News Releases

Tradition Is No Excuse for Cruelty, Says Indian Politician

For Immediate Release:

5 November 2009

Cape Town -- Maneka Gandhi, a famous animal protector who has served as a minister in four Indian governments, has written a letter on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia to South African President Jacob Zuma imploring him to end the crude bull-killing ritual of Ukweshwama, which is carried out in KwaZulu-Natal during the Fresh Fruits Festival. In the ritual, a group of young men torture and kill a bull with their bare hands, pulling the terrified and struggling animal to the ground, ripping out his tongue, shoving handfuls of dirt into his mouth, tearing out his eyes, mutilating his genitals and engaging in other cruel acts until the bull is finally dead. This torture is exempt from animal protection laws on the grounds of "cultural liberty".

"While I respect culture, this bull-killing ritual causes extreme suffering to an innocent creature and has no place in the modern world", writes Gandhi, who is a former journalist and the widow of influential Indian politician Sanjay Gandhi. "Tradition is not an excuse for cruelty, and many societies have ended or are working to end 'traditional' practices -- such as slavery, cannibalism, infanticide, female circumcision, foot-binding, bullfighting and fox hunting -- that cause animals or humans to suffer."

In the letter, Gandhi points out that studies reveal a pattern of cruelty to animals among many perpetrators of violent crimes against humans. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has found that a history of cruelty to animals regularly appears in the records of serial rapists and murderers. She also quotes Dr Albert Schweitzer, who said, "Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives".

She adds, "Mahatma Gandhi, who helped initiate the Indian community's struggle for civil rights in South Africa said, 'I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man'".

Gandhi concludes her letter by writing, "Traditions change, and societies must evolve. I urge you not to allow South Africa to be seen as barbaric and retrograde by clinging to the cruel ritual of Ukweshwama."

Maneka Gandhi's letter to President Jacob Zuma is available upon request. For more information, please visit PETAAsiaPacific.com.

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