Majority-Muslim Michigan City Legalizes Animal Sacrifice for Religious Purposes

Following pressure from Muslims, the Hamtramck city council voted Tuesday to allow animal sacrifices to be legalized for religious rituals.

“If somebody wants to do it, they have a right to do their practice,” Mohammed Hassan (D.), Councilman, stated at the council meeting that the Detroit Free Press reported. The Hamtramck all-Muslim council voted 3-2 for the amendment which will allow residents of residential properties to slaughter animals for religious purposes.

Some Hamtramck residents, who are majority Muslim, applauded this council’s decision. Many Muslims practice ritual sacrifices of cows, sheep, goats and other animals.

Although animal rights activists opposed legalizing animal sacrifice, supporters of the move downplayed concern about the negative impacts of Hamtramck’s animal slaughters and insisted that it was necessary to protect Hamtramck from any lawsuits alleging religious discrimination.

“Do we want to risk the city getting sued?” Amanda Jaczkowski (D.), Councilwoman, spoke at the meeting.

The Tuesday meeting saw residents object to the display of a LGBTQ pride flag on city property. They called it offensive and discriminatory.

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