in-cyprus 16 February 2024
The European Court of Human Rights on February 13 upheld the prohibition of non-stunned animal slaughter, a decision that has significant implications for religious practices across the continent.
The Court determined that such methods, often employed in the production of kosher and halal meats, contravene animal welfare standards.
The issue came to a head in Cyprus, where the Jewish community has long sought permission to perform kosher slaughter without prior stunning, aligning with its religious doctrines.
This issue was thrust into the spotlight in 2020 when the Cypriot government, grappling with the agricultural fallout from stringent COVID-19 restrictions, proposed emergency legislation to allow such practices.
However, following intense public and political scrutiny, the proposal was withdrawn for further consultation, much to the chagrin of both local farmers and the Jewish community.
The Chief Rabbi of Cyprus, representing a community of approximately 6,000 Jews, alongside numerous Cypriots who adhere to kosher dietary laws, voiced opposition to the proposed changes, highlighting the cultural and religious significance of kosher meat.
The European Court’s decision reaffirms similar bans in the Belgian regions of Flanders and Wallonia, where the slaughter of animals without anaesthesia for the production of kosher or halal meat had been prohibited.
This ruling was challenged by seven non-governmental organisations from Belgium’s Muslim and Jewish communities, who argued that such bans infringed upon their right to religious freedom and restricted access to religiously compliant meats.
Nevertheless, the Court maintained that the differential dietary requirements of these communities do not justify a breach of religious freedoms, setting a precedent that interprets animal welfare as a component of “public morals” — a concept deemed “inherently evolving” by the Court.
In a prior related case, Belgium’s Constitutional Court in September 2021 declined to overturn the regional decrees, further solidifying the stance against non-stunned slaughter.
This is the first time the European Court of Human Rights has directly addressed the intersection of animal welfare and religious liberty.
