As promised the other day, a thread about why campaigns to ban shechita (kosher slaughter) rest upon a highly misleading claim which is in some ways comparable to the claim that Israel had some sort of connection to the murder of George Floyd:

1.
Before we get to that, a reminder of the basics. (If you already know the basics, jump to tweet no. 12. If you want a TL:DR of the whole thread, jump to tweet 39A.)

2.
Kosher slaughter is performed by means of a single, swift sweep across the animal’s neck by means of a very long and very sharp knife. This causes immediate, rapid blood loss. The animal’s brain is therefore deprived of oxygen, which causes unconsciousness within seconds.

3.
Only after it is unconscious, is the animal then hung up to exsanguinate (i.e. bleed out); it dies from blood loss.

4.
Halal slaughter is performed in a similar way, except for (i) there are fewer knife design requirements (i.e. the knives used may be shorter and blunter) and (ii) an Islamic prayer is recited beforehand.

5.
Kosher slaughter is controversial because, in contrast to “regular” slaughter methods, the animal is not stunned beforehand. This is because, under Jewish law, the animal must be unharmed at the point of killing, but all forms of stunning cause harm.

6.
(Some animals slaughtered by the halal method are stunned beforehand; some are not.

For simplicity, this thread will address kosher slaughter only where possible.

Kosher slaughter + halal slaughter without stunning = “religious non-stun slaughter”.)

7.
The absence of stunning has led a number of individuals and groups to call for a ban on kosher slaughter.

8.
If implemented, a domestic ban on kosher slaughter would force observant Jews to: (i) buy expensive imported kosher meat (could be v expensive if tariffs imposed post-Brexit); (ii) act against their conscience, either by eating non-kosher meat or stunning beforehand;

9A.
(iii) go vegetarian; or, (iv), should they wish to do none of those things and maintain their faith - emigrate!

9B.
Regardless of intention, a ban on kosher slaughter cd therefore have an antisemitic *outcome*: it cd materially damage Jewish life in Britain.

(This is why the far right pushes for a ban on kosher slaughter. Nothing to do with animal welfare!)

10.
A ban *might* nevertheless be justifiable, if it was based on compelling evidence that kosher slaughter causes significantly more suffering than other methods of slaughter.

11.
With that background in mind, let’s look at the evidence which underpins one particular call for a ban.

12.
In 2009, some experiments involving religious non-stun slaughter were done in New Zealand by,among others, a pair of veterinary scientists called Troy Gibson and Craig Johnson.

13.
These experiments were written up in a series of articles in the NZ Veterinary Journal. The first one (highlighted) is a summary of the others. I will refer to them as “the Gibson/Johnson articles”.

14.
Those articles were summarised as providing conclusive evidence that kosher slaughter causes significantly more suffering than other means of slaughter, therefore justifying a ban.

15.
Those articles were summarised as providing conclusive evidence that kosher slaughter causes significantly more suffering than other means of slaughter, therefore justifying a ban.15.
Those articles were summarised as providing conclusive evidence that kosher slaughter causes significantly more suffering than other means of slaughter, therefore justifying a ban.15.
They appear to have influenced the attempt (since partially reversed) of the NZ govt to ban kosher slaughter in 2010.

16.
This attempted ban was eventually reversed in part, but not before traumatizing NZ’s small Jewish community.

17A.
This attempted ban was eventually reversed in part, but not before traumatizing NZ’s small Jewish community.17A.
This attempted ban was eventually reversed in part, but not before traumatizing NZ’s small Jewish community.17A.
There remain some restrictions on kosher slaughter in NZ. This has had the effect of seeing its Orthodox Jewish population shrink.

17B.
There remain some restrictions on kosher slaughter in NZ. This has had the effect of seeing its Orthodox Jewish population shrink.17B.
There remain some restrictions on kosher slaughter in NZ. This has had the effect of seeing its Orthodox Jewish population shrink.17B.
Again, though: a ban on kosher slaughter *might* nevertheless be justifiable, if the G/J experiments made a compelling case that kosher slaughter caused significantly more suffering than slaughter methods where the animal is stunned first.

So: do they make that case?

