• Home

Muslim group in Hyderabad supports campaign against cow slaughter for Eid Al Adha

Hyderabad: In the midst of a raging divisive debate in the country over the meat ban issue, a group of Muslims in Hyderabad has set an example in fostering communal harmony by taking up a campaign to convince Muslims to desist from slaughtering cows during Eid.
Forming an organisation called Arab Gourakshana Samithi (AGS), a group of local Muslims in Barkas area of the old city, is on a drive to convince residents of their locality to give up slaughtering cows ahead of Eid Al Adha in a bid to foster harmony between Hindus and Muslims.
"We want to build a spirit of brotherhood among Hindus and Muslims. We need to ensure that there is no trust deficit between the two communities. The Hindus revere the cow and there is no harm if Muslims respect their sentiments," said Abdullah bin Ali Bahameid, president of AGS and a city-based lawyer.
Barkas in the sensitive old city area is popular for its stalls and markets selling bovine meat. AGS representatives said that about 200 people from the locality have joined their cause. The members of AGS stop people transporting bovine animals and ask them to return the cows to the sellers, failing which they would inform the police.
Cow slaughter is banned in the state as per the Andhra Pradesh Prohibition of Cow Slaughter and Animal Preservation Act of 1977. In the case of other bovine animals, a 'fit for slaughter' certificate is a must from a veterinarian, along with the police permit.
Every year, hundreds of bulls and bullocks are brought to the city for sacrifice on Eid day. "Muslims must stop eating cow meat. This will calm down the communal tension. The Hindus and Mulsims can respect each other," Bahameid said.
The initiative by Bahameid and his colleagues has earned appreciation from several Muslim scholars and people from various walks of life. Mohammed Abdul Raheem Qureshi, president of the Majlis-e-Tameer-e-Millat and assistant secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Moulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Moulana Aneesur Rehman Azmi of Chennai, Moulana Mufti Nassem Ahmed Ashrafi, and Moulana Mufti Mahboob Shareef Nizami are backing the initiative.
news@khaleejtimes.com

• India