Legalising animal torture?

In reply to a question raised by former UNP minister, Mr. M. H. Mohamed, on a 'Halal Bill' during the debate on the Votes of the Ministry of Culture, Minister of Cultural Affairs, Mr. Lakshman Jayakody, was reported saying that the 'Halal draft' was ready.

Reports of the minister's reply have sent alarm bells ringing and there were many queries made to 'The Island' by religious organisations and animal rights organisations about the contents of the said bill. Inquiries made by our reporters from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs yesterday resulted in only evasive replies.

Readers of ‘The Island’ will be aware that many Buddhists and representatives of animal rights organisations have written to'The Island' opinion page about their repugnance to the method of killing of animals known as the 'Halal method'. They have said that it is an extremely tortuous and inhuman way of killing animals and instead advocated quick modern methods of killing. Muslim readers have stoutly defended this way of killing. Quite apart from religion, the way of killing animals in this country, particularly cattle, is extremely primitive where the neck and blood vessels of animals are slit and the animal dies after long hours of suffering. This is the method used for killing in municipal abattoirs.

We do not want to offend fellow Muslims but if by any means this proposed bill is meant to give legal sanctity to this method of killing, it has to be pointed out that it will hurt the religious susceptibilities of a vast majority - Buddhists as well as Hindus.

There can be no objection - even though it will be repugnant to Buddhists, Hindus and animal lovers - if this method of killing is used to consume flesh by those who prefer it done that way. But if this method is made the only way of killing animals by law, it will lead to a great deal of public resentment.

This problem of course has been largely created by Buddhists themselves. Since all forms of life are given sanctity in the Buddhist doctrine, consumption of animal flesh goes against the grain of Buddhist thought. But a large number of Buddhists do consume flesh including beef and this is what keeps the butcher in business. There is also the other reality that in this country all butchers are Muslims and they slaughter animals their way.

There is a great deal of hypocrisy among Buddhists about the consumption of flesh and liquor. Both meat stalls and liquor outlets are closed down simultaneously at the slightest provocation or excuse. Consumption of liquor should be considered far less objectionable than torturing innocent animals to death because liquor consumers are only torturing themselves and perhaps only the immediate circle around them. Buddhist leaders should take up this issue of consumption of flesh by Buddhists in a far more serious manner than launching prohibition campaigns.

Even though some Buddhist leaders identify this country as a 'Buddhist country' they have turned a blind eye to the recent business of beef exports from Sri Lanka. And the animals are slaughtered the Halal way. Recently there has been a new development where big American food chains have opened up here where once again animal flesh, particularly beef, is the main component of the food. And probably for commercial reasons it is announced that the meat is 'Halal'.

In this age of globalisation and the free economy there is no way of making giant international combines change their practices by legislation. What could be done by animal lovers and those who abhor cruel ways of killing animals is to organise boycotts of such outlets.

'Halal' is one of the issues that has resulted in disagreement and ill feelings to a certain extent among at least two communities. There are other religious issues such as blasting religion through loudspeakers where both Buddhists and Muslims are involved. Neighborhoods are disturbed not only from loudspeakers in mosques but all night pirith ceremonies of Buddhists which at times go on for days. Even Buddhists living in the vicinity of such pirith ceremonies cannot stand the noise when it goes on for days.

Sri Lanka is already torn apart by communal strife and religious strife should be avoided at all costs. This can be done by not adopting an ostrich like attitude and pretending that problems do not exist. Leaders and religious dignitaries including the Minister of Cultural Affairs, Mr. Lakshman Jayakody should discuss these issues and attempt to arrive at solutions which should be fair by all. For example on the question of tin horn piety there should be a law specifying the number of decibels - measure of sound - permitted.