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David Cameron says halal meat will be protected as long as he Prime Minister

His comments come after the production of halal and kosher meat was banned in Denmark last month

Kashmira Gander
Tuesday 01 April 2014 19:04 BST
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David Cameron has said that he will battle religious intolerance
David Cameron has said that he will battle religious intolerance (Getty Images)

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David Cameron has said he will keep halal meat “safe in Britain” and would never impose restrictions on religious slaughter as long as he is Prime Minister.

He also said he was concern by “intolerance” towards Muslims in some parts of the UK, and pledged to “stamp out once and for all the intolerance that blights people's lives,” the Huffington Post reported.

His comments, made during a speech to the Muslim News Awards for Excellence in London on Tuesday, mirror promises he made in Israel last month in regard to kosher meat.

He told the audience on Tuesday: "Really tackling Islamophobia means making absolutely sure that no Muslim is held back from living their life or reaching their goals, simply because of the faith they follow.

"Soon the food will arrive and you will all be able to eat. Let me make it absolutely clear, that while I am Prime Minister of this country, halal is safe in Britain."

Read more: Muslims in the armed forces: A proud tradition
David Cameron is right to back kosher

Last month, Denmark banned the slaughter of animals for food that are not stunned, therefore implicating kosher and halal meat.

In response to the legislation, Britain’s top vet made a controversial call for the method to also be banned in the UK.

John Blackwell, president-elect of the British Veterinary Association, told The Times that the religious slaughter of poultry, sheep and cattle caused unnecessary suffering to animals.

But religious group defend the method, and maintain that animals are killed by a trained professional and lose consciousness within seconds.

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