Have you read the expression «halal food»Ever in a kebab joint? You do not know what it means? Do not worry because we will explain it to you below. We also break down all the controversy in which this word is involved. This faces Muslims with animalists and matches xenophobes. We are going to review everything on this controversial issue since here also in Spain there are businesses that enjoy this Arab seal.
One controversy after another
Today's topic is brought up from the controversy in France by the last statements of the president Macron. This has put in the spotlight the radicalization of certain sectors of the Muslim majority neighborhoods. He accuses them of trying to enforce their own authority above French law. The halal food enters the scene when the interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, He dedicated a few harsh words. He stated that, in his opinion, the sections of supermarkets dedicated exclusively to these foods promote the isolation and religious radicalization.
The latter is the most recent conflict. However, this meat has already starred in other disputes of greater depth at the European level. It all started in Belgium. Last year the regional parliaments of Flanders y Wallonia they forbade his ritual of sacrifice characteristic. The stated reason was that it is a method that entails unnecessary suffering in the animal. Not surprisingly, religious reasons are the only exception to European regulations that require prior stunning.
In this way, it was added to a list of countries that made the same decision before. Sweden, Denmark, Slovenia, Iceland y Norway they were already part of the club. It is curious that the defenders of the prohibition are both groups animalists as xenophobes. In Belgium these first joined the party Flamenco interest. It is a group known for its protests against the presence of mosques and immigrants in Flanders.
In Spain the only defender of the ban is the party Pacma. He demanded the same measure for our country with the argument that religion is none excuse to mistreat animals. He also criticizes that halal food sold without specific labeling. In fact, in Mercabarna el 62% of lamb follow the precepts of Islam.
But what is halal food?
The term halal means permitted in Arabic. Its contrast is haram, which indicates something forbidden. Believers of this faith must observe that they meet certain dietary standards. They are known the prohibition of the meat of pig or of alcohol. However, for a meat to be allowed it needs to meet a couple of requirements. The animal must be euthanized in the name of God and bled through a throat cut without prior stunning. In addition, this ritual is performed by a Muslim slaughterer looking at Mecca.
Numerous groups have shown rejection of the ban. The French collective Halal in danger stated that the measure promotes stigmatization religious communities and that animal welfare is a excuse. They also point out that slaughter well done it can be a stun in itself. Moreover, they allege that the Koran ensures this well-being since the beast must be in perfect health before its death. That is why they interpret that stunning an animal with a blow violates Islamic regulations.
However, the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe He refutes them by ensuring that the absence of stunning causes great stress on the animal. In addition, you run the risk of prolonging the agony for several minutes until you lose consciousness.
Situation in Spain
The market halal meat it is booming. The first variable to take into account is the size of the Muslim community. To this day they live approximately two million muslims in the country (the 4'2% of the population). The other factor to take into account is the economic boom. Thus, Spanish livestock benefits by exporting halal meat to countries where this slaughter is prohibited. He also sells it in the Arab world. Among the buyers are Libya, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, according to ICEX-Estacom data.
The number of halal slaughterhouses has risen from twenty-five in 2008 about one hundred currently according to Halal Institute. This is the institution, based in Cordova, which ensures that these slaughterhouses follow the precepts of the Koran. Its seal guaranteed the opening to a prosperous foreign market thanks to which the meat industry withstood the crisis.
We are talking about an economic sector of 32 billion euros only in Europe. Therefore, it is a debate that transcends the religious and animalistic and becomes also economic. We will see how the halal food in our country, where an upward trend in its production is still expected.
