The Muslim Judical Council (MJC) has lashed out at Orion Cold Storage saying that they could not control re-labelling and what meat the cold storage company packed into their boxes.

Nabeweya Malick, spokesperson for the MJC, said yesterday: “Anyone could basically put pork meat into a box and put a halaal label on the outside.

“This is still a criminal matter that is in the hands of the courts, but it is important that we really show our grievance. A crime has taken place and the MJC was not involved in it.

“What had happened was totally unacceptable and showed total disrespect to Muslim sensitivities. There is nothing worse than to inform a Muslim that he or she might have unwittingly eaten pork,” said Malick

“Orion has also not shown any remorse. There is no more trust between the MJC and Orion, which led to us severing all ties with them and withdrawing our halaal certification.”

Patrick Gaertner, owner of Orion Cold Storage, said: “Orion could not deny that acts of sabotage were committed on its premises, following the total severance of any further business dealings with the two saboteurs, it is comfortable in offering an undertaking that no such acts would ever be allowed to take place on its premises.”

rusanap@thenewage.co.za