Should the slaughter of animals without stunning be banned, even for religious reasons?

EU law generally requires animals to be stunned before slaughter to minimize pain, but grants exceptions for religious rites such as Jewish Shechita and Muslim Halal, which typically require the animal to be conscious when its throat is cut. Countries like Denmark, Belgium, and Slovenia have banned slaughter without stunning, sparking fierce debate about where the line between animal welfare and religious liberty lies. Supporters of a ban argue that modern veterinary science proves un-stunned slaughter causes severe and unnecessary distress. Opponents contend that these bans are discriminatory measures that target minority communities and effectively outlaw the production of Kosher and Halal meat.