Slaughter charges against Ottawa farmer face Charter challenge
A west Ottawa sheep farmer accused of operating an illegal slaughter plant is "standing up for the rights of millions of Muslim people," though he is not Muslim himself, his lawyer said during a Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge.
Anthony Scissons, a farmer in Dunrobin, Ont., faces six provincial offences after selling live sheep to three Muslim men in October 2012.
The men who bought the sheep admitted to slaughtering the animals on the farm in a ritual called Dhabihah, but none were charged.
Andrews has argued the Ontario law interferes with the Charter rights protecting religious beliefs.
"We're allowed to question the constitutionality of the thing that was done by the Muslim men — if it's found to be unconstitutional he can't be convicted of it," he said.
The province has argued the law doesn't prevent the men from practising their religious beliefs — but the slaughter should be at a licensed facility.
A date for a decision will be set in late November.
