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Observant Muslims and Jews in FranceÌýfear they could lose access to locally ritually slaughtered meat if far-right ÌýMarine Le Pen wins the ,Ìýheld next Sunday.

has long stated that she wants all animals to be stunned unconscious before slaughter, which is against the principles regulating kosher and halal rituals. Islam and Judaism both insist animals should be conscious when slaughtered and see stunning as an unnecessary source of suffering.

Although Le Pen framesÌýthe move as stemmingÌýfrom concerns about animal welfare, the intention to target members of France's religious minorities is clear. She supportsÌýother policies that show little concern forÌýanimals -ÌýlikeÌýextendedÌýhunting rights, a move clearly meant to woo France's rural communities,Ìýwhere hunting remains a deeply anchored tradition.

Le Pen is the historic leader of the National Rally, formally known as the National Front, which has long campaigned to restrict immigration and roll back some religious freedoms, openly targeting Muslim minorities.

Earlier this month, she alsoÌýannounced she would ban the in public if elected, and that fines would be imposed on women wearing the Islamic headscarf.

France's booming halal meat industry would suffer a massive blow if Le Pen succeeded in banning ritual slaughtering,Ìýbut Muslim communities would still be able to buy imported halal meat.Ìý

It would also not be the first country to ban ritual slaughtering. In the EU, Slovenia, Denmark,ÌýSweden and parts of Belgium haveÌýcancelledÌýreligious exemptions in the meat industry, meaning kosher and halal meat must be imported.Ìý

France does not recordÌýdata about religious identity, but is estimated to host the largest Muslim and Jewish populations in Western Europe.

French Muslims are thought to make up around nine percent of the population, but theyÌýhave been leaving the countryÌýin ever-greater numbers over the past years, fleeing a political climate of distrust and scapegoating against their community.

TheÌýpresidential electionsÌýthis year mirrors the last onesÌýfive years ago, in which Macron beatÌýLe Pen with two thirds of votes. But this time, analysts warn the race will be much tighter amid particularly high projected abstention rates.