Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt said ‘’fundamental human rights, including the freedom for everyone to practice their religion, are a cornerstone of Danish society’’ in a letter to a Jewish leader concerning a recent legislation effectively banning religious ritual slaughter without prior stunning in the country.

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Director General of the European Jewish Association (EJA), an umbrella group of Jewish associations active in Europe, has called upon the Danish authorities to reconsider the legislation introduced by Danish Agriculture and Food Minister Dan Joergensen who said “protection of animal rights comes before religion”. Poland introduced a similar ban last year.
In a letter sent to the Danish Prime minister and several other Danish authorities, Rabbi Margolin stressed the strong reaction from global Jewry to this latest attack on Jewish welfare and freedom of religion.
Slaughter without prior stunning is a requirement for shechita, the kosher certification of meat.
"It has been proven scientifically that kosher slaughtering does not allow the animal to feel pain,” the rabbi said, adding that it "does not inflict more pain to animals than other methods commonly used in Europe".
In her reply, Danish Prime Minister Thorning Schmidt stressed that ‘’it is of the highest concern for the Danish government that all Danih citizens and people living in Denmark may practice their religion freely and unrestricted.’’
She said however that the adjustement of the Danish law which makes religious slaugther allowed only with prior stunning, ‘’is in compliance with EU legislation.’’
Under European regulations, animals are required to be stunned before slaughter unless an exemption can be found on religious grounds.
‘’For several years, the Jewish community in Denmark has relied on the import of kosher meat. As the new regulation does not affect import, kosher meat will continue to be available,’’ she wrote in her letter to Rabbi Margolin.
She added : ‘’However, the relevant authorities will monitor the situation. If the current legislation leads to a situation where the supply of kosher meat does not meet the demand, the Danish government will reconsider the situation.’’

By Maud Swinnen