The blessed Eid al-Adha is considered one of the most important rituals of the Islamic religion, and Muslims in all parts of the world prepare for it to celebrate it, and to establish its rituals represented in the connection of the feast and the slaughter of sacrifices and the distribution of their meat.
In Islamic countries, Muslims do not, of course, face any obstacles in performing the rituals of Eid al-Adha, unlike non-Muslim countries. Muslims, whether citizens or immigrants, suffer from many obstacles that hinder them from performing these rituals.
Each European country differs from others in the way it deals with the Muslim minorities in it, but there are some problems that may be common to most of the Muslim minorities in the countries of the world. Some of them are related to the state’s dealing with the timing of the occasions that Muslims are supposed to celebrate, and the state’s position on this celebration, and others are related to the places where the rituals of these holidays or occasions are held.
If we look at the timing of the celebration of Islamic rituals, especially the two Eids, we will find that most European countries do not adopt a holiday for them. This causes great suffering to the Muslims of these countries who are tied to work or study appointments, and Switzerland is one of the major countries in which this issue has been raised during the past few years, as this matter has been widely debated.
In the place where the two Eid prayers are held, Muslims also face great difficulties in some European countries, which is what happened in Italy, whose Muslims got around two years ago in a square where they perform the rituals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, after a long suffering with the Italian authorities.
Austria is one of the most non-Muslim countries that pays great attention to Muslim minorities, as it shares their celebrations with them, especially on the two Eids, “Al-Fitr and Al-Adha,” especially if we compare this situation with many European countries that may put obstacles in front of Muslim minorities.
Among the most prominent manifestations of Austria’s interest in its Muslims is the participation of officials in the celebration, as happened on Eid al-Adha three years ago; When the Austrian president held a reception for the Muslim community; Which made the Muslims of Austria very happy, given the interest of their state in them, even though they are a religious minority.
The Muslim communities in Austria have strong support from their mayor, Michael Huebel, and the Socialist Political Party to which he belongs.
The Problem of Sacrificing Sacrifices
Muslims face a challenge that is renewed annually, represented in the application of the Sunnah of sacrificing sacrifices; In Belgium, and whenever Eid al-Adha came, the suffering of Muslims there renewed with regard to the method of slaughtering sacrifices. In light of the ban on slaughter imposed by Belgium on Muslims on the pretext of animal welfare and the prevention of torture.
The Belgian authorities set up a wing for the residents of Anvers, to kill the sacrifices by electrocuting them or sedating animals before slaughter, which Muslims completely reject.
In France, Muslims – estimated at about 6 million – face problems no less than those faced by Muslim minorities in European countries when celebrating Eid al-Adha, especially when slaughtering a sacrifice, as French laws require that slaughtering and skinning be through massacres only.
The number of Muslims in Europe, excluding Turkey, is 45 million, with the largest population density concentrated in the Balkans, according to a study issued by the “Justice for All Against Discrimination” organization, which specializes in defending minorities in the world.
The study confirmed that the number of Muslims in Europe is constantly increasing, and that their role and influence in their societies has increased significantly during the last ten years, as Islam has become the second and officially recognized religion of the official authorities in European countries.
Temporary Solutions
Munther Al-Nuaimi, a Dutchman of Iraqi origin, says that he and a group of Iraqis in the Netherlands send money to their relatives in their country, and there they sacrifice the sacrifices.
Many here send the amount of sacrifice to their countries. This step is a good solution taken by Muslims in Holland, even Muslims of Dutch origin do the same, send the amount of sacrifice to people or associations in Muslim countries
In Germany, Ahmed Abdel-Rahman, who is originally from Syria, says: “The laws in Germany are very strict,” pointing out that they, as Muslims, are deprived of seeing their sacrifices being slaughtered, and working to distribute them to the people themselves.
And he indicated that Islamic associations are responsible for this task, and Muslims in Germany only have to pay the amount of the sacrifice.
He pointed out that these associations are also not able to slaughter the sacrifice inside the country, but they do so in Islamic countries in Africa and the Middle East.
