still conscious. Also, the video shows workers talk and shout conversationally while animals suffer, some even taunt and mock the sheep.
Ironically, this particular factory is supposed to be held to the Islamic standards of halal. In Arabic, the word "halal" translates to permissible or lawful. There are strict rules and regulations in halal that require animal slaughter to be quick and painless. An Islamic blessing should be recited before cutting the jugular vein of the animal with a sharp knife. Prior to slaughter, animals are supposed to be healthy and in good condition.
Screenshot of YouTube video of animal cruelty at UK slaughterhouse
Screenshot of YouTube video of animal cruelty at UK slaughterhouse
This isn't the first video Animal Aid has released showing unsanitary or inhumane conditions at factories, but it may be the most controversial because of the slaughterhouse's religious affiliation. "Bowood Film for Public" has sparked outrage and debate regarding Islamic law, even though the footage from the video does not comply with the rules of halal. A statement on the Animal Aid website includes, [...] Given the existence of strong anti-Muslim sentiment amongst a section of the British population, there is a risk that some people will use the release of our new halal slaughterhouse footage to stir up hatred rather than to advance the cause of animal protection.
Immediately after the release of this video and the instantaneous media coverage, one factory worker was fired and three more lost their operating licenses. The British Food Standards Agency (BFSA) began investigating the factory and took action against the four workers. In a statement, the BFSA said, The Food Standards Agency takes animal welfare at abattoirs very seriously which is why we immediately suspended the licenses of the slaughtermen involved. There is no excuse for treating animals in the way shown on the video and we are therefore investigating the footage with a view to prosecution. We are also continuing to investigate all the circumstances around the incident to ensure proper safeguards are introduced to stop this happening in the future.
Filming the illegal actions inside Bowood also involved lawbreaking. Animal Aid sent an investigator to the slaughterhouse at night to arrange the hidden cameras, which is considered trespassing, without consent from the facility's owners and managers. However, no lawsuit has yet been filed against Animal Aid.

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