BBC News - French fast food chain Quick sparks halal burger appeal

'Going too far'

In Roubaix, Mayor Rene Vandierendonck, a socialist, called for a boycott of the Quick branch, and the town council has filed a complaint for discrimination with a regional court in Lille.

"I'm not bothered by the fact that there is a halal menu," Mr Vandierendonck said.

"But this is going too far because it is the only menu on offer and it has become discrimination."

Quick decided to take a bacon hamburger off the menu at eight of its 350 branches, replacing it with a halal version that comes with smoked turkey.

It said the move was designed to test the "commercial interest and technical feasibility" of introducing halal menus.

The Quick manager responsible for the Roubaix branch said there had been a slight increase in business after the introduction of halal menus and that he had not received complaints from customers, AFP news agency reported.

France is home to Europe's biggest Muslim minority, estimated at more than five million people.

Debate has recently focussed on the Islamic veil, with a French parliamentary committee recommending a partial ban on women wearing Islamic face veils last month.

Me thinks France maybe a little too paranoid and not dealing with minorities properly...though I think the face veil initiative was one worth taking...

But I wonder how a reaction like that could be reflected here in Canada or the States that does cater to local ethnic groups.

I couldn't imagine an Indian Veggie restaurant told to serve meat or a Jewish restaurant told to serve non-Kosher...