Syed Khalique Ahmed & Masihuzzama Ansari
NEW DELHI, JULY 5—The police have removed objectionable hoardings that were put up by the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in different parts of Lucknow ahead of the festival of Eid-Ul-Azha or Bakrid. The hoardings were not only hurtful to the sentiments of the Muslim community but also had the potential to disturb the law and order situation.
The hoardings were removed after a number of Muslim religious and social activists took up the matter with the Police Commissioner and requested that these be removed forthwith in the interest of maintenance of law and order and to ensure that the religious sentiments of Muslims are not hurt.
The poster with a huge picture of a goat read: “Mai Jeev Hoon, Maans Nahi. Hamare prati Nazariya Badlein, Vegan Bane’(I am a living being, not just meat. Change your view towards us and become strict vegetarian). The hoardings had a logo of the PETA at a corner.
Speaking to India Tomorrow over phone, Islamic Centre of India chairman Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangimahali, who is also associated with All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said, “Such hoardings and posters, when the festival of Bakrid celebrated by sacrificing goats, is approaching, sends a wrong message. It hurts the sentiments of Muslims. As for the argument goat being a living being and should not be sacrificed, then chicken, fish and even vegetables are all living beings. If the argument of PETA is taken to be true, then nothing, not even vegetable can be eaten”.
He said he took up the matter with Lucknow police commissioner after it came to his knowledge.
“I am happy that police have taken down the hoardings”, said Maulana Firangimahali.
Centre for Objective Research and Development (CORD) also wrote a letter to Police Commissioner, objecting to the hoarding and requesting him to ensure that the hoardings are removed “to ensure peace and harmony” in the city.
“These hoardings unnecessarily create vicious atmosphere in the society in the month when Muslim community is going to celebrate the festival of Eid-ul-Azha (Bakrid) by sacrificing the goat, a centuries old practice by Muslims all over the globe”, said the CORD letter.
UP(East) Jamaat-e-Islami Hind president Malik Faisal has also objected to the hoarding, saying it is mischievous to put up such hoardings when the Eid-ul-Azha or the festival of sacrifice is just around the corner.
It is going to be celebrated in India for three days from August 1 to 3.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulama Hind, Uttar Pradesh, has sent a letter to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath requesting him to ensure that Muslims are able to celebrate the festival of Bakrid in a peaceful manner as in the past.
“The Muslims have been sacrificing animals in this democratic country as per their religious traditions for centuries. However, they are feeling worried this year due to corona virus pandemic and lockdown. Therefore, we request you to help the Muslims in performance of their religious duty. We hope that the administration under you will fully cooperate in sale and transport of the animals from villages to the mandis and finally up to the houses of the people without any obstruction”, Jamiat’s UP president Sayed Ashhad Rashidi said in the letter.
Jamiat said, “You yourself being a religious leader, more than a political leader, we hope that you will make it easy for the Muslims to perform their religious duties on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha”, the Jamiat letter addressed to the CM said.
With regard to the hoardings, Maulana Rashidi said, “History of the world is a witness that sacrificing animals has been a form of worship in all religions of the world, including Islam. Islam makes it obligatory on its followers to sacrifice animals on the occasion of Bakrid and Muslims in India have been allowed to do it ever since Islam came to this land and they should do it now as well. We request the government to provide all facilities to Indian Muslims to carry out this religious obligation without any obstruction to maintain love and brotherhood”.
