Moscow City Government Orders Muslims to Carry Out Eid Sacrifices in Slaughterhouses

After dramatic scenes of roadside ritual animal sacrifice during last yea's Eid, which shocked feint-hearted passers by, the Moscow city government has ordered Muslims to restrict their activities to slaughterhouses or to areas outside of the city.

Eid this year will be celebrated in Moscow on 6 November.

Government officials say the ban on outdoor slaughter is already covered by existing legislation and comes under cruelty to animals laws.

Moscow's Muslims wholeheartedly agree that animal slaughter should take place in appropriate places, but they also point out that their access to facilities is not sufficient for their needs.

"We would be glad if they organize more places where we can conduct ritual sacrifices. Just sacrificing rams in courtyards is uncivilized. It shocks lots of people," Gulya Mukhamedzhanova of the Otradnoye mosque administration told MN.

She added that sacrifices don't just happen at Eid al-Adha, so the need for sacrificial places continues throughout the year.

Gulnur Gaziyeva, official representative of the Russian Council of Muftis, admitted to the Russian newspaper Moskovskiye Novosti that the ban on public animal sacrifice had been prompted by previous unpleasant scenes, "last year there was an incident in the Otradnoye district when a ram was sacrificed right beside the mosque."

Moscow has a growing Muslim population as more Muslims are moving into the city from other parts of Russia. Local leaders of the Muslim community have called for more mosques and facilities for the burgeoning numbers as present mosque courtyards fail to take the strain.

Tens of thousands of Muslims are expected to take part in the celebrations in Moscow. According to the Islamic tradition, on this holiday Muslims are to sacrifice their best domestic animals such as goats or sheep.

For those willing to forgo sacrificing their animals themsleves, the Islamic High Council in Moscow has found a solution. High Council officials said they have reached an agreement with local slaughterhouses, where Muslims can order an Islamic sacrifice to be made on their behalf and have a delivery of meat from the sacrificial animals.