Uproar in France over Muslim 'kosher' burgers
Local Quick fast food chain starts using halal meat only, slaughtered according to Sharia law, in eight of its branches located in large Muslim population centers. French officials protest step, warn of cultural isolationism, discrimination
PARIS – The French campaign against American junk food has been going on for years based on the argument that Americanization best represented by McDonalds destroys traditional French culture.
However, it was the local Quick burger chain that suffered criticism this week. The fast food chain has started serving only beef slaughtered according to Muslim Sharia law - halal meat - in eight of its branches across France. Pork has been removed from the menu and replaced with smoked turkey. The braches are located in the outskirts of Paris, Marseille and the northern town of Roubaix - all areas containing large concentrations of North-African immigrants.
Quick's management claimed in its defense that the decision was purely financial and had nothing to do with religious considerations. It further stressed that the step was an experimental one, to be reviewed in six months.
The Muslim food market in France is constantly expanding and according to marketing estimates will be worth €5.5 billion by the end of 2010.
Quick 'halal' branch in city of Roubaix (Photo: Reuters)
The French establishment views public or commercial bodies which deliberately target a certain sector of society as challenging the Republic's basic principles. The argument is that in the French public sphere all citizens are entitled to the same level of service regardless of race, gender or religion.
'No to cultural isolationism'
The conservative-republican political camp which includes French President Nicolas Sarkozy has low tolerance for such a phenomenon as the halal burger chains, having previously banned burqas in the public shere. Xavier Bertrand, secretary-general of Sarkozy's party slammed the new policy during a radio interview and said he objected to any measure that promotes cultural isolationism.
Rene Vandierendonck, Roubaix's Socialist mayor expressed his protest in a local newspaper and described Quick's decision as discrimination.
On the other side, Fatih Kumish, the manager of an online Muslim consumerism forum accused the opposing parties with hypocrisy. "Would there be such a fervent discourse had Quick decided to serve only organic products? There's a supermarket branch that is entirely Kosher. Why doesn't anyone protest against that?"
It should be noted that the Quick "halal" branches are not observant of other Muslim prohibitions and sell beer for example.
