Seine-Saint-Denis: a temporary slaughterhouse opens its doors in Dugny for Aïd-el-Kébir

“This is very good news”, rejoices M’hammed Henniche, secretary general of the Union of Muslim associations of Seine-Saint-Denis (UAM 93). For the eleventh consecutive year, the prefecture has authorized the installation of a temporary slaughterhouse on the Aire des vents in Dugny, on the occasion of the festival of Eid-el-Kebir. “It was moved 200 meters compared to 2020 because of the work on this land for the future media village of the Olympic Games”, specifies the prefecture.

From Tuesday July 20 to Friday July 23, 2,400 Muslim families will be able to choose their sheep for the festivities. “This structure has a capacity of 1000 slaughtered animals per day but we are running around 800 for lack of personnel”, regrets M’hammed Henniche.

This ephemeral slaughterhouse wanted by the departmental council comes to replace the perennial structures of Jossigny (Seine-et-Marne), Meaux (Seine-et-Marne) and Ézanville (Val-d’Oise). Another temporary establishment will be set up in Montereau-Fault-Yonne (Seine-et-Marne).

“State services, in conjunction with associations and representatives of the Muslim faith, ensure that the faithful can participate in this celebration in compliance with health, environmental and commercial regulations as well as the rules of animal welfare”, comments the prefecture.

In a press release, she recalls that sacrificed animals can be slaughtered only in a slaughterhouse under the control of health inspectors from the DDPP, the departmental directorate for the protection of populations. “Each carcass must be subject to a health check before it is handed over to the families,” she explains. Clandestine slaughter is punishable by 6 months imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros.

“It will perhaps be the last slaughterhouse for Eid in Seine-Saint-Denis if we cannot find another space”

In this period of sanitary restrictions, hygiene rules will be tightened. Only two people maximum per household will be able to pick up the animal. “The practitioners will not be able to go inside the structure”, adds M’hammed Henniche.

This year, UAM 93 was afraid that the slaughterhouse might not be able to set up again on the Aire des vents, located in the Georges-Valbon departmental park. Because part of the land is already under construction to accommodate the media village of the 2024 Olympics.

“We had been warned that we might not be able to obtain it so we are relieved, slips M’hammed Henniche. On the other hand, we are worried about 2022. It may be the last slaughterhouse for Eid in Seine-Saint-Denis if we do not find another space. “

An ephemeral slaughterhouse costs between 100,000 and 150,000 euros. However, finding economic operators is proving difficult. “For it to be profitable, the land must be used for at least three years in a row for Eid,” explains M’hammed Henniche. It is already very good that the authorities have followed us for ten years, especially since this one is one of the few of a departmental dimension. But now the community should be able to organize and get out of the assistantship: either that mosques federate and release part of the sum, or that a Muslim businessman invests. “

Because demand remains very strong according to him. Each year, all the places in the slaughterhouse of Dugny are taken by storm despite the consequent price: the sacrifice of a sheep amounts to 2,800 euros. “But this slaughterhouse only responds to a drop in the ocean”, deplores M’hammed Henniche.