Muslims ‘treat animals humanely’
Known as Qurbani, Arabic for sacrifice of livestock, Muslims slaughter an animal of their choice on this day (sheep, goat, cattle such as cows and camels) as an act of sacrifice to their god Allah.
Eid al-Adha is an Islamic festival celebrated worldwide and is being commemorated today (August 22).
The National Council of SPCA (NSPCA) has developed an animal care guide for the festival that includes content from the legislation to the preparations as well as the slaughtering of the animals.
Vicky Finnemore (Benoni SPCA manager) has witnessed many a festival, and has listed some of her main concerns from what she has witnessed over the years at some of the festivals:
• Animals dragged by their tails and noses in the mud.
• Incidents of animals getting skinned before they were completely dead.
• Beating of cattle with whips and plastic strips laced with steel.
• Dragging of animals by the horns and hind legs.
• Knife used to cut animal’s throat often blunt or too small.
Finnemore said the SPCA had no intention of infringing on any religious groups rights or practices, but that they want the animals to be treated humanely during Qurbani.
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“Our objective is not to stop but to monitor the transport, handling and slaughtering of these animals, and to ensure that there are no contraventions of the Animals Protection Act,” said Finnemore.
In order to ensure what the NSPCA feels is a humane slaughtering, they have suggested the Muslim community pre-stun animals before the slaughtering.
Pre-stunning is when a captive bolt pistol (industrial tool used in abattoirs) is used to make the animal unconscious (for about 60 seconds as the animal can regain consciousness after this) so that slaughtering can take place humanely and effectively.
“The Quran (Islamic religious book) states that the main intent is to be kind to the animal and spare unnecessary suffering as far as possible,” said Finnemore.
“These rules are often broken, not only by Muslims, but by some non-Muslim property owners who host the festival, and assist with the slaughtering.”
The City Times spoke to Muslims about the pre-stunning the NSPCA suggested to be implemented.
Below are comments from individuals who all wished to remain anonymous.
“The stun-gun is not required because we are gentle.
“Qurbani has Islamic laws and a stun-gun is not permissible.
“The next animal does not get to see the ones being slaughtered, and we take extra care to make sure there is no cruelty.”
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