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Across the Islamic world the feast of Eid al-Adha is accompanied by a scale of animal sacrifice without parallel in other faith traditions. This goes beyond a mere ritual observance, as a grotesque and morbid culture has developed around this festival, particularly in parts of Pakistan.

Before meeting their fate, the sacrificial animals are bedecked, bejeweled and indulged in every way possible. Many of these pampered animals also gain a degree of fame through media coverage. The most disturbing aspect of this tradition is that children are encouraged to develop an affection for the animal — and then often forced to witness its slaughter.

The idea is to inculcate an appreciation for Abraham’s sacrifice, when the patriarch agreed to offer up his own flesh and blood. Once the slaughter has taken place, the skins of the animals are either donated or sold for profit.

It is anachronistic that millions in Islam, and to a lesser degree in Hindu sects and some other obscure faiths, still practice such animal sacrifice. It recalls religions of the past such as paganism and animism. The numbers are staggering. In Islamabad alone, the capital of Pakistan, over sixty thousand animals were slaughtered on Wednesday.

As a vegan I am in principle against any kind of slaughter. I abhor the fact that billions of animals are killed yearly for regular meat consumption. Extending this, animal slaughter specifically for religious reasons is a travesty which contravenes the love and respect which any philosophy should advocate.