18.
Joe Regenstein is Professor of Food Science at Cornell University. In 2012, he expressed serious reservations about the Gibson/Johnson articles and the experiments they report on:

19.
Joe Regenstein is Professor of Food Science at Cornell University. In 2012, he expressed serious reservations about the Gibson/Johnson articles and the experiments they report on: 19.
Joe Regenstein is Professor of Food Science at Cornell University. In 2012, he expressed serious reservations about the Gibson/Johnson articles and the experiments they report on: 19.
Joe Regenstein is Professor of Food Science at Cornell University. In 2012, he expressed serious reservations about the Gibson/Johnson articles and the experiments they report on: 19.
Joe Regenstein is Professor of Food Science at Cornell University. In 2012, he expressed serious reservations about the Gibson/Johnson articles and the experiments they report on: 19.
@DrTempleGrandin is Professor of Animal Science at @ColoradoStateU. She has written extensively on halal & kosher slaughter. Her criticisms of the Gibson/Johnson articles date back to April 2010.

https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/18665-getting-religious-with-slaughter

20.
Those criticisms now appear on her own website. They centre mainly, though not only, on the length of the knife.

21.
In July 2011, Ari Zivotofsky of Bar Ilan University, Israel, published an article which cited correspondence with Troy Gibson, in which the latter *admitted that the experiments conducted in NZ had no relevance to kosher slaughter*.

22A.
In July 2011, Ari Zivotofsky of Bar Ilan University, Israel, published an article which cited correspondence with Troy Gibson, in which the latter *admitted that the experiments conducted in NZ had no relevance to kosher slaughter*.22A.
In July 2011, Ari Zivotofsky of Bar Ilan University, Israel, published an article which cited correspondence with Troy Gibson, in which the latter *admitted that the experiments conducted in NZ had no relevance to kosher slaughter*.22A.
In other words, as early as 2012, one of the scientists who had conducted the experiments in NZ, admitted that those experiments, and therefore the Gibson/Johnson articles, had no bearing on kosher slaughter. (TBC)

22B.
So that meant that the Gibson/Johnson articles would never be cited as justification for banning kosher slaughter, right?

Wrong.

23A.
This is a 2012 BNP leaflet calling for a ban on halal slaughter. The small print also refers to kosher. Notice that the BNP refer to the research of… Craig Johnson of Gibson/Johnson articles fame.

23B.
But that’s only the BNP, right?

No serious organisation would cite the Gibson/Johnson articles in relation to kosher slaughter, right?

Wrong.

24.
In January 2014, ahead of a debate in the House of Lords, @britishvets @hsaofficial and @rspca_official released a Joint Statement calling for a ban on religious non-stun slaughter.

25.
In January 2014, ahead of a debate in the House of Lords, @britishvets @hsaofficial and @rspca_official released a Joint Statement calling for a ban on religious non-stun slaughter. 25.
In January 2014, ahead of a debate in the House of Lords, @britishvets @hsaofficial and @rspca_official released a Joint Statement calling for a ban on religious non-stun slaughter. 25.
This is that 2014 Joint Statement.

It says that “scientific evidence demonstrates that slaughter without pre-stunning compromises animal welfare”.

The scientific evidence it refers to is… the Gibson/Johnson articles.

26.
Yes, 2 1/2 years after *even one of the scientists* had admitted that the experiments referred to in the G/J articles had no relevance to kosher slaughter, @BritishVets @HSAOfficial & @RSPCA_Official cited them to justify a ban on... kosher slaughter.

27.
@HSAOffical @BritishVets and @RSPCA_Official presented those articles as, so to speak, gospel truth. They give no indication of the weaknesses of those articles. They make no reference to the criticisms made by @DrTempleGrandin, Prof Joe Regenstein and Ari Zivotofsky.

28.
What happened next?

29.
The Gibson/Johnson articles were cited in debate in the House of Lords Grand Committee…

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2014-01-16/debates/14011665000550/AnimalWelfareMethodsOfSlaughter#contribution-14011665000094

30.
The Gibson/Johnson articles were cited in debate in the House of Lords Grand Committee… https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2014-01-16/debates/14011665000550/AnimalWelfareMethodsOfSlaughter#contribution-1401166500009430.
The Gibson/Johnson articles were cited in debate in the House of Lords Grand Committee… https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2014-01-16/debates/14011665000550/AnimalWelfareMethodsOfSlaughter#contribution-1401166500009430.
The Gibson/Johnson articles were cited in debate in the House of Lords Grand Committee… https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2014-01-16/debates/14011665000550/AnimalWelfareMethodsOfSlaughter#contribution-1401166500009430.
...And by now DEFRA Secretary George Eustice MP in a House of Commons Westminster Hall debate in November 2014...

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2014-11-04b.166.0

31.
...And by now DEFRA Secretary George Eustice MP in a House of Commons Westminster Hall debate in November 2014... https://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2014-11-04b.166.031.
...And by now DEFRA Secretary George Eustice MP in a House of Commons Westminster Hall debate in November 2014... https://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2014-11-04b.166.031.
...and in Parliamentary documentation updated in February 2015…

(Note the reference to “slaughter according to Jewish religious law”, even though Troy Gibson had conceded that it was *not* according to Jewish religious law!)

http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN07108/SN07108.pdf

32.
...and in Parliamentary documentation updated in February 2015…(Note the reference to “slaughter according to Jewish religious law”, even though Troy Gibson had conceded that it was *not* according to Jewish religious law!) http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN07108/SN07108.pdf 32.
...and in Parliamentary documentation updated in February 2015…(Note the reference to “slaughter according to Jewish religious law”, even though Troy Gibson had conceded that it was *not* according to Jewish religious law!) http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN07108/SN07108.pdf 32.
A *2019* @RSPCA_official briefing still refers, uncritically, to the G/J articles (specifically, to the “introductory review” which summarises the other articles) - 8 YEARS after Troy Gibson had conceded that the experiments had no relevance to kosher slaughter.

