The three Christian parties in parliament have called for a special parliamentary hearing to look at the likely impact of a ban on Jewish and Muslim ritual animal slaughter.

A majority of MPs support a ban on the process which campaigners say causes unnecessary suffering. Both religions demand that slaughter is carried out with a single cut to the throat. In ordinary abattoirs, animals are usually stunned before being killed.
Freedom of religion
The three Christian parties oppose a ban, saying it contravenes freedom of religion legislation.
‘This is a subject which deeply affects people. I have heard different organisations saying they have not had a chance to have their say,’ CDA MP Henk Jan Ormel said.
MPs are due to discuss the potential ban on Wednesday.
Senior rabbis from the Netherlands, Germany and France are due to sign a declaration later on Tuesday calling on parliament not to ban ritual slaughter.