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| Dedecker on Belgium shechita controversy
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The European Jewish Press interviewed Jean-Marie Dedecker, a Belgium senator from the VLD or Liberal Flemish Party, which is on the right-wing of the political spectrum, on his proposal to reform the law regulating the slaughter of animals.
European Jewish Press: What motivated you to propose this law?
Senator Jean-Marie Dedecker: Two issues motivated me to propose this new law; the first issue is the latent racism in this country and the second is the protection of the well being of animals.
On the issue of racism we are witnessing unacceptably hostile sentiments towards Muslims in this country mainly because of what the followers of Islam do during their annual festival of the sheep. Muslims do not have the correct means to properly achieve and practice their religion and celebrate this festival. The celebrants slaughter sheep in unacceptable conditions, in basements or in backyards and these acts provoke hostile sentiments toward Muslims. In order to counter attack these growing feelings I want to reform the law and apply it to every community. By reforming the law and preventing people to slaughter animals in any manner and in any place they choose I am sure I will be able to stop the growing hostile feelings toward Muslims.
Out of concern for the well being of the animals I propose to enact a law enforcing the stunning of the animal before slaughter. Studies show that 70% of the animals slaughtered actually suffer pain. I want to ameliorate the status quo by increasing the protection of the animals. Stunning it will decrease the pain.
Besides enforcing the stunning of every animal before it is slaughtered, I want to enforce a special tagging on the meat. This tag or label should state how the beast was slaughtered.
EJP: What is your motivation for the labeling of ritually slaughtered meat?
J-M. D.: My concern focuses on the consumers; I want the consumers to be able to track down how the meat they have bought was slaughtered. By labeling the meat and accurately stating on a special tag how the beast was slaughtered, I think we are improving consumer’s rights and are being more faithful to them.
 To tell you the truth, I think this debate on whether or not the act of slaughter is more or less painful than the stunning is a debate on 'the sexes of angels'
Senator Jean-Marie Dedecker | Also, during the June’s senate hearing, I was stigmatized by the Jewish leaders who told me that it would be a racist act to label meat slaughtered according to religious laws. I was very upset by those accusations. I am not racist and I do not have an extreme right-wing agenda. They really crossed a line by calling me a racist and because they falsely accused me I am now even more motivated to enact legislation concerning the labeling of meat.
EJP: Studies show that the stunning of the animal is no less painful than the slaughter itself…
J-M. D.: Yes, maybe. Some studies show that the stunning is not painful at all; others show that it is extremely painful. To tell you the truth, I think this debate on whether or not the act of slaughter is more or less painful than the stunning is a debate on "the sexes of angels". Nobody really knows. My proposal focuses mainly on the Muslim community which does not train their professional "butchers" (the animal slaughterer) as professionally as the Jewish community. I know that according to Jewish law a person who wishes to become a ritual slaughterer has to go through several years of study before actually being allowed to perform the act of slaughter. This is not the case for Muslims, and that’s why I want to enact the law to stun an animal before slaughter as the norm.
Legislation can not make exceptions; it can not allow for one group what it forbids for another.
EJP: Are you used to proposing ecologist legislation?
J-M. D.: No. It is not because the ecologist party supports my law that I am proposing ecologist laws. The ecologist party and I disagree on many issues like for example the closing of our nuclear plant. The nuclear plant is due to close in 2014 and I oppose this. I am not an ecologist.
EJP: Are you going to take this proposal to the European Parliament?
J-M. D.: I would like to take this proposal to the European Parliament. At the Senate, here in Belgium, we are consulting several groups from Europe to enrich our perspective on the matter.
However, we know it will be very hard to enact such a law on a European level because many countries have traditions that would be hard to reconcile with the practice of stunning animals before slaughter. Spain for example, with the traditional corridas, would strongly oppose such a law.
EJP: Don’t you think that your law has no chance to be passed when we look at the power of the Muslim community in Belgium?
The subject of hunting and my proposed law on the stunning of the animals before slaughter are two very different subjects
Senator Jean-Marie Dedecker | J-M. D.: I personally arrived in politics after being a champion in sports. I used to train with the Israeli Olympic judo team. I practice politics like I practiced sports; I am not worried about weight and power, what I am interested in is competition.
I think my proposal is very good and I have support from my own party, the Socialist party, the Catholic party and the ecologist party. I think this law will pass and I am willing to bet on this with you.
EJP: If you are so concerned about animal welfare, why are you not against hunting? Are you putting sports before the welfare of animals?
J-M. D.: I do not support or encourage hunting. The subject of hunting and my proposed law on the stunning of the animals before slaughter are two very different subjects. There are laws which regulate hunting in this country, you can not hunt whatever and however you choose. Furthermore, trust me I am sure that when you shoot a rabbit with a rifle it does not feel anything.
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