European Commission hosts a conference on religious slaughter with national authorities and religious communities

Today, the European Commission is organising a conference on freedom of religion with regard to religious slaughter, in partnership with the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the UN. Commissioner Helena Dalli will deliver the opening remarks.

Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, Chairman of Irish Muslim Council and Chief Imam of Islamic Centre of Ireland, is also attending this meeting.

The conference is bringing together representatives of EU Member States and other national authorities, special envoys and coordinators on combating antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, representatives of national Jewish, Muslim and other religious communities, international organisations and independent experts.

In its EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life and in its EU Anti-racism Action Plan, the Commission committed to facilitating exchange of practices between national authorities, representatives of Jewish and Muslim communities, equality bodies, civil society and local level representatives, and to draw on experience of international organisations. A summary of the event will be made available online in the coming days.