33.
A *2019* @RSPCA_official briefing still refers, uncritically, to the G/J articles (specifically, to the “introductory review” which summarises the other articles) - 8 YEARS after Troy Gibson had conceded that the experiments had no relevance to kosher slaughter.33.
A *2019* @RSPCA_official briefing still refers, uncritically, to the G/J articles (specifically, to the “introductory review” which summarises the other articles) - 8 YEARS after Troy Gibson had conceded that the experiments had no relevance to kosher slaughter.33.
A *2019* @RSPCA_official briefing still refers, uncritically, to the G/J articles (specifically, to the “introductory review” which summarises the other articles) - 8 YEARS after Troy Gibson had conceded that the experiments had no relevance to kosher slaughter.33.
Does this remind you of anything?

It reminds me, for one, of how falsehoods about Israeli training US police to kill people in a brutal way end up being spread across the political spectrum so that Israel somehow ends up being blamed for the death of George Floyd.

34A.
(As explained, for example, in this thread)

https://twitter.com/ShMMor/status/1276462429296381952

34B.
As the saying goes, a lie travels halfway around the world while the truth is pulling its boots on. Esp if the lie involves something connected with Jews. And it - or the cause it seeks to serve - might end up in the hands of people who wish harm upon Jews.

35.
In fairness to @HSAOfficial, the 2014 Joint Statement they produced with @BritishVets and @RSPCA_official cannot be found on their website.

Their current fact sheet on religious non-stun slaughter does not cite the Gibson/Johnson articles.

36.

https://www.hsa.org.uk/downloads/related-items/religious-slaughter.pdf
What is striking, however, is that their current factsheet (said to have been updated in July 2014), though supporting a ban on kosher slaughter, cites no evidence that is directly relevant to it.
37A.
What is striking, however, is that their current factsheet (said to have been updated in July 2014), though supporting a ban on kosher slaughter, cites no evidence that is directly relevant to it. 37A.
What is striking, however, is that their current factsheet (said to have been updated in July 2014), though supporting a ban on kosher slaughter, cites no evidence that is directly relevant to it. 37A.
The two references they cite cover halal slaughter only, and both specifically state that there is no direct relevance to kosher slaughter:

37B.
The two references they cite cover halal slaughter only, and both specifically state that there is no direct relevance to kosher slaughter: 37B.
The two references they cite cover halal slaughter only, and both specifically state that there is no direct relevance to kosher slaughter: 37B.
The two references they cite cover halal slaughter only, and both specifically state that there is no direct relevance to kosher slaughter: 37B.
So, again: although @HSAOfficial’s current fact sheet supports a ban on kosher slaughter, it cites no evidence that is directly relevant to kosher slaughter!

37C.
What about @BritishVets?

There is no reference to the Gibson/Johnson articles on their website; but they still support a ban on kosher slaughter.

https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/non-stun-slaughter/

38A.
Non-stun slaughter | British Veterinary Association

https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/non-stun-slaughter/
You’ll note that their current webpage refers to supposedly adverse “evidence on slaughter without pre-stunning”... but does not actually cite what that evidence is.

38B.
They also have a policy statement, in which they express the “view” that all animals should be stunned before slaughter... a position for which they cite… precisely no evidence at all.

38C.
TL:DR - be very cautious about any claim that “the scientific evidence on religious non-stun slaughter is clear, justifying a ban” - regardless of who is making that claim.

39A.
Equally, be aware that questionable scientific claims can be enthusiastically received, over-interpreted, circulated widely and repeated uncritically - even at the highest levels, and even some time after they have been shown to be wanting.

39B.
Equally, be aware that questionable scientific claims can be enthusiastically received, over-interpreted, circulated widely and repeated uncritically - even at the highest levels, and even some time after they have been shown to be wanting. 39B.
Equally, be aware that questionable scientific claims can be enthusiastically received, over-interpreted, circulated widely and repeated uncritically - even at the highest levels, and even some time after they have been shown to be wanting. 39B.
If there is *clear* evidence that kosher slaughter is significantly worse than methods which involve stunning, those who call for a ban should produce it.

39C.
Unless and until they do so, their calls for a ban - which regardless of intent, would harm Jewish life in the UK - should be disregarded.

39D, end.
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