Moscow: Mayor against public sacrifice

Moscow: Mayor against public sacrifice



Via RT:

Recently-appointed Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has called for an end to “bloody and provocative displays” of animal sacrifice to commemorate the Muslim festival of Eid-al-Adha.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of sheep are slaughtered during one of the most important celebrations in Islam. Although Moscow officially banned these sacrifices from public places in 2006, this year the Russian media has published hundreds of photographs of dead animals being killed, and sometimes left to rot on the streets.

“I think that neither the Muslim clergy, nor the Muslims themselves want the current situation to continue. I think this is simply a matter of better organization,” said the Moscow mayor on Sunday.

Last week some of Russia’s best-known actors and musicians signed a petition saying that the sacrifices “cannot do anything but shock those not used to cruelty,” and said that such scenes are “alien to Russian culture.”

(source)

Manchester: Christmas lights bring controversy

Manchester: Christmas lights bring controversy


Via Rochdale Online:

Rochdale’s Christmas lights have caught the eye of tabloid journalists for the second year in a row.

A year ago, Rochdale Council infamously put them up in late August, explaining that they were doing so as Eid would fall the next month and they wanted to have everything ready.

This year, the lights have gone up alongside Stars of David, crescent moons wishing by passers a ‘happy Eid’ and lanterns reminding you to have a ‘happy Diwali’. Diwali was on November 5 and the last celebratory day of Eid was today.

The Daily Star headlined its story ‘Christmas is hijacked by Muslims and Hindus’ and described local councillors as ‘barmy PC do-gooders’.

A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council explained the lights represent the diverse communities in Rochdale, saying: “Our Christmas lights remain very popular and help bring people into our town centres to enjoy Christmas events at a critical time for local traders. We have a varied and diverse display, representing our community in Rochdale.”

Imam Irfan Chisti, Chairman of the Multifaith Partnership of Rochdale, said: “I’m very much in favour of this and anything else that brings faiths together. The lights are right outside our mosque and it lightens up the whole area.

(source)

Netherlands: 100,000 animals slaughtered for Eid ul-Adha

Netherlands: 100,000 animals slaughtered for Eid ul-Adha

Around 95,000 sheep and about 4,000 cows were slaughtered this year in the Netherlands (NL) in honor of Eid ul-Adha. In general the rules for slaughtering and transporting the animals were observed, reports the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.

Slaughterhouses had a veterinarian present during the Muslim holiday, to check for any violations of the law. In some slaughterhouses, people who nicked the neck before slaughter were sent away since they didn't seem to be skilled enough.

In some cattle slaughterhouses there were problems with the timing mechanism which ensures that the animals were fully dead. Those animals had been stunned. In some cases the animals weren't transported by the rules and the drivers were fined.

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The Alderman for Diversity in Antwerp (Belgium), Monica De Coninck, reported that fewer sheep were slaughtered (NL) in the city this year. Muslims in the city could slaughter their sheep in three slaughterhouses, one which was set up for the occasion. Altogether, 3,670 were slaughtered, 334 fewer than last year. Abdellatif Akhandaf of the municipality says that it's possible that people slaughtered their sheep elsewhere, and that there are now more alternatives for slaughtering one's sheep. One such alternative is a gift. The city encourages this option in its contacts with the Muslim community.

Ghent also offered a regular slaughterhouse (150 sheep slaughtered) or a "do-it-yourself" area (1200 sheep slaughtered). Slightly more sheep were slaughtered in the city this year.

In Brussels, Perrine Marchal of the municipality, reports they see an increasing demand every year. Four years ago 300 sheep were slaughtered and this year there were 548. They think that it's because people don't slaughter at home as much.