Parents launch petition to stop their school serving only halal meat to pupils
A row has broken out after parents launched a campaign for a school not to serve only halal meat.
Hundreds of people have signed a
petition objecting to dishing out meat killed in the traditional Islamic method.
Some parents said the move was "disgusting" after a headteacher wrote to them asking if they would prepared for the school to just serve halal.
But others blasted the campaign as "Islamophobic" amid claims hysteria was being whipped up over the issue.
Headteacher Claire Majumdar at Wolsey Junior Academy in Croydon, south London, wrote to parents asking them if they would be prepared for the cafeteria to serve halal meat only.
The idea began when a Muslim parent asked if the school would start serving the meat, which involves slitting the animal's throat without being stunned whilst reciting a religious verse.
After speaking to the school chef, the headteacher was told the kitchen would have to be either completely halal or not at all.
Parents have started a petition to express their outage at the plans, with more than 200 signatures already lodged since the letter was sent out on Monday.
The letter asked parents if "you would like Wolsey to become a halal school?"
"This would mean that all meat served in our kitchen will be halal meat only."
It then asked parents to tick one of two boxes - in favour, or not in favour.
A statement on the petition website said: "Halal meat is prepared in accordance with Islamic law by cutting an animal's throat while a Muslim butcher recites a religious verse.
"Why have the school decided to offer this choice now after all this time in charge since changing to an academy?"
Wolsey Academy headteacher Claire Majumdar said the school was happy to talk to parents about concerns but said the letter did not mean a change was imminent.
She said: "This all began after a parent wrote me a letter asking if we offered halal meat in the kitchen because that was their preference.
"I then talked to our chef about it and he said that meat would either have to be all halal or no halal. So I sent out the letter hoping to hear what parents had to say.
"It was about hearing parents' voices and going with the majority."
Some parents took to social media to voice their opinions at the thought of the change.
One said: "Who else thinks it's disgusting that Wolsey school wants to make the food all halal."
Another said: "That's disgusting. I give my son packed lunch but that's so wrong."