ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Debating “Eco-Friendly Eid”: To Slaughter or Not to Slaughter

BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said the intelligentsia should mull over celebrating “eco friendly” Eid.

Updated
India
4 min read
story-hero-img
i
Aa
Aa
Small
Aa
Medium
Aa
Large
Hindi Female

BJP pitched for a debate on Sunday, the “eco-friendly” observance of Bakr-Eid (the feast of sacrifice), saying that the intelligentsia in the country should mull over it.

On Eid al-Adha, Muslims sacrifice animals (usually goats, cows, bulls or camels) as a symbolic observation of personal sacrifice. Many activists have been campaigning against the ritual slaughter of animals, with a view to preserve the environment.

Following BJP National Secretary, Shrikant Sharma’s suggestion for the debate, Zee News held a debate on the subject with Canadian writer and an advocate for liberal Islam, Tarek Fatah, BSP leader, Syed Aseem Waqar, Imam Masood ul-Hasan Qasmi and animal rights activist, Gauri Mulekhi.

Watch the first part of the debate below:

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Arguing that environmental degradation has been a massive concern in many religious festivals in India, such as the Hindu festivals of Diwali (where fireworks cause pollution), Ganesh Chathurthi (where immersed idols pollute rivers), Zee News moderator, Rohit Sardana posed the question of why Bakra Eid should not come under the purview of similar environmental concerns.

We are asking what’s wrong in asking for an eco-friendly celebration of any festival. Does the government’s stand influence people’s perception of how to celebrate a festival, does the vote bank politics play a role in politicising festivals as well?

Tarek Fatah opened the debate on the matter, urging Muslims to “understand the true meaning of qurban or sacrifice.”

On one day throughout the world, lakhs and lakhs of animals are slaughtered in the name of sacrifice. Those who sacrifice only display their wealth and the worst thing about it is that, the sacrifices take place in the presence of children–the same goat, which they have been feeding as a pet. If you must sacrifice, then sacrifice what is precious to you, so I said, smash your iPhone. Nobody is sacrificing from the heart. It has turned into a ritual, it is also unhygienic.

Watch the second part of the debate below:

Bollywood actor, Irrfan Khan also drew flak for criticising the ritual.

Refuting Fatah’s argument, Imam Qasmi said:

When humans turn wild, they talk about animals and forget the interest of human, when Israelis kill Palestinian children, they watch and have fun. It seems that the sacrificial matter of Islam cannot be left alone, we attain sunnah from it.

Taking a dig at anchor Sardana, who cited scientific findings and said that processing animal meat is cause for more pollution than vehicle emissions, Qasmi said:

And those who try to stop it armed with reasons of environmental protection, I ask those corrupted people, aren’t the thousands of cars in Delhi not emitting pollution. You just want to target Islam.

Siding with Qasmi, BSP leader, Syed Aseem Waqar argued that Muslims are being “pressurised into bringing maximum changes to their religious practices.”

Sardana shot back saying, “If the Prime Minister is urging Indian to resort to eco friendly Ganesh idol to prevent water pollutions, then should we say that he is targetting Hindus?”
BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said  the intelligentsia should mull over  celebrating “eco friendly” Eid.
Tarek Fatah, Zee News anchor, Rohit Sardana and BSP Leader, Syed Aseem Waqar.(Photo: YouTube Screenshot)
If you are talking about wastage of water in cleaning up after the sacrifice, what if somebody comes and says, “Why drink water at all, if we urinate? So much water is wasted in urination”, then what will you say. Everybody has the right to follow his or her religion.
Syed Aseem Waqar, BSP leader

Commenting on Waqar’s arguments, animal rights activist, Gauri Mulekhi, who fought a tough battle to sensitise and campaign against animal sacrifice in Uttarakhand, exclaimed, “He is saying rubbish!”

Trying to justify the necessity for debate, Sardana told Waqar:

Sir, it’s happening all over the world, so we are talking about it, you are here to talk about it, if you don’t wish to speak on it because this debate is against your religious ideals, then please don’t speak at all. 
BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said  the intelligentsia should mull over  celebrating “eco friendly” Eid.
Gauri Mulekhi. (Photo: YouTube Screenshot)

Citing legal reasons, Mulekhi said:

If people are talking against this tradition, then it is certainly backed by scientific and legal reasons. Keeping these reasons in mind, Hindu temples have given up on the tradition of sacrifice, one by one. Nobody issued fatwas against each other, everybody backed everybody else. Even the Supreme Court has taken notice of this issue, so why won’t the same laws and reasons apply to Muslims? If your parliament is enforcing the law, then who are you to question it? This is abetting a crime. I am not just talking about killing animals, I am talking about breaking the law. Religions should have sense and should be reasonable too!

Backing Mulekhi, Fatah criticised the “blackmailing powers” of maulanas and “vote bank politics” that have kept the tradition alive.

BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said  the intelligentsia should mull over  celebrating “eco friendly” Eid.
Tarek Fatah. (Photo: YouTube Screenshot)
It is our ill fate that these types of Muslims (who support sacrifices) have become our leaders. If they tell people to donate the money that people use to buy goats...animal sacrifice is a primitve method, we used to have human sacrifices, so many things happened in the last 5000 years but we have come to understand that it’s best to live peacefully with humanity. We need to introspect and see what we can compromise in Islam, how long will you continue with your dadagiri.

The debate remained inconclusive till the end, with both sides failing to convince each other of their beliefs.

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

0

Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from news and india

Topics:  Eco-friendly   Bakra Eid 

Published: 
Speaking truth to power requires allies like you.
Become a Member
3 months
12 months
12 months
Check Member Benefits
Read More
×
×