Muslim athletes urged to boycott London Olympics
Halal meat at the London 2012 Olympic Games will not be processed using the traditional Islamic method
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Campaigners are up in arms because the only form of halal and kosher meat that will be allowed into the Olympic village for Muslim Athletes must first be pre-stunned and in the case of poultry it must also be machine slaughtered. Red Tractor Assured Food Standards (RTA) are the organisation which all Olympic meat has to adhere to. However, its guidelines require that products “from livestock which are not pre-stunned at slaughter, cannot be described as ‘assured’ and are not eligible for the Red Tractor Logo.” This means that Muslim athletes will only have the option of stunned halal meat, which some corners claim is not truly halal. The London Olympic’s organising committee has announced that Red Tractor will be the base standard for all food served at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Mohammed Saleem Policy Director ANSA (Association of Non-Abattoirs) said: “I will be contacting Mayor of London Boris Johnson why this, the purest form of discrimination and racism, is openly allowed in the most diverse community and city in Europe? “And also why the Muslims attending
the event from all over the world will be short-changed just because of their core beliefs? “We know the Olympic Games, have always been a beacon for celebrating the great diversity and equality which is claimed to be reflected through participation, regardless of race and creed.” Red Tractor now has clear, documented rules and procedures that members are expected to adhere to. They include one key requirement which states that “products from livestock which are not pre-stunned at slaughter cannot be described as assured and are not eligible for the Red Tractor Logo.” Naved Syed, board member for EBLEX halal steering group said: “I think it’s wrong that one type of meat is being allowed and one isn’t. “We know that the majority of Muslims prefer to eat non-stunned meat so why not have both available. “There are many Muslim nations taking part in the Olympics, it’s such a huge event and I don’t think that this will go down too well.” The halal meat and poultry that has been approved by the Olympic and Paralympic Games committee for the 2012 London Olympic village for the Muslim
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athlete’s must be part of Red Tractor Assurance Meat Processing Scheme (RTA MP). In September last year the Food Standards Agency re-issued guidance on the labelling of halal meat. A spokesperson said: “The mislabelling and misrepresentation of halal foods is of great importance to the Muslim community, and continues to be an issue of concern. For this reason we have re-issued the advice drawn up in association with relevant Muslim organisations, LGR and Defra.” Halal is an Arabic word which means ‘permissible’ with regard to food described as halal, it means food that Muslims are permitted to consume under Islamic law. At the time of slaughter a Muslim must pronounce Bismillah Allahu Akbar (In the name of God, God is the Greatest) on each animal or bird. However, stunned machined slaughter, in most cases means the animals are being slaughtered at a faster rate because the required pronouncement has only been said once for all, which may render the meat non- halal. One RTA member who was able to offer ritual halal slaughtered meat was told by
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Red Tractor that he would lose his certification if he participated and provided ritual slaughtered meat. Mr Saleem from ANSA added: “The London Olympics and Paralympic Games organising committee have decided what is halal for the Muslim athletes who are attending the games, and the they have been told what method of halal they can eat in the Olympic Village and what method they can’t. “So for that reason we urge all the Muslim countries who are participating in these Game to either boycott the games totally or bring their own food into the country rather than eating haram meat. “The Olympic village, London’s sporting extravaganza, will not cater halal according to sources as Red Tractor, the seal of assurance, refuses to recognise the prophetic method of zibhia for halal. “ANSA is truly dismayed at the planning by the London Organising Commitee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG), who may have been ill-advised. Only recently a senior member of the UK government accused Saudi Arabia of breaching the Olympic Charter’s pledge and the spirit of the Olympic Games by refusing to bring a female team to compete in the 2012 London Olympic Games.
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“And what kind of message will this be sending to our Middle East allies, Muslims and the Jewish community when the recent halal conference in Riyadh endorsed the Prophetic method of zibhia, for the gulf states. “It seems that the London Olympics and Paralympic Games organising committee are in breach of their own Olympic Charter’s pledge.” A religious muslim scholar said: “The practice of rendering animals unconscious before slaughtering, which is carried out in different ways, consists of a number of objectionable elements, for example. “If this act is such that it causes the animal to lose all its senses and consciousness completely, then there is a risk that it will have caused the animal’s death before slaughter, especially if the animal was weak or ill, therefore rendering the animal not halal.” A spokesman for LOCOG said: “Halal and Kosher meat are subject to very specific preparation requirements and are not currently available under the Red Tractor Assured scheme. Where used they should be of the European Halal Standard, with Kosher food being prepared in conjunction with the Beth Din.”
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