Jhatka Council Advances Campaign for Sikh Method of Slaughter

Jhatka Council, a UK-based Sikh advocacy group representing Jhatka practitioners and supporters, has made significant strides in its campaign to secure legal provisions for Jhatka, the traditional Sikh method of animal slaughter. Over recent months, the council has engaged with parliamentarians and community leaders to address the absence of Jhatka in Britain’s meat industry, which poses challenges for Sikhs adhering to their faith’s dietary principles.

In June 2025, the council approached Gurinder Singh Josan CBE, MP for Smethwick, preceding a parliamentary debate on non-stun slaughter. The discussion, focused on non-stunned animal slaughter practices, provided an opportunity to raise the Sikh perspective. The council clarified that its aim was not to critique other religious methods but to highlight Jhatka’s distinct requirements. Jhatka involves a single, swift strike to ensure an instantaneous and humane death, contrasting with methods involving throat-slitting, which Sikh teachings prohibit.

Following this initial contact, the council met with Josan again to plan a structured path forward. Over the course of a week, two further meetings were held in Westminster to refine a framework developed through the council’s grassroots efforts and Josan’s parliamentary insights. These discussions culminated in a plan for a series of focus groups, to be hosted within Parliament post summer recess. These sessions, involving experts, academics, and industry stakeholders, aim to gather a multitude of perspectives to inform policy recommendations.

Jhatka Council’s mission addresses a pressing issue for UK Sikhs. Without legal provision for Jhatka, many face a difficult choice: abstain from meat, consume non-Jhatka meat prohibited by their faith, or resort to unregulated practices that raise health and safety concerns. The council proposes two forms of Jhatka to meet both modern and traditional needs. For everyday consumption, Jhatka would involve a high-calibre captive bolt to stun-kill the animal, followed by mechanical decapitation, aligning with welfare standards while meeting religious requirements. For traditional settings, such as congregational events, Jhatka would involve a single sword strike, strictly regulated to ensure humane practices and restricted from commercial supply chains.

The council’s efforts will mark a monumental step towards embedding Jhatka within the UK’s regulatory framework. The first of the parliamentary focus groups, to be held in mid-September, will set the stage for further dialogue, with subsequent sessions planned to explore Jhatka’s cultural, ethical, and practical applicability. As the campaign progresses, Jhatka Council will continue to advocate for the solution that respects Sikh principles while aligning with Britain’s animal welfare standards.