Revolution or Evolution?: Dutch Ritual Slaughter and Animal Welfare as ‘Public Morals’ through the ECtHR Lens

S.A.C. Devriendt; M. van Schaik; C.M. Zoethout

doi:10.21428/9885764c.24c16bfc

Revolution or Evolution? Dutch Ritual Slaughter and Animal Welfare as ‘Public Morals’ through the ECtHR Lens

Research output: Non-textual form and Research tools › Web publication/blog › Academic

Abstract

This post argues that, while the 2025 Dutch legislative proposal – permitting reversible, non-lethal pre-slaughter stunning in the case of ritual slaughter – met the ECtHR ‘public morals’ aim, it fell short of the proportionality test regarding adult cattle. It frames a shift towards a ‘revolutionary evolution’ of animal welfare.

Original language	English
Publisher	The European Law Blog
Media of output	Blog
Size	2662 words
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.21428/9885764c.24c16bfc
Publication status	Published - 4 Feb 2026

Keywords

fundamental rights
ritual slaughter
freedom of religion
ECHR

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10.21428/9885764c.24c16bfcLicence: CC BY-SA

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title = "Revolution or Evolution?: Dutch Ritual Slaughter and Animal Welfare as {\textquoteleft}Public Morals{\textquoteright} through the ECtHR Lens",

abstract = "This post argues that, while the 2025 Dutch legislative proposal – permitting reversible, non-lethal pre-slaughter stunning in the case of ritual slaughter – met the ECtHR {\textquoteleft}public morals{\textquoteright} aim, it fell short of the proportionality test regarding adult cattle. It frames a shift towards a {\textquoteleft}revolutionary evolution{\textquoteright} of animal welfare.",

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AU - Zoethout, C.M.

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AB - This post argues that, while the 2025 Dutch legislative proposal – permitting reversible, non-lethal pre-slaughter stunning in the case of ritual slaughter – met the ECtHR ‘public morals’ aim, it fell short of the proportionality test regarding adult cattle. It frames a shift towards a ‘revolutionary evolution’ of animal welfare.

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KW - freedom of religion

KW - ECHR

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Revolution or Evolution? Dutch Ritual Slaughter and Animal Welfare as ‘Public Morals’ through the ECtHR Lens

Abstract

Keywords

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