MANY readers are probably unaware of the distressing fact that millions of animals every year have their throats cut in slaughter houses while fully conscious and it is legal.
Animals killed for Muslim halal and Jewish kosher meat are exempt from the rule that requires all animals to be stunned before being slaughtered . I respect other people's cultures and religions but it cannot be at the expense of animal suffering, which in this case is unimaginable. The law must be changed to make this practice illegal.
The good news is that Muslims have responded to concerns and around 90 per cent of animals slaughtered for halal meat in the UK are now prestunned but while millions of animals continue to suffer there is a desperate need to act. The campaigning organisation Viva is holding a lobby of Parliament on Wednesday at 1pm so that ordinary, caring people can urge their MPs to support a ban on this cruel practice.
Please come along if you can. If you can't write to your MP and ask him or her to help end religious slaughter.
(Mrs) J COOK
Wroughton
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