The Unfulfilled Promise of Halal, with Kristen Stilt

Event Date: 

Tuesday, May 7, 2019 - 12:00am

Kristen Stilt demonstrates that despite the many injunctions found within Islamic law to treat animals, including farmed animals, with mercy, the concept of halal, and the related halal certification process, generally avoid any attention to animal welfare. She considers whether there is the potential within the existing halal system to expand to include concern for the welfare of the animals slaughtered. Stilt discusses some new approaches that have been advanced by Muslims concerned about farmed animal welfare, and proposes potential new lines of argumentation internal to the Islamic tradition that can be harnessed in the cause of animal welfare. Stilt analyzes this Islamic studies topic through examples from Egypt and Jordan in particular and connects varied issues including food law and how consumer choice and demand can influence how farmed animals are treated.