Halal meat in the west is a lot more expensive than regular meat from western farms. If restaurants buy halal meat, they will have to sell it at a higher price than their competitors. This will not only mean less customers but it could also result in a smaller profit margin. Due to this, a lot of restaurants, especially Arab and Indian, display halal signs when the meat is not actually halal. Even though there may be a sign displaying halal, a lot of religious Muslims feel that it is their duty to inquire and are told, “everything is halal.” What else will the employee say? Everything is haram?
There are Indian restaurants owned by Muslims that sell alcohol and meat. The owner will say something like, “alcohol is only for westerners but the meat is halal”. I have personally been in the fridge of one of these restaurants and saw that the meat was brought from 3-4 different western farms. Isn’t it common sense that someone who is not refraining from selling alcohol will not sell halal meat?
Even men with long beards and women in burkas eat at these restaurants after they are satisfied on being told that everything is halal. We also have men with long beards and women in head scarfs who eat at western restaurants. I don’t think we even need to discuss western restaurants.
Then their are Arab restaurants selling shawarmas. Once again, big halal signs. I went into one of these and found out that the owner was actually a Lebanese Christian. Why would a Christian sell halal meat? Even many shawarma restaurants owned by Arab Muslims don’t sell halal meat, even though their may be a big sign saying otherwise.
Lets put halal and haram on the side for a second. Do you know what goes on in the kitchens of these restaurants? People are served olives, chutney, deserts etc and if a customer eats half of it and leaves, the remaining goes back in the big bucket where it is served as fresh to the next customer. Apart from the fact that it is completely gross, people can actually get AIDS and STDs in this manner.
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