· Muslim MPs defend the halal ban debate as discriminatory; Iqbal Mohamed MP called it “dog-whistle xenophobia” targeting Muslims.
· With Muslims comprising 25.6% of the global population and UK halal sales nearing £2 billion, MPs stressed the cultural and economic importance of halal food.
A petition calling for a ban on non-stun slaughter prompted MPs to debate the status of halal and kosher meat practices in Parliament this week. The discussion, triggered by over 109,000 signatures, has exposed deeper tensions about religious rights, minority communities, and what critics are calling a thinly veiled assault on Muslims in Britain.
During Monday’s debate, Muslim MPs defended Halal slaughter practices in Parliament, with Iqbal Mohamed MP condemning the discussion as a vehicle for “dog-whistle xenophobia,” noting that halal slaughter practices had been “singled out in a way that appears discriminatory.”
These phrases, cited directly from Parliament, reflect troubling undercurrents that many Muslim communities say echo growing anti-Muslim rhetoric in the UK. Yasmin Qureshi MP echoed the sentiment, calling the tone of the petition and debate “divisive” and “misleading.” She pointed out that 88% of halal meat in the UK is already pre-stunned, and that only 2.9% of all animals are slaughtered without stunning. She also stated:
‘MPs such as myself have received emails referring to “Muslim meat” and “dirty men with beards”. That is not the language of animal welfare; it is prejudice—plain and simple.‘
Adnan Hussein MP drew parallels with Nazi Germany legislation: “We once saw Nazi Germany put into law policies similar to those we are discussing.”
A Pew Research Center study revealed that the world’s Muslim population has grown by 347 million – more than all other religions combined. The share of the world’s population that is Muslim rose by 1.8 percentage points, to 25.6%. This trend is not just demographic—it’s economic.
According to Food Manufacture, the UK’s halal market is currently valued at £1.7 billion, projected to hit £2 billion by 2028. Halal products make up approximately 15% of total meat and poultry sales in Britain.
“The economic importance of Muslim consumers can no longer be sidelined,” said one halal industry stakeholder in the report. “This isn’t just a religious issue—it’s a question of economic integration and respect.”
This economic reality was echoed by Ayoub Khan MP during the parliamentary debate:
“We are looking at a sector that brings £2 billion of trade to the UK economy every year. The demand for non-stunned halal and kosher meat will not cease, because it is a matter of profound, unwavering religious conviction for many.”
Opponents like Rupert Lowe have described halal and kosher slaughter methods as “barbaric” and questioned whether non-stun meat is “seeping into the food chain,” implying a lack of transparency in meat labeling. However, supporters of halal practices argue that such phrasing weaponises public concern under the guise of animal welfare.
David Pinto-Duschinsky MP noted:
“Animal welfare is critical – I endorse all moves to enhance it – but so is religious freedom.
“Banning kosher and halal slaughter will not improve welfare. There are other measures that will achieve that far more effectively, and they should be taken.”
Several MPs supported the idea of clearer meat labeling rather than a ban. The National Secular Society has long advocated for mandatory labels indicating whether meat comes from a stunned or non-stunned process. Muslim MPs, while open to transparency, warned that labelling should not become a proxy for stigma.
More Than Meat: A Matter of Identity
For many Muslims, halal is not just a dietary requirement, but a spiritual obligation. With Britain’s Muslim population projected to exceed 10 million by 2040, religious practices like halal will become even more central to national life.
As the UK’s halal industry employs thousands and contributes significantly to food service, critics of non-stun slaughter may find themselves at odds with both economic pragmatism and multicultural values.
This debate was never just about animal welfare. It is about identity, faith, economics, and fairness. Muslim MPs are right to raise alarms at the dehumanising language used by some in Parliament. In a country that prides itself on pluralism, the voices and rights of its fastest-growing minority must not be rendered silent.
