Shechita UK campaign director Shimon Cohen spoke to the European Commission about Jewish religious freedoms in a closed EU conference last week.

Cohen spoke candidly about the “blatant disregard” various member states have regarding shechita.

“Anti-shechita concerns are often based on ignorance and misinformation, and sometimes even more sinister agendas,” he said. “Yet whatever the motivation, they hinder Jewish life creating a perverse hierarchy of rights.

“Europe must practise what it preaches and act to institute legislative safeguards to protect religious rights and freedoms for all.”

The conference was entitled ‘Freedom to practice religion in Europe: Challenges for Jews and Muslims in the face of bans of traditional slaughter’.