I totally agree with Dr. Godamuna ( for once!) on what he says in his letter under the above title in The Island of Saturday 11th October.

Islam while allowing the slaughter of animals for consumption, lays many rules on the way they are to be treated.

It is prescribed in the shariah that the animals for slaughter

1. should not be underage;

2. should not be pregnant;

3. should be looked after well ;

4. should be fed well and given enough water to drink;

5. should not be made to  watch another animal being slaughtered and

6. Transport should be done in a humane manner.

These are all part and parcel of proper halal slaughter. Based on this, it is doubtful whether even one butcher today slaughters the animals in the true Islamic way.

We, the God fearing Muslims welcome the decision of punishment for the perpetrators by the Chief Magistrate of Kandy for  the cruelty meted out to the animals.