According to the Halacha (Jewish law), mammals and birds used for food are slit with a knife with no anesthetization.
File photo (Photo: EPA)
According to Oskar Deutsch, the head of Austria’s Jewish community, the vending of kosher meat will be restricted only to Jews registered as Jews who observe Kashrut on a regular basis.
Furthermore, export of kosher-slaughtered meat will be completely barred.
Vienna's kosher restaurants and businesses receive most of their kosher meat from the Lower Austria region where the proposal was initiated.
The Department of Environmental Protection in the Lower Austrian government, which is responsible for animal welfare approved Tuesday the proposal, stressing it is merely a draft.
Waldhäusl who heads the department said that, "to prevent cruelty to animals, I support the kosher slaughter restrictions in any legal way possible."
If the proposal will be passed in law, it would restrict both Jewish and Muslim slaughter ritual.
The initiative sparked uproar mainly since it proposes to hold lists of Jews who keep kosher. "Waldhäusl is seriously suggesting that Jews and Muslims who want to purchase kosher meat will have to register," Austria's former chancellor Christian Kern wrote on his Facebook page.
"The proposed registration of observant Jews (and Muslims, who also require animals to be slaughtered without prior anesthetization) “reminds one of the darkest chapter in our history,” he added.
Animals slaughter without prior anesthetization as required by the Halacha is forbidden in several countries throughout Europe, including Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland.
Austria has a strict supervision over animal slaughter. In addition, animal slaughter without prior anesthetization requires the presence of a veterinarian.
An initiative such as this appears to be a prevalent trend across Europe. Nevertheless, the fact it was crafted by the FPO—a prominent partner in Austria's coalition since December 2017—causes its critics an unease to say the least.
The far-right party that gained a quarter of the constituents' vote in the last elections was established in the 1950's by a former S.S officer and became on of Austria's largest parties in the 1990's.
"We are not sheep that go along with everything," the head of Austria’s Jewish community vented. "I've spoken to Lower Austria's prime minister who promised me the proposal will not pass. However, Waldhäusl's words are an indication of the nature of the Freedom Party's members and (is the proof) we have to be our guards."
Kosher meat only for 'registered Jews' : https://ift.tt/2uPCETl
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