US: Animal rights group slams Muslim ritual

ANKARA

U.S.-based animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) came under fire Thursday for posting an inaccurate video on Twitter attacking a Muslim tradition.

"This is heartbreaking. Animals don't need to die for you to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Have a #vegan holiday," PETA said in a tweet accompanied by a clip showing a truck dragging a dead goat with a young goat walking alongside it.

PETA confused the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which is being celebrated this week and marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, with Eid al-Adha, or the festival of sacrifice, which marks the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca or Hajj during which Muslims slaughter goats, sheep and some other animals under strict religious guidance to minimize pain.

The meat of the slaughtered animals is then shared with the poor.

The post was retweeted more than 18,000 times while getting close to 30,000 likes.

PETA's Muslim followers slammed the misleading post and asked the organization to remove it, saying it exploits growing Islamophobia at a time when Muslims and their places of worship are under pressure from daily attacks.