Food manufacturers in Sri Lanka have long made all their products using halal methods. PHOTO: ACJU
COLOMBO: Islamic clerics announced the withdrawal of a halal labelling system for food in Sri Lanka on Monday "in the interests of peace" after protests from Buddhist hardliners on the Indian Ocean island.
The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), Sri Lanka's main body of Islamic clergy, said the halal certificate issued by them would be used only for products that are exported to Islamic countries.
"We are giving up what is important to us. We are making a sacrifice in the interest of peace and harmony," ACJU president Mufti Rizwe said, adding that they were keen to avoid any escalation of religious tensions.
Food manufacturers in Sri Lanka have long made all their products using halal methods and labelled them with the ACJU halal certificate.
They argued it is impractical and uneconomical to have two manufacturing processes for the same product.
The halal method of killing an animal requires its throat to be slit and the blood to be drained.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said that manufacturers agreed to drop the halal logo from all food with immediate effect.
Nationalist Buddhist monks and their supporters had launched a campaign last month to boycott halal-slaughtered meat, as well as other products that carry a halal certificate.
The monks argue that Buddhists should not be forced to consume food that is prepared according to Islamic rites, saying it demonstrates the undue influence of Muslims in Sri Lanka.
President Mahinda Rajapakse, who is a Buddhist, had urged monks not to incite religious hatred.
Sri Lanka is 70 percent Buddhist, while Muslims comprise less than 10 percent of the population of 20 million.
The island suffered a bloody ethnic war between 1972 and 2009, pitting mostly Hindu ethnic Tamils against the Sinhalese Buddhist majority in violence that claimed at least 100,000 lives.
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All meat exported from Australia and New Zealand carries a certificate that 'The Animal has been Bled to Death.' It is a medically and scientifically proven fact that when blood remains in the flesh, it rots very fast and turns poisonous. The only way to bleed the animal to death is to let the spinal cord remain intact for a few minutes after the throat has been slit so that the brain keeps the heart pumping the blood. The Jews and the Muslims follow this procedure. The concept of cruelty to animals is absurd. Only the Hindus follow it truely and do not eat meat at all. I guess Islam is all about logic ! Hard for other people to understand !
@Animal Lover: "@Raj- USA ; There was no need for you to give such a graphic account of the killing." If you have a problem with Raj's description, please describe in your own words how an animal is prepared for the table in all non-Muslim countries barring those who appease their Muslim populations. What Raj has described is universally followed and is a humane way of slaughtering an animal. But, as an animal lover, you probably would like everyone in the world to swear off meat!
@1984: Proper answer: everything from the water is Halal.
@1984: Yes, Fish is halal. I have heard that in Islam it is called as the vegetable of the sea. Do not know about crabs, oysters and other sea food.
BTW,I've asked this question to many muslims and none of them have a proper answer to me
"Is Fish and other sea food Halal?"
It sounds strange. While Pakistan is on Halal spree against all non muslims, it has problems with a country baning Halal meat. Strange!
@sameer: Ah, somethink called "logic" is missing in your head!!
@Raj- USA ; There was no need for you to give such a graphic account of the killing.It clearly never occurred to you that some people might find these gruesome details distressing.In future,spare a thought for the sensitivities of others.
@doom: its nothing to with foreign influence you indain apoolgist shame on you, stop making fake profiles valentines day is a public event imported from west whilst halal meat is a private eating event and sri lankan muslims are not immigrants but locals buddist are like nazis of 2013
@Peace
Kosher meat is allowed in Islam ...
@Nitish: Yes, " muslims r also available in sri lanka….." and before they were "available" as Muslims, they were Buddhists, and before they were Buddhists, they were Hindus. Buddha, after whom Buddhism is named was a Hindu prince named Siddartha Gautama born in Lumbini, an area in present day Nepal and died in Kushinagar, in present day India in U.P. Your amazement about Muslims "available in Sri Lanka" is quite amusing to me and tells me something about the knowledge of Indian and Pakistani young generation about their history. (I am assuming you are young.) Be happy.
@ 1984
Halal method of killing animal is actually less torturous than non halal way. Moreover it is healthier
Buddhist are supposed to vegetarian and they are protesting about halal meat
@Concerned: You say: It also requires the recitation of Sacrificial supplication.
You got it absolutely correct. This is probably their main objection.
@Hasan Mehmood:
In case of Muslims everyone knows its strictly prohibited to eat Non Halal Meat.
I have worked for few years in Africa and one of the companies I worked there was operating the country's largest abattoir and was also the country's largest importer of many items from electronics to furnitures to food items. Though it was a christian majority country, they had sizable muslim population. In this abattoir, they would first shoot the cattle in the middle of the forehead with a stun gun to make it unconscious then slaughter it with fast moving electric saws. Muslims had no problem eating this meat. Here in USA, you will find muslims eating burgers at McDonalds, In -N-Out burger chains etc., none of which serve halal meat.
@doom: Don't be ridiculous. People have the right to eat what they see fit. Would Pakistanis like to eat kosher meat/food prepared according to the laws of Judaism?
@doom: Don't know about Buddhists but I know that for Sikhs Halaal is forbidden since it is considered cruel. They are required to use jhatka process which is used everywhere elseo outside Islamic world.
@Icesoul : Why is it not peace loving to reject Islamic supremacy in a country that is 70% Buddhist? Did they kill someone or act violent? They are simply expressing their protest.
@doom: @Hasan Mehmood: Its not about Islamic...I find the halal method of killing a bit tortourus...Rather than doing a swift death,the animal is allowed to bleed and die a slow death.... This is plain torture...
Besides,the Buddhists who originated from Hinduism follow the style of Jhatka meat...Behead the animal in one stroke....even Sikhs eat Jhatka meat....
It also requires the recitation of Sacrificial supplication
So muslims r also available in sri lanka.....
I dont understand. Is it prohibited in Buddhist religion to eat Halal meat? In case of Muslims everyone knows its strictly prohibited to eat Non Halal Meat.
Peace loving Buddhists?
There are mad fanatics in every religion
On the face of it the demand of the Buddhists seems unjust. It seems like they are opposed to Halal simply because it is "Islamic Influence" and not for any real reason. It is the same as how people here are against harmless things like Valentines or Mehndi at weddings because it is "Western Influence" or "Hindu Influence". It's just hatred for others for no reason. Xenophobia.