Animal sacrifices now available over the Internet

IF YOU ARE caught short of an animal to sacrifice, or just don't want the problem of getting the blood all over your nice white ritual robe, there is an Internet site that can help you out.

According to Reuters, a Pakistan-based charity is using the Internet to help Muslims perform the Eid al-Adha ritual, which includes sacrificing animals and giving the meat to the poor. Eid al-Adha marks the end of the Haj pilgrimage each year to Mecca.

Muslims, who can afford it, buy and slaughter animals and distribute the meat among the poor and relatives.

While this may be a bit easier in Pakistan, Moslems in Western Countries find it tricky to find a head of cattle. Bumping it off is even harder and there are loads of food hygiene laws preventing you from giving the meat to anything other than a dog.

A spokesman for the Sahara trust for life said the Internet had been a godsend in helping to solve the problem. Effectively allowing people to outsource their sacrifice to Pakistan.

He said that the organisation was able to offer a service at competitive rates. People trust the charity to distribute the meat according to religious obligations among the poor and needy.

The Alamgir Welfare Trust takes the interweb idea a step further and offers the option of viewing the sacrifice on its Web site.

The going rate is $100 for a goat and $450 for a cow. µ