MONTREAL - Muslims are fending off attacks fired their way by a nationalist politician, who argues that halal slaughtering techniques constitute a threat to Quebec culture.
A Parti Quebecois argued this week that there are health risks associated with halal meat, and he fears it could end up on the plates of non-Muslim Quebecers.
"I think it's important that people are properly informed about what they're buying so they can make a proper choice," said MNA Andre Simard, who is was also a butcher.But the owner of one halal slaughterhouse said he did not grasp the objections. The meat is subject to a Muslim blessing but that's the only difference.
"The only difference is the people doing the slaughtering, but it's exactly the same way as if I would do non-Halal," said Edouardo Estrella.
One religious leader defended halal practices, which he said are both sanitary and humane and rejected Simard's assessment.
"It's very unfair," said Iman Khalil Tabatabai. "I don't know how that came in his mind."
The halal butchering practice is accepted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The only butchering techniques they outlaw involve that which abuses animals of endangers food safety.
Political analyst Jean Lapierre said that the kerfuffle is evidence that the Parti Quebecois is trying to re-ignite the reasonable accommodation debate.
"The media got involved without checking the facts, they didn't let the facts get in the way of a good story. They acted like every Quebecer was forced into eating halal food," said Lapierre.
