A petition has been started to convert Crawley’s Nando’s branch into a restaurant that serves halal meat.
The campaign has been launched by chicken lovers who are unable to eat at the popular eatery in Crawley Leisure Park for religious reasons.
Muslims can only eat certain types of meat that have been slaughtered in a specific way under Islamic dietary guidelines.
The nearest Nando’s that serves halal meat is in Croydon and 23-year-old Amany Elmasry believes that if the Crawley branch did the same it would be able to welcome hundreds of extra customers.
Mrs Elmasry explained: “I moved to Crawley from central London in January.
“Living in London meant loads and loads of major chain restaurants with halal branches nearby and because Crawley is such a multicultural area I thought this town would have options.
“When I arrived I explored the area and went to all the restaurants at the leisure park but none served halal.
“Nando’s is my number one, it is my favourite restaurant and I was particularly disappointed it wasn’t a halal branch in Crawley.
“I went into Nando’s and spoke to a member of staff who said they have a lot of people ask if it is a halal restaurant but no one had ever started a petition.”
Mrs Elmasry has found that the only places she can eat out in the town centre are “small kebab shops”.
She added: “Crawley is a multicultural area and there is a big Muslim community.
“Nando’s is missing out on a lot of business.
“The only choice I have is to eat Nando’s if I am in London or the nearest restaurant to home is in Croydon.”
Mrs Elmasry, from Broadfield, has gained support from relatives, colleagues and friends – both Muslim and non-Muslim.
She added: “This is something I feel passionate about and my husband Ahmed is supporting me. He likes Nando’s as well but is happy for me to take the lead.
“I have spoken to my colleagues, some whom are Muslim and others who aren’t, and everyone is backing me.
“They understand nothing would change for them, it would just allow Muslim people to be able to eat and enjoy Nando’s in Crawley as well.
“There is no point in me going there if I can only eat a salad. I don’t think I’ve had one since November. I feel like I am having withdrawal symptoms.”
Nando’s standard policy is to decide if a restaurant will serve halal chicken before it opens.
Factors considered include the make-up of the local population, potential future openings in the area and distance from suppliers.
To view the petition, visit www.ipetitions.com/petition/make-nandos-in-crawley-halal
What is halal meat?
Halal foods are those that Muslims are allowed to eat or drink.
The foods addressed are mostly types of meat.
The most common example of non-halal (or haraam) food is pork.
While pork is the only meat that cannot be eaten by Muslims at all (due to historically, culturally and religiously perceived hygienic concerns), foods other than pork can also be haraam.
The criteria for non-pork items include their source, the cause of the animal’s death and how the food was processed.
Food that can be eaten must come from a supplier that uses halal practices.
Specifically, the slaughter must be performed by a Muslim, who must precede the slaughter by invoking the name of Allah, most commonly by saying “Bismillah” (“In the name of God”) and then three times “Allahu akbar” (“God is the greatest”).
Then, the animal must be slaughtered with a sharp knife by cutting the throat, windpipe and the blood vessels in the neck (while the animal is conscious), causing the animal’s death without cutting the spinal cord.