News
Egypt: A Fatwa for animals
May 20, 2008, 1:48AM MT
By Sharon St. Joan
Grand Sheikh speaks out against cruelty
Grand Sheikh speaks out against cruelty
By Sharon St. Joan, Best Friends Network
In Cairo, on May 4th, a Fatwa was issued by the Grand Sheik of Al Azar, one of the most prestigious institutions of Islam, forbidding cruelty to animals during transport and slaughter.
The Fatwa was issued in response to a request sent by Ahmed El Sherbiny, Director of the Egyptian Society for Animal Friends.
This momentous event may greatly impact the cruel practice of shipping live sheep, cows and goats to countries in the Middle East, particularly for slaughter during the celebration of Eid, which occurs in December.
Background--A long fight for change
For several years animal organizations in both Australia, the source of most of the live shipments, and also in Egypt have been working together to stop these shipments. Hundreds of thousands of animals have been transported in this way. The journey takes several weeks; the conditions on board ship are appalling, and many of the animals do not survive.
Those who do survive are then slaughtered either by individuals who buy them live for this purpose or in the large Bassetin slaughterhouse in Cairo, where conditions are extremely inhumane.
Animals Australia, SPARE, ESMA, ESAF and other groups in Australia and Egypt have been actively campaigning to end the cruel practice of long distance shipping of farm animals. Animals Australia has carried out five investigations in seven Middle Eastern countries and, in October of 2007, showed a video filmed inside the Bassetin slaughterhouse during prime time on Australian television.
Thanks to the broadcast of the video and to the ensuing outcry by Australians shocked at the treatment they saw, the long-distance shipments were suspended by the Australian government.
However, Animals Australia has just announced, on May 12, the planned resumption of the shipments even before adequate safeguards are in place to prevent inhumane handling of the animals.
It may seem pointless to talk about humane slaughtering methods, when to many, all slaughter is intrinsically inhumane. For the animals though, this is a very immediate matter, and less time suffering makes a difference to them. Animals Australia is suggesting the alternative of shipping frozen or chilled meat, which would eliminate several weeks of suffering for the animals.
The Fatwa
The Fatwa, translated into English on May 4, 2008, was issued by Dr. Mohamed Sayed Tantawy, the Sheikh of Azar. "Al Azhar", Ahmed El Sherbiny explains, "was originally a mosque (over 1200 years ago), but now it is a center of learning and a very important, highly respected institution in the Islamic world, and anything emanating from it has respectability."
"Dr. Mohamed Sayed Tantawy, the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar has the highest religious title in Egypt, and he has very strong religious influences on Moslems in Moslem countries."
"As the Fatwa issued from the highest Islamic authority, so it will have strong religious implementation to all Moslems."
However, Ahmed Al Sherbiny cautioned, " I do not think the Fatwa will change the long distance transport in the near future, as the whole issue needs decades to change the region's mentality and culture regarding fresh meat."
An Islamic Conference in October
The Egyptian Society of Animal Friends will be holding an Islamic Conference in October, to highlight the Fatwa, and, it is hoped, to jumpstart change in the Islamic world in relation to animals.
Ahmed Al Sherbiny says that plans for the Conference include hosting those directly in contact with the slaughterhouse industry, such as "slaughterhouse workers, managers, vets, officials, and police."
Guests will include the Grand Sheikh (or his representative), the Ministry of Agriculture, and also, if the budget allows it, officials from Moslem countries who are involved in the long distance transport of live animals for slaughter.
A special guest will be Princess Alia Al Hussein of Jordan, a very active supporter and advocate for animals.
Excerpt from the Fatwa
"… any act that contradicts leniency with the animal or treating it with no mercy at the time of slaughtering it -- in the manner mentioned in the question in detail -- is considered a sinful and forbidden act and does not agree with the leniency with the animal that Islam calls for. This is the answer for the first question…
"with regard to the second question, we hereby say that the call of Islam to be lenient with the animal and to treat it with mercy includes all cases that necessitate such mercy, among which is transporting the animal. Such transportation must be carried out by a comfortable means that guarantees its safety, prohibits its torture, threatening its life or afflicting it with diseases…
"Torturing an animal at the time of its transport - pursuant to what is mentioned in the letter of the questioner -- is considered prohibited and forbidden in the law of Islam if the case is as mentioned in the question."
The Grand Sheikh of Azar has come down clearly on the side of the animals--stating that inhumane treatment of animals--during slaughter or during transport--is forbidden by Islam.
It may take some time for those in Moslem countries to become familiar with the Fatwa, and to discuss and consider what it means, and how it is to be applied. An active program to spread the word will be needed--one of the purposes of the Islamic Conference.
The Grand Sheik's intent is unmistakably against cruelty to animals, and that provides a powerful argument.
Top photo: Sharon St. Joan / Egyptian (not Australian) donkey and calf
Second photo: Suzanne Cordrey / Faith Maloney of Best Friends with Ahmed El Sherbiny of the Egyptian Society for Animal Friends
What you can do
Please visit these websites:
Egyptian Society for Animal Friends:
http://www.animal-friends.info/
Animals Australia
http://www.animalsaustralia.org