France to close Halal chain: Ordered to sell pork and alcohol

The "Halal" chain of stores, which sells meat of guaranteed beef and poultry origin, targeting Muslims, has been ordered by the Paris city authorities to also sell pork and alcohol, or face closure, reports the Patria agency.

"Halal" supermarkets in Paris have received an order from the city authorities to sell pork and alcohol, with the explanation that the French capital "does not want any areas exclusively for Muslims, nor any area where there are no Muslims at all".

The mayor of the Colombes district, Nicole Guetta, according to his office, personally went to the "Halal" store and asked the manager to expand the assortment by adding pork and alcohol.

Given that "Halal" markets have increasingly begun to replace local stores, the population has complained that they cannot buy the usual range of food products in "Halal" supermarkets.

The mayor of the Paris district emphasized on this occasion that he would react the same way if "kosher food markets were as frequent".

Paris authorities are seeking legal measures to revoke the lease of the stores by the "Halal" chain, which is valid until 2019.