City Council Approves Islamic Animal Sacrifices
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In Michigan, the Hamtramck City Council voted to allow the religious sacrifice of animals on residential property.
The all-Muslim city council voted 3-2 to amend a city ordinance to allow the practice following several months of heated debate and pressure from Muslim residents, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Muslims often slaughter animals, typically goats or sheep, during the Eid al-Adha holiday. Hamtramck has one of the highest percentage of Muslim residents in the country.
“If somebody wants to do it, they have a right to do their practice,” Councilman Mohammed Hassan said during the meeting.
Those opposed to the ordinance change say that it will lead to animal cruelty or sanitation problems in the city. They’re also worried about people being traumatized by seeing slaughtered goats, lambs, and cows in backyards, and the bloody scene the practice leaves behind.
Councilman Nayeem Choudhury said this is an issue of religious freedom.
“Our rights come first,” he said, adding that he was “born … Muslim, and that’s my faith, and I will stick with my same faith.”
Hamtramck residents will be required to notify the city, pay a fee, and make their property available for inspection.
Hamtramck has a population 28,000. More than half of the residents are of Yemeni or Bangladeshi descent, according to the Free Press.
Source: Detroit Free Press