As reported by the Detroit Free Press, the Hamtramck, Michigan City Council on Tuesday by a vote of 3-2 voted to amend the city's Animal Ordinance to permit animal sacrifices on residential property. The new Ordinance (full text) provides in part:
Any person wishing to conduct an animal sacrifice for religious purposes must notify the City by reporting such intention to the Clerk’s Office at least one week prior to the date of animal sacrifice;
(1) Such person shall provide the exact date and time of animal sacrifice to the City and shall schedule a time for the City to conduct post sacrifice inspection of the site to ensure, in the opinion of the inspector, that the area was properly cleaned and sanitized after the sacrifice was concluded.
(2) Such person shall pay the City a fee, as set by city council annually, for the sanitation inspection. Such fee shall be paid at the time when such person informs the City of the sacrifice as required above.
(B) Any and all actions necessary to restrict the act of sacrifice from public viewing must be taken without exception. The public, for the purposes of this subsection, shall be defined as any individual who has not formally indicated their intention to view the animal sacrifice.
Hamtramck has a large Muslim population