BRADFORD, UK—A halal meat plant planned for a site beside a prominent Sikh temple in Bradford is being fiercely opposed by worshippers, who feel it disrespects their religious beliefs.
Food firm Pakeezah wants to convert a disused car repair workshop in Percival Street into a modern wholesale meat plant and its proposal is being recommended for approval at Tuesday’s Area Planning Panel.
But Bradford’s Sikh community fears the redevelopment could mean the smell of meat wafting into the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara building, which fronts onto Leeds Road.
“Many of our people are strict vegetarians and the notion of meat being so near to the temple is disrespectful and insensitive,” said Dr Kuldip Bharj, secretary of the Board of Bradford Gurdwaras which oversees the local Sikh community. “The analogy of putting a pork butcher beside a mosque or synagogue is a good one.
“Although we do not eat halal meat, we do not condemn it as repugnant because we do respect other religions. It is really that the smell of meat is very offensive for people who don’t eat it.”
The Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara is the largest place of worship for Sikhs in the north, said its president Kuldeep Duley. In a letter to Council planning officer Mohammed Yousef, he wrote: “A butchery plant should be on an industrial estate rather than next to a place of worship and community centre where people will be exposed to the disgraceful smell and noise.
“We are also concerned the wash from the plant will feed rats in the drains, increasing the rodent problem already in the area.”
Pakeezah director Tariq Haq said he was keen to allay any fears.
A Council spokesman said: “We recognise there are significant concerns and opponents will have their chance to put points to the planning committee on August 13.”
I see you Sikhs are doing a great job excelling your community on the plight of Muslims, by yet again……siding with the far-right. Well done!
We have many options;
1. Approach to Muslim community leader and request to withdraw application for plant and move on to other location.
2. Prey to Guru Ji that plant does not get approval from City Planning Commission.
3. Ardas to Guru Ji to create circumstance that Muslim comes into sense to respect our religion and change their mind to find some other location.
4. Take both business owner and City management to court for legal rights of every religion.
5. Final option is Guru Gobind Singh ji’s army/Amritdharies should use their muscles as they are sustained by Sikh congregation funds. If they cannot protect Sikh establishments then fundaments purpose of Amrit is failing. Amritdharies remains only internal threat to Sikh community members, but not to Sikh enemies.