China drops plan to bring law on ‘halal’ food
Posted at: Apr 18, 2016, 2:57 PM;
last updated: Apr 18, 2016, 2:57 PM (IST)
Beijing, April 18
China has dropped a plan to bring a national law regulating ‘halal’ food following mixed reactions from public and scholars who accused the atheist government of meddling in religious affairs.
The drafting of a law on ‘halal’ food was not listed in China’s legislative work plan for this year after receiving mixed reactions from the public, including scholars who believe the law would open the door to allowing the secular government to have authority over religious issues, state-run Global Times reported.
The Legal Affairs Office of the State Council (Cabinet) announced in March that China had been studying whether to draft the law, years after the central cabinet first tasked the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) to draft a national regulation on ‘halal’ food in 2002.
The committee suggested speeding up passage of the legislation in 2012 and 2015, saying it was “reasonable and necessary” as it relates to “national unity and social stability”.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/china-drops-plan-to-bring-law-on-halal-food/224115.html