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Germany Banning Pork To Avoid Offending Muslims?

By Tara Dodrill
Published on: 05:03 PST, Mar 7, 2016

Pork would become mandatory on cafeteria menus in Germany if some elected officials had their way. Some state politicians are pushing for a law to require pork dishes to be served in all government buildings such as schools and prisons. The mandatory menu inclusion legislation was drafted in response to claims that pork was being removed from cafes and schools because it was offensive to Muslims.

Christian Democratic Union politicians in Schleswig-Holstein said all pork products had been removed from schools and other places where food was served to prevent problems with the Muslim community, the Daily Mail reports. The CDU is the party of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Germany has been battling an increase in crime after waves of Syrian migrants were allowed into the country. Some citizens and lawmakers staunchly maintain that violent crimes, especially rapes against women, are due to the influx of the immigrants seeking asylum.

The push for all public facilities in Germany to keep pork on the menu has been ridiculed on social media. Those who feel the measure is laughable, or at least unwarranted, created several viral hashtags to push their message — #porkduty and #wurstcasescenario.

According to claims by the CDU, the pork ban was enacted in the northern region of the country for “religious reasons.”

German Christian Democratic Union Party representative Daniel Gunther had this to say about the brewing battle over pork in the country during an interview with Deutsche Welle.

‘The protection of minorities – including for religious reasons – must not mean that the majority is overruled in their free decision by ill-conceived consideration, The consumption of pork belongs to our culture, No one should be obliged to do so, but we also don’t want the majority having to refrain from pork.”

According to Gunther, at least one daycare center in every voting precinct in Schleswig-Holstein had stopped serving pork for religious reasons. The mandatory pork proposal at “state canteens” and schools was ultimately rejected by local public officials in Schleswig-Holstein.

“More and more canteens, kindergartens and schools are taking pork out of their menus so as to cater for religious custom,” Gunther added. “We insist on a healthy and balanced diet. In our culture, eating pork is a part of that.”

Schleswig-Holstein State Agriculture Minister Robert Habeck stated that he does not see a reason for the government to become involved in the pork controversy.

“I don’t share the idea of abrogating our constitutional rights in favor of the duty to eat chops or mince,” Habeck told reporters from the Local.

Social Democratic Party (SPD) Deputy Leader Ralf Stegner claims that Muslims, vegans, and vegetarians have become a “Holy Trinity” in Schleswig-Holstein eateries and schools.

German Free Democratic Party Leader Christian Lindner does not support either a mandatory pork order or the first Vegetarian Day which was recently enacted.

“Diversity tastes better than rules. Time for peace on our plates,” Lindner said.

According to a report in the Guardian, Russia is attempting to stir up controversy in Germany forcing an “information war” over Syrian refugees. The move is allegedly designed to take down Angela Merkel. The leader has been one of the prime supporters of pushing sanctions against Russia, according to a group of NATO analysts.

Russia is trying to topple Angela Merkel by waging an information war designed to stir up anger in Germany over refugees, Nato’s most senior expert on strategic communications has claimed.

What do you think about the pork ban vs mandatory pork argument in Germany?

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