The Brussels Secretary of State for Animal Welfare, Bianca Debaets considers that the complaint made by GAIA (the animal rights organisation) against temporary slaughter houses in the Brussels area will solve nothing. “Filing a complaint regarding temporary slaughter houses will not contribute to animal welfare. It will instead create chaos and target a religious community,” she said. She emphasised that this is a transitional measure.
According to Bianca Debaets, the communes of Anderlecht, Molenbeek and Schaerbeek acknowledge the need for temporary abattoirs as the capacity of Anderlecht’s abattoir is insufficient. The region also wishes to avoid domestic slaughters without any control of animal welfare, animal health and the disposal of waste.
Bianca Debaets favours talks with religious communities, she makes clear. “The training which we suggest so as to avoid the maximum animal stress and suffering is much appreciated. The appeal to the Muslim community to celebrate the Muslim Feast of the Sacrifice using donations is a clear signal to me that greater achievements are possible through talking than via the legal route.”
(Source: Belga)
