French Jews and Muslims unite in anger at election meat row

France’s Jews and Muslims united yesterday to complain they were being used as pawns in a presidential election increasingly dominated by bitter disputes over national identity andritual slaughter.

“France’s problems are so major, as we are in a period of crisis, so how can the issue of kosher meat and halal meat be a major problem for France?” asked an exasperated Grand Rabbi of France, Gilles Bernheim.

For its part, the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) slammed what it said was the use of Muslims as “scapegoats” in the election campaign in which halal slaughter of animals has become a hot-button issue.

The unusually strong reactions from the two communities came a day after Prime Minister Francois Fillon urged Muslims and Jews to consider scrapping their “outdated” slaughter rules.