Cows offered for sacrifice after ban on camel meat consumption

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will offer cows as sacrifice instead of camels, following a ban by Saudi’s Ministry of Health on the consumption of camel meat.

The ministry issued the sanction due to the risk of contracting disease from the camels, which are carriers of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), meaning alternative animals will be offered to pilgrims attending Hajj in Mecca.

IDB works with King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre to provide pilgrims the opportunity to donate a sacrificial meal.

Speak to local media, the bank’s president, Ahmad Ali, said: “At the end of the pilgrimage, pilgrims can buy a cow to donate to others after it is slaughtered. The IDB and the centre will cooperate to deliver the meals to over 23 Islamic countries, with a focus on Yemen.

“The number of cows is very high this year, which is the reason why we chose to replace the sacrificial meal of camels with cows.

“There are many Islamic schools which equate camels to cows in this case, so it is a very acceptable decision.”