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In New York a potentially ground breaking legal case is being heard on the fate of two chimps. Animal rights lawyers acting in the interests of Leo and Hercules are arguing that they are being held against their will at a university lab and they should be transferred to an animal sanctuary. In previous hearings the court has even considered whether the principle of habeas corpus could be applied to the chimps. As our scientific knowledge of the animal kingdom has grown so has our understanding of animal welfare and for some this has developed into the philosophical concept of the rights of animals. Arguably a major turning point was in 1999 when courts in New Zealand granted basic rights to the five great ape species, banning their use in research, testing or teaching. This increased sensitivity towards the animal kingdom, has affected our engagement with them, and has also quite rightly shone a light on other, more controversial issues. One of these is religious slaughter. In Arabic halal means lawful. In Islamic thought halal is not just about the moment of death, it’s about the welfare of the animal from the point it’s born, and includes our relationship with it throughout its life. How we care for animals, how we use them, how we engage with them are all essential measures of whether something can be considered halal. God says: "They ask you what is halal for them. Say "what is natural and wholesome is halal for you.” This is expanded when god speaks of how animals have needs and rights, as people do: “There is not an animal in the earth, or a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are communities like you.” Whatever our religious beliefs and perspective on animal rights, surely we must all accept a clear moral responsibility for the welfare of animals in research, food or however we use them. For some that moral duty is in conflict with the governing principles of religious slaughter. Different Muslims will have different understandings of what is halal. But an essential principle for me and many others is that the animal is treated well especially throughout its life as well as at the time of its death. Animal welfare must be a greater priority for us in order that we maintain the equilibrium between the human and animal kingdoms. If clear scientific evidence showed that ritual slaughter could be more humane than the current models being used then this is something I would encourage us all to consider.