Authorities Crackdown on Serving Pork Soup to Homeless Population on Religious Grounds

January 25, 2006

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4644766.stm

On January 25, 2006 BBC News reported, "Charity groups with far-right links serving pork soup to homeless people face a crackdown by French officials. Protesters have accused the groups of deliberate discrimination against Jews and Muslims, who do not eat the meat.

Strasbourg officials have banned the hand-outs and police in Paris have closed soup kitchens in an effort to avert racial tension.

The charities have defended offering what they call traditional cuisine to French and European homeless people.

The groups, operating in cities across France and neighbouring Belgium, are not formally linked but are associated with a small far-right organisation called Bloc Identitaire.

Identity Soup, as it has been dubbed by its chefs, was banned in Strasbourg this month after officials ruled it could lead to public disorder."