What is halal meat and is it cruel to animals?

The debate around halal meat is once again back in the spotlight after MPs expressed concern for the welfare of animals slaughtered without first being stunned in abattoirs producing halal meat.

The Westminster Hall debate in June drew a fiery exchange from those from across the political spectrum, with Lib Dem MP Rachel Gilmour describing the practice as “not only outdated but barbaric”. In response Yasmin Qureshi, a Labour MP, said a lot of opposition to halal was not about “animal welfare” but “prejudice, plain and simple”.

Halal slaughter is intended to be a humane, ethical and hygienic method of dispatching animals raised for consumption, yet the practice, which traditionally does not include the animal being pre-stunned before death, has consistently been criticised by animal-welfa