“Big trees attracts wind.” This phrase means when you are big enough you attract attention. The good news is the Muslim population in France is big enough to attract non-Muslim fast food chains to sell Halal meat and remove pork from their menu; the not so good news is the controversy over such business moves.

Halal meat, or meat slaughtered in line with Muslim tradition, is at the centre of a political controversy.

Quick – a fast-food French restaurant chain – is testing out a new niche market, withdrawing all pork products from the menu and serving only halal meat in some of its branches.

Experts say that with more than 5 million French Muslims who are potential customers, Quick is targeting a booming market: the $7.5bn halal business.

But the mayor of Roubaix, a French town near the northern city of Lille, has launched a law suit against the food chain, arguing that it constituted “discrimination” against non-Muslims.

And Marine Le Pen, the vice-president of the far-right National Front party, has warned of “Islamisation”.

Al Jazeera’s Estelle Youssouffa reports from Paris.

Source: Al Jazeera

Tags: france muslims, halal economy, halal meat, islam, kosher, paris, peta, quick burger