Sunrise commissioner blocks Muslim sacrifice of goats and lambs

[Freddie Stubbs]

SUNRISE — Disturbed by the prospect of lambs and goats being slaughtered in her city, Sunrise Commissioner Sheila Alu single-handedly blocked a Muslim religious ceremony set to take place on Sunday.

"Yes, I was trying to stop it," Alu said on Wednesday. "It's shut down. I'm trying to protect innocent animals. This is not an appropriate setting for the slaughtering of animals in an open field in a city that's as populated as Sunrise. Usually these religious ceremonies take place in a rural area."

The news did not sit well with Nezar Hamze, executive director of the South Florida Council on American-Islamic Relations based in Pembroke Pines.

"Wow," Hamze said. "That is very upsetting. We'll find another venue. But that's very disturbing. I'm very disappointed in that. We asked for permission and went through the proper channels and now it's off because a commissioner has a problem with it."

more: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-11-02/news/fl-sunrise-politician-blocks-muslim-fest-20111102_1_sunrise-commissioner-sheila-alu-animal-sacrifices-sacrifices-for-religious-purposes

[Malikshah]

1. And Sheila Alu needs to be educated. She is a typical uninformed cultural bigot

quite typical in South Florida.

[samsingh]

3. there is nothing bigoted about saving animals

[dtexdem]

4. And the bigotry comes in many forms, including that from the "animal rights" folks.

And in this case the bigotry was directed at a religious ceremony that likely slays the animals in a way more humane than at the typical corporate slaughterhouse.

But of course there are also the PETAphiles who want to prevent the rest of us from eating meat, so will defend religious bigotry.

[samsingh]

17. allegedly more humane. where's the proof of this?

[Aerows]

23. There are strict rituals involved in the killing of the animals

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhabihah

"Dhabīḥah (Arabic: ذَبِيْحَة‎ ḏabīḥah IPA: <ðæˈbiːħɐ>, or Zabiha) is, in Islamic law, the prescribed method of ritual slaughter of all animals excluding camels, locusts, fish and most sea-life. This method of slaughtering animals consists of a swift, deep incision with a sharp knife on the neck, cutting the jugular veins and carotid arteries of both sides but leaving the spinal cord intact. It must be done with respect and compassion; avoiding as much as possible any animal pain or discomfort."

You may not approve of other people eating meat, but the fact is, many people do. This is a religious ceremony, and as you can see, there are strict laws regarding the practice.

[samsingh]

29. i like your homepage

there's some good writing there.

[Malikshah]

5. Read the story: She's not a vegetarian. So it is not about saving animals. It is about

uniformed cultural bigotry on her part.

[pinboy3niner]

8. It's bigotry--period

She never had a problem with animals being slaughtered for food until MUSLIMS asked for a permit for their ceremony.

[saras]

12. Vegan, huh?

[Matariki]

13. Unless she tries to pass a law prohibiting eating meat - she's being selectively bigoted.

Is she going after farms and slaughter houses in her district? McDonalds? No, she's going after minority religious practices - which is unconstitutional.

[MedicalAdmin]

15. This could be an interesting discussion...

pity it's not getting recs.

I am of 2 minds. FIrst a disclaimer, I eat meat but I know exactly who raises them and how they raise them and how they are butchered. That said I mostly consume and plant based diet and all of my food (with a few exceptions) is grown locally. I say this not to be a snob, but rather to acknowledge my luck.

I think that religious ceremonies should be allowed as long as they don't infringe on the rights of others. Second, this is taking place on private land AND they got a permit ( for a large gathering I assume).

However other make the point that they could as well sacrifice a nice bell pepper and get the same results from Allah ( likely ), but I think this point fails to acknowledge the fact that most religious ceremony is not for Allah so much as for the humans in attendance. This is sort of like the fact that funerals are for the living.

And as such I am not sure where I fall on this subject. I would like to hear other arguments, pro or con, from others. Thanks.

[Renew Deal]

2. I do know of towns banning animal slaughter

At least in the NY area. This person is saying two different and conflicting things.

"I'm trying to protect innocent animals."

"This is not an appropriate setting for the slaughtering of animals in an open field in a city that's as populated as Sunrise. Usually these religious ceremonies take place in a rural area.""

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Makes her a doubly-cultural bigot:

being against religious slaughter, for one, and claiming it would be OK out in the sticks for another.

[Nye Bevan]

6. Allah is going to be pissed off- he's impatient for some dead lambs and goats.

Because nothing pleases a merciful God more than to see some cute lamb's throat being slit in His name.

[JCMach1]

9. I will defend the official here as even in Dubai, they don't want the slaughter to happen

in public areas.

They are trying to limit it to the abattoir.


...Ali Tahir Al Hammadi, Head of Abattoir Operations said the public should be aware of ways of safe sacrificial slaughter, role of the veterinary doctor, and the dangers of slaughtering outside the designated abattoirs and seeking the services of roaming butchers.

“The slaughtering time starts after Eid prayer, and extends to the last days of Al Tashreeq (total 4 days). So, no need to rush to slaughter in the first day of Eid,” he added. ... http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2011/November/theuae_November96.xml§ion=theuae

[pinboy3niner]

10. This was to happen not in a public area, but on a private farm nt

[JCMach1]

19. Not just public areas, they want the butchery limited to the official butcher shops

for health reasons...

We'll see how the enforcement goes...

[Mudoria]

11. Sacrifice a green pepper instead.. I'm sure Allah doesn't care

[saras]

14. NO ONE who BUYS meat from a STORE has ANY right to criticize others' treatment of animals

Sorry - that's as low as it gets. If you hand over money on a regular basis to large organizations that systematically torture animals for greater profit, you've given up any moral standing whatsoever regarding the suffering of animals.

[Renew Deal]

16. I disagree

I think there's a difference between the beef industry and the ability to keep pets. :shrug:

[joeybee12]

21. Typical BS...I wish I could unrec this tired old meme from you...nt

[Quantess]

18. Next time, we'll slaughter that disobedient daughter in law

who didn't cover her hair.

Or we'll just push her out of the window, and make it look like suicide.

[joeybee12]

20. Good for her...slaughtering animals for religious purposes is sick...

I notice all the usual defenders of ignroance in the name of religion are piping in.

[lynne]

22. You don't find many slaughter houses in city parks -

- and there's a reason for that. It's bloody business and disturbing to some. Depending on what they're doing to the animal after its slaughtered, it can also be horrifically stinky.

No one is stopping them from their religious ceremony. They're just saying that a public city park isn't an appropriate spot and I agree. Certainly they can find a rural spot more hidden from the public - who may not wish to see this - for their ceremony.

[Poll_Blind]

24. I am repulsed by religion in general but halal and kosher slaughter methods are...

...far superior to the reality of most slaughterhouses.

PB

[cleanhippie]

25. Regardless of WHAT religion it it, WHY does one need to SACRIFCE an animal? It's 2011 for chrissake

:wtf:

[datasuspect]

26. Umm, because it pleases God?

Jeez.

[sufrommich]

27. +1. How about a "no sacrifice" law for the 21st century. nt

[Zorra]

28. For about the same reason RW fundies hate LGBT.

Superstitious ignorance.