Despite intimidation attempts, he will not remain silent. Hugo Clément, who is known for his commitment to environmental and animal protection, posted on his Twitter account on Thursday July 7 that he had become the target of “death threats and hate messages”. And this after he had spoken out about the conditions under which stunning ritual slaughter is practised on Eid-el-Kebir. Describing the situation in detail, the journalist said: “For the past few hours I have been receiving an enormous number of death threats and hate messages just for pointing out the scientifically proven cruelty of ritual slaughter without anaesthesia. Before clarifying shortly afterwards that he had no intention of giving in: “I will continue to do so without hesitation. It is a question of steadfastness”.
Hugo Clément, who has been accused of Islamophobia by some internet users, also wanted to remind people that he fights against all forms of violence against animals. “For many, to be ‘Islamophobic’ is to speak out against ritual slaughter. It is shameful to argue like this,” he posted at length on his Twitter account. Throughout the year, animal rights activists mobilise around 1000 issues: Bullfighting, factory farming, cruel hunts, industrial fishing, ‘classic’ slaughterhouses.” Defending his position, he concluded: “There is no reason not to fight a practice that adds unnecessary suffering just because it is done in the name of religious beliefs.”
On Wednesday July 6, the journalist – who is regularly criticised for his opinions – had shared on the same social network a post by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation denouncing ritual slaughter on Eid. “He recalled that slaughter without anaesthesia, in which an animal’s throat is cut while it is fully conscious, is a cruel practice that is already banned in several countries,” he pointed out. No religious belief can justify such ill-treatment”.