An update on this story. “Brit schools feeding Christian kids ‘halal’ meat for 17 years!,” from Asian News International:
London, Dec 18 (ANI): At least four Reading schools have been serving halal meat to the Christian students for at least 17 years, admitted the Reading Borough Council.
And, the meat had been offered to the students without their parents’ knowledge, reported The Sun.
Halal meat, prepared after bleeding animals to death with a single cut at the neck, is popularly considered a Muslim meal.
The other meat – Jhatka – is the one where animals are stunned beforehand.
The children have been eating the meat for up to 17 years at four schools in Reading, Berkshire, without parents’ knowledge, the council admitted yesterday. The fact emerged after pupils were given letters from canteen managers to take home.
Following the revelation, parents are furious. One said: “I have nothing against halal meat – especially for religious reasons – but my daughter is Christian not Muslim.”
A council spokesman said: “It became clear following the introduction of the new school catering contract with Scolarest that some parents might not be aware. Letters have been sent home. We are increasing options and offering fish each day.”
“Increasing options” does not address the fundamental injustice of enforcing Muslim dietary rules as the norm for everyone. And when that has been done in secret for almost two decades, it hardly amounts to making amends.