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Motion against slaughter ban at mosques today

18 Jul 2021

  • CMC Muslim councilors cry foul ahead of Hajj festival 
By Dinitha Rathnayake Muslim councilors of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) are set to table a motion today (19) against the ban on the slaughter of Qurbani animals within mosque premises announced last week. Speaking to The Morning CMC Counselor I. A. Rahuman said this motion would seek to permit animal slaughter during the forthcoming Haj festival. “20 Muslim members of our council would table this motion since we do not agree with the decision taken by The Wakfs Board of Sri Lanka. This was a tradition followed by the Muslims for years. How can they ask to ban our rituals?” He also added that allowing animal slaughter in houses but not in the mosque premises cannot be justified. “I think there is something strange and tricky going inside of the Wakfs Board and the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs. We see a lot of discrimination among the Muslim society where some support extremism. We cannot allow that to happen,” Rahuman added. The motion is expected to table around 2.30 in the afternoon today. All trustees were directed not to permit any slaughter of Qurbani animals within any mosque premises in Sri Lanka by A.B.M. Ashraff, Director of Wakfs (MMCT), Director, Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs announced in a Circular dated July 13. Last week on the representation made by the Muslim Councillors of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), at a meeting held under the Chairmanship of Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake it was decided to request the concerned Veterinary Department of the CMC to make the arrangements for slaughtering for three days following the Hajj Festival on 21, excluding the Poya day on July 23 according to reports. Attempts to reach the Director, Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs was not successful. Hajj in Sri Lanka is a time when pilgrims go to Mecca or celebrate it at home, sometimes sacrificing animals as per Islamic traditions.    


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