Halal Scandal in the Air – Deported Migrants Served Pork

Irish authorities have faced criticism after Muslim migrants were served pork sausages on a chartered deportation flight from Dublin to Islamabad in Pakistan.

The incident was revealed in a report from an independent human rights observer, commissioned by Ireland’s Department of Justice and later published following a freedom of information request.

The flight took place on September 23, 2025, and was Ireland’s first dedicated deportation flight to Pakistan. On board were 24 men being deported after their immigration cases were rejected. The plane also carried officers from the Irish police Garda, doctors, an interpreter, and a special observer who monitored the treatment of those being deported.

According to the report, two meals were served during the flight. The main criticism focused on the fact that a traditional “full Irish breakfast” included pork sausages, although the passengers were being deported to a Muslim country where pork is religiously forbidden for many believers. The observer also noted that the food was of “lower standard than expected.” Garda officers reportedly described the serving of pork as “inappropriate.”

The report also states there was an understanding that halal food would be available, but this was not clearly indicated in the pre-flight briefing. After the incident, catering procedures for future deportation flights were changed, according to The Irish Times.

Expensive journey

Several British media outlets have highlighted the incident and linked it to Ireland’s stricter migration policies. According to reports, the flight to Pakistan cost around £410,000, amounting to over five million Swedish kronor.

However, the report mainly describes the deportation itself as being carried out with respect for the deportees’ “rights and dignity.” Several incidents during the journey are also mentioned. One man became upset when he thought a police officer was filming him with a mobile phone during boarding, something later confirmed to have happened. After landing, two of the deportees returned to the plane in an agitated state because they claimed their mobile phones and luggage had not been returned immediately.

In recent years, Ireland has increased the use of chartered deportation flights as part of government efforts to tighten migration policy. Previous reports state that hundreds of people have been deported by special flights to, among other countries, Pakistan, Georgia, Nigeria, Romania, and South Africa.