Halal food controversy.

What was the controversy :

• Marine Le Pen said that all people in France were eating Halal meat (whether they knew it or not.
• Sarkozy immediately said that she had her facts wrong.
• There is a huge debate in France over whether or not what you are getting is halal.
• Muslims felt insulted that halal could cause such an issue as it resulted in tensions in society.
• This reinforced the feeling of exclusion of Muslims within France.
• Muslims generally live in the banlieues, and continue to feel marginalised.

France's point of view:

• Muslims segregate themselves from society and have created a 2nd sort of French identity - the French Muslim.
• Marine Le Pen argues that by the whole of Paris eating halal meat, a minority are imposing their way of living on the majority.

What is halal meat?

• Meat where an animal is killed by the slitting of the throat, and the blood is drained from the animal.
• You cannot stun the animal - the blood pressure goes too high & it becomes hard to expell blood.
• Muslims: no concern for animal rights. (From the French POV.)

What was surprising:

• The extreme right put forward an animal rights arguement. (Used to be a political left issue).
• Political right issue of being 'green' has moved toward political left.
• In reality, halal meat is in demand in France.
• But a few years ago, its existence was unknown, on a large scale.

Viewpoints for the spread of halal in France: (Note, they are not ALL political.)

1. Religious stance in France is growing.
2. It may be more desireable to have bloodless meat. (general preferences).
3. Muslims may eat it (not for religious reasons) but because consuming halal meat is a part of their sub-identity.
4. Relate the explosion of halal in France to the rise of organic foods in England - Search for purer, healthier products.
5. Financial investment - the halal market is producing billions of euros each year.