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Denmark moves to ban bestiality: Controversial right to have sex with animals will be outlawed | Denmark moves to ban bestiality: Controversial right to have sex with animals will be outlawed |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Denmark is planning to ban bestiality after long-running international pressure over animal welfare. | Denmark is planning to ban bestiality after long-running international pressure over animal welfare. |
Denmark is one of the few European countries which still allows bestiality. Norway, Sweden and Germany have all banned the practice, leading to a rise in the underground animal sex tourism in Denmark. | |
Minister of Food and Agriculture Dan Jørgensen, who is planning an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act for next year, said to Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet: “I have decided that we should ban sex with animals.” | Minister of Food and Agriculture Dan Jørgensen, who is planning an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act for next year, said to Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet: “I have decided that we should ban sex with animals.” |
He indicated the damage done to Denmark’s reputation by allowing animal sex was a factor in his decision, but added: “The most important is that in the vast majority of cases it is an attack against the animals. | He indicated the damage done to Denmark’s reputation by allowing animal sex was a factor in his decision, but added: “The most important is that in the vast majority of cases it is an attack against the animals. |
“And under all circumstances, any doubts about it should go to the animals’ benefit. They naturally cannot say no to going along with it,” the Danish minister said. | “And under all circumstances, any doubts about it should go to the animals’ benefit. They naturally cannot say no to going along with it,” the Danish minister said. |
A recent Gallup poll revealed 76 per cent of Danes supported a ban on the legality of animal sex. | |
Although the amendment was already tabled by Denmark's government, Mr Jørgensen's comments are an explicit indication the change will specifically include the banning of bestiality. | Although the amendment was already tabled by Denmark's government, Mr Jørgensen's comments are an explicit indication the change will specifically include the banning of bestiality. |
However, the decision by Mr Jørgensen has been labelled unnecessary by animal ethics committee president Bengt Holst. | However, the decision by Mr Jørgensen has been labelled unnecessary by animal ethics committee president Bengt Holst. |
Mr Holst argues the law already protects animals, as existing legislation prohibits animal suffering, pain, distress or lasting harm. | Mr Holst argues the law already protects animals, as existing legislation prohibits animal suffering, pain, distress or lasting harm. |
Ethics committee president Holst claims that the Animal Welfare Act accounts for animals’ protection, adding it was not the position of the Animal Ethics Council to moralise. | Ethics committee president Holst claims that the Animal Welfare Act accounts for animals’ protection, adding it was not the position of the Animal Ethics Council to moralise. |
Mr Holst heads the 12-strong committee, who are appointed by the Ministry of Food on the advice of animal welfare organisations, farmers’ groups and the Danish Consumer Council. | |
A recent VICE documentary followed zoophiles who argued they were not harming the animals, and animal rights campaigners who have been working towards ensuring the practice is made illegal. | |
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