Muslims in Belgium renounce immolation ritual over fears of foot-and-mouth disease

Muslims in Belgium have to renounce the annual immolation ritual of Aid-Al Adha as authorities are banning the movement of animals at least until March 19.

Head of a Muslims association in Belgium, Nouredine Maloujahmoum, called Muslims to abstain from performing the Muslim ritual of slaughtering a sheep.

The chairman of the official organization representing Muslims in Belgium called Muslims, at a joint press conference with health minister, to pay the value of a sheep to charity associations or needy persons.

Belgian officials said they are saddened by the decision but explained they could not do otherwise as a real propagation danger is threatening the country's animals. They said the decision would entail big losses for Belgian stock breeders who will not be able to sell 30,000 animals in Brussels alone.