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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Amid protests by Buddhist hardliners, Islamic clerics announced Monday (March 11th) the withdrawal of a halal labelling system for food in Sri Lanka "in the interests of peace", AFP reported.
All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) Mufti, M.I.M. Rizwe (left) chats with Sri Lankan Aggamha Panditha Ven Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thera during a joint press conference by Buddhist monks and Islamic clerics in Colombo on Monday (March 11th). The clerics announced the withdrawal of a halal labelling system for food in Sri Lanka "in the interests of peace". [Ishara S. Kosikara/AFP]
The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), Sri Lanka's main body of Islamic clergy, said the halal certificate would be issued only for products being exported to Muslim countries.
"We are giving up what is important to us. We are making a sacrifice in the interest of peace and harmony," ACJU president Mufti M.I.M. Rizwe said.
Food manufacturers in Sri Lanka have long made all their products using halal methods and labelled them with the ACJU halal certificate, arguing it makes no sense to have two manufacturing processes for the same product.
Last month, nationalist Buddhist monks and their supporters launched a campaign to boycott halal-slaughtered meat, arguing that Buddhists should not be forced to consume food that is prepared according to Islamic rites.
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Reader Comments
SarahaMarch 14, 2013 @ 04:03:38AM
Salams to all Muslims, We Muslims never eat non Halal food. In the past we did not have the Halal logo but we ate only Halal food.In the future also we will eat Halal food only,Insha Allah!...Ameen! "Humans will plan, But beyond that Allah also plan"
JayaMarch 13, 2013 @ 10:03:15PM
Halal was issued for almost all the food products not only meat. biscuits, milkfoods and almost every thing. manufactures were also charged 300USD per month to keep Halal certification. so that cost was thrust upon all the people who consume the food products. that where the problem was. this artical was misleading to say only meat.