INFLICTING unnecessary pain on animals is righly frowned upon. So why do we allow so many animals to die wantonly painful deaths in slaughterhouses? The answer, sadly, is because of religion.
Islam and Judaism both decree that animals must be slaughtered by slitting their throat without stunning. Both religions claim that their practices do not cause pain.
As we report on page 11, that claim doesn鈥檛 hold up. If these findings are replicated, such cruel slaughter methods need to be changed.
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Unfortunately, there is little chance of that happening. Religions often defend the indefensible by claiming an automatic right to 鈥渞espect鈥�. No doubt they will do so again in this case 鈥� and society will meekly allow them to get away with it.