Muslims in Spain mark Eid al-Adha amidst tight health measures
Regional-Spain, Health, 3/7/2001

Some 350,000 Muslims living in Spain celebrated on Monday the Eid Al-Adha (immolation feast) in quasi-normal conditions amidst tight health measures enforced over threats over the foot-an-mouth disease raging on in other European countries.

Unlike France, Belgium and Germany which asked Muslims to abstain from slaying a sheep, Spain required that the animal be slain in the official municipal slaughterhouses and asked Muslims to abstain from proceeding to the ritual in farms and residences.

For several months preceding the Muslim feast, local authorities and Muslims associations have been sensitizing members of the Muslim community to the dangers of slaying sheep in their houses.

As an alternative, Islamic butchers slain the sheep in slaughterhouses while Muslims renounced eating offal and despite rumors of a sheep shortages, prices did not change from last year's.

On Monday, Muslims also performed collective prayers at the mosques and Islamic centers as some employers gave a day off to their Muslim staff.

Campaigns to collect money for the Palestinian people were also organized to help them face the severe embargo enforced by the Israeli authorities.

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