On Friday, authorities in Jammu & Kashmir clarified that there is no ban on animal sacrifices ahead to the Eid al-Adha festival next week and that a letter citing animal welfare laws a daily earlier with reference to the festival was misinterpreted.
Muslims sacrifice livestock to commemorate Prophet Abraham’s test to faith on Eid al-Adha. A portion of the meat of the sacrificed animals is distributed among the poor over the three-day long festival.
On Thursday in a communique, GL Sharma said, a large number of sacrificial animals were likely to be slaughtered in Jammu & Kashmir during the festival scheduled from July 21-23. It added the Animal Welfare Board of India has requested for implementation of all precautionary measures. “…strictly implement the Animal Welfare Laws viz Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960; Transport of Animal Welfare Rules, 1978; Transport of Animals (Amendment) Rules, 2001; Slaughter House Rules, 2001; Municipal Laws & Food Safety & Standards Authority of India directions for slaughtering of animals (under which camels cannot be slaughtered) during the festival,” he said.
The Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), an amalgam of religious bodies, issued a statement denouncing the purported ban “under the garb of prevention of cruelty”. “…why are Muslims being restricted by the government in performing their religious obligation,” the statement said.
MMU said the government should desist from issuing such arbitrary orders that are unacceptable to the Muslims as “they directly infringe upon their religious freedom and personal law” and cause “great anguish”.
The statement said the amalgam will convene a meeting of its key constituents and leading religious leaders to discuss the issue on Sunday.
