[Authorizing procedure and performing of ritual slaughter after the judgement of the German Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe].

The judgement of the German Constitutional Court from February the 15th in 2002 allows Moslems to perform ritual slaughter, provided that they can state compelling religious reasons. Animal protection was assessed just as a public interest in contrast to the constitutional rights of religious and professional freedom. However this can not be kept up any more as it is aimed to integrate animal protection into the German constitutional law. The authorities now have the duty to investigate each request for ritual slaughter carefully. This investigation must include a close look at the compelling religious reasons, the expert knowledge of the applicant (which includes stunning methods), the local facilities of the slaughterhouse and which is more for whom the meat is for. It is also important whether the animal is slaughtered for sacrificial or commercial reasons. Furthermore the consequences which threaten the religious community, if their members don't live according to the rules, have to be shown. Electric stunning and the fact that it is accepted by Islamic authorities has also to be pointed out. It seems to be possible to turn down a request for ritual slaughter referring that to the fact that animal protection is aimed to be part of the constitutional law.