Suche
Mein Konto
Court verdict: Animal rights activists convicted after slaughterhouse action!
Two animal rights activists were convicted of trespassing by the Oldenburg regional court. The case concerns controversial CO₂ stunning of pigs.
Court verdict: Animal rights activists convicted after slaughterhouse action!
In a controversial ruling, the Oldenburg regional court convicted two animal rights activists for trespassing. The activists, Anna Schubert and Hendrik Hassel, secretly broke into a slaughterhouse in Lohne (Vechta district) in the spring of 2024 and recorded videos of the controversial CO₂ stunning of pigs. The recordings were then made available to the animal protection organization Animal Rights Watch and also received attention in media such as ARD and NDR. The slaughterhouse operator then demanded 98,000 euros in damages and a ban on distributing the material. The court largely agreed with the operator, but the activists announced that they would like to appeal because they felt their freedom of expression was being restricted. According to NDR, the activists are now no longer allowed to enter the slaughterhouse and must pay legal fees.
The process deals with a practice that is widespread in the meat industry: CO₂ stunning. Although this method is permitted by law, it causes heated debates. Proponents argue that it is economically necessary and carried out under conditions that comply with the Animal Welfare Act. Critics, however, see CO₂ anesthesia as animal cruelty. Schubert had positioned himself at a CO₂ stunning system to document the processes. The slaughterhouse operator, Niko Brand, is satisfied with the court ruling and defends the method as animal welfare compliant. According to Süddeutscher Zeitung, the court rejected the accusation of manipulating the video material and emphasized the importance of public documentation.
CO₂ stunning: A double-edged sword
The main focus of the current discussion is on CO₂ stunning, which is used for around 80% of slaughtered pigs in Germany. The method, in which animals are placed in an environment enriched with CO₂, causes a short-term loss of consciousness. However, many people find the animals' defensive reactions, which can occur when they are driven into the stunning facility, problematic. In particular, the duration of these reactions is controversial and has a strong influence on the animals' stress levels. According to VDF, CO₂ stunning is viewed as an animal welfare-friendly method, but further research is needed to improve the process.
In the meantime, the discussion about animal protection and the legal framework remains exciting. The activists have already announced that they will continue to make the images public, and the public prosecutor has applied for criminal orders for aiding and abetting trespassing. The case could have far-reaching consequences. The verdict clearly shows how complicated the tension is between the economic interests of the meat industry and animal welfare - an issue that concerns many people and will continue to cause excitement in the future.