In the city of Katowice in Poland, multi-hour demonstrations have been taking place since July outside the Tatarland restaurant, which serves horse meat steaks and tartares. Activists are demanding that horse meat be removed from the menu, but the owner of the establishment refuses to change the range.
WHY ACTIVISTS ARE PROTESTING AGAINST HORSE MEAT
According to Onet Kobieta, the conflict arose after the opening of the Tatarland restaurant. The restaurant's menu includes dishes made from beef, venison, mouflon, roe deer and horse meat. It was the last item that provoked the protest by "Abolitionist Activists".
"Eating a horse? It's the same as eating a dog or a cat!", one of the group's leaders explained the activists' position.
Activists believe that in Polish culture the horse was first and foremost a companion to humans, not an animal intended for consumption as food.
HOW THE PROTESTS AFFECTED NEIGHBOURING RESTAURANTS
During the multi-hour demonstrations, conflicts occur between the protesters, passers-by and employees of the establishments. Police are regularly called to the scene.
In mid-August, the Katowice authorities measured the noise level at one of the demonstrations. According to city hall press secretary Sandra Hajduk, the recorded level posed a short-term health hazard. The organiser twice refused to reduce the volume of the equipment, after which the assembly was dispersed.
At the same time, subsequent demonstrations were not banned. Neighbouring restaurants are also feeling the consequences of the protests. The manager of one establishment estimated losses over a weekend at approximately 10,000 zlotys (around 1.2 million tenge). Another restaurant records a drop in turnover of approximately 30% during the demonstrations.
WHY THE RESTAURANT REFUSES TO REMOVE HORSE MEAT FROM THE MENU
The owner of Tatarland did not agree to fulfil the activists' demand. His representative, lawyer Aleksander Kwaśniak, stated that horse meat tartare and steak are among the restaurant's most popular dishes.
He also noted that the sale of horse meat in Poland is legal. According to the lawyer, the restaurant is considering the possibility of going to court over the protesters' actions.
WHAT LEGISLATIVE GOAL THE ACTIVISTS ARE PURSUING
"Abolitionist Activists" have previously campaigned against fur, rodeos and the use of horses in haulage. The group is now seeking recognition of the horse as a companion animal and a change in the law.
Since September, activists have been collecting signatures for a draft law.
