Sacred bull Shambo saved from execution

12 April 2012

A sacred bull infected with tuberculosis has been spared death after a judge ruled that putting him down would be a breach of his Hindu owners' human rights.

Shambo has been at the centre of a blazing row between his monk keepers and government officials who insisted he posed a risk to public health.

The six-year-old Fresian tested positive for the disease earlier this year - a situation which usually calls for immediate and deadly action.

But to the Hindu community of the Skanda Vale temple near Carmarthen in West Wales, he is a revered animal who must not be killed.

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Saved: Shambo has won a stay of execution

They threatened to form a protective human chain around Shambo's shed before launching an appeal claiming that the slaughter of Shambo would be a "serious infringement" of their religious beliefs.

And the Hindu community rejoiced after a High Court ruled the decision by the Welsh Assembly to destroy the animal was unlawful.

The ruling was greeted with fury by farmers however, who say it places the Government's efforts to contain the spread of bovine TB in disarray.

Evan Thomas, of the Welsh Farmers' Union said of the ruling: "It is horrifying. It turns the whole issue of disease control into a joke."

He said farmers' lives had been ruined by drastic efforts to eradicate TB in farm animals, and insisted the same rules must apply to anyone who keeps cattle.

He said: "It is almost telling farmers: "Don't bother with TB eradication. Just get somebody to bless them on a Sunday and worship the animal."

"Hopefully common sense will prevail. It has to prevail."

His thoughts were echoed by Brynle Williams, Conservative agriculture spokesman in the Welsh Assembly, who said: "This is an incomprehensible decision. It has made a shambles of our efforts to control the spread of TB.

"It sends out completely the wrong message to the farming industry and those working and living in the countryside."

Judge Hickinbottom QC said the Welsh Assembly, which ordered Shambo to be slaughtered, had failed to balance the threat to public safety with the religious importance of the beast.

He told the hearing in Cardiff: "The temple bull epitomises [the Hindus'] religious belief and the slaughter of that animal would be particularly sacrilegious.

"It would be a particularly grave desecration of the temple and a very gross affront to their beliefs."

The judge then ordered the Welsh Assembly to rethink their slaughter order and granted Shambo a stay of execution.

But he added: "This judgement does not guarantee that - as the Hindu community wish - Shambo will live until he dies a natural death.

"This judgement merely rules that the decision to issue the slaughter notice was unlawful and will be quashed."

The Friesian bullock has been isolated from the rest of the herd and is being looked after in a pen within the Skanda Vale temple.

An online petition attracted more than 17,000 names and a video stream nicknamed "MooTube" has been broadcast live from Shambo's pen in the temple.

The Hindu Forum of Britain said it was delighted with the court decision.

Secretary general Ramesh Kallidai said: 'The High Court came to the right. conclusion when it said that slaughtering Shambo would be a gross interference of the Hindu community's right to worship.

"This is a landmark judgment in the history of religious worship in the UK."

Fellow monk Brother Alex said: "We are absolutely happy and delighted at the judgement.

"We will now have to talk with the Assembly Government about keeping Shambo in isolation where we can be certain there is no risk to the public.

"The temple where he is being kept is a sealed building and no other animal can possibly gain access to it. We are now going to celebrate with Shambo."

"We are delighted that the judge has vindicated what has been our position all along and has set a value by the sanctity of life.

"There are viable alternatives to the slaughtering of Shambo and we would be happy to have discussions with the Welsh Assembly government."

Referring to the next episode in the ongoing drama, when the Assembly will appeal the decision on Friday, he added: "We are confident Shambo will be saved because the Welsh Assembly has no right to desecrate our temple.

"We have addressed the matter responsibly and have taken strong measures on the question of security and animal welfare.

"The risks to humans are minimal and farmers who are against us should understand that."

Brother Michael added: "We are elated at the judge's decision. Many people thought we would not have a chance but the special factor we had was the grace of God."

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