Muslim body demands change in slaughter law
HERALD REPORTER
VASCO, NOV 20
Miffed over the interference of an NGO in stopping the annual ‘Qurbani’ ritual of slaughtering goats and cattle, the Goa State of All India Milli Council has demanded the amendment of the Goa Slaughter House Act, 1978.
In a press note, Milli Council State President Iqbal Mohidin condemned the stopping of the ‘Qurbani’ ritual on the occasion of Eid by the NGO Panjim Welfare Society (PAWS) on Thursday.
“The Milli Council appeals to the state government to amend the Goa Slaughter House Act 1978 and grand special permission to the Muslim organization in Goa to perform ‘Qurbani’ only for a day or two on the occasion of Eid ul Adha,” Mohidin said.
“Government authorities should ascertain that ‘Qurbani’ is performed in a covered place away from residential areas, in hygienic condition and under the direct supervision of their personnel,” added Mohidin.
He informed that Qurbani is performed by Muslims all over the world on the occasion of Eid ul Adha, as a symbolic sacrifice to commemorate Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the commandment of Allah.
“In the process of protecting animal rights, the NGO has infringed upon the religious obligations of the Muslims and has also deprived the poor of food on the day of Eid, thus causing a lot of anger amongst the Muslim community,” said Mohidin.
“The Milli Council feels that some communal forces may be using the NGOs to stop Muslims from performing their religious obligations, to create an atmosphere of unrest and communal disturbance in Goa by confiscating the animals at a number of places in Goa.”
Mohidin claimed that the Milli Council did not agree with the contention of the NGO that animals should be slaughtered only at the Goa Meat Complex in Usgao.
“It is not practical to slaughter animals from all over Goa at at the Goa Meat Complex in one day. Besides, the Goa Meat Complex is unhygienic with no proper water and sanitation facilities,” he said.
In order to avoid repetition of such instances in future, Milli Council has appealed to the State Government to amend the Goa Slaughter House Act, 1978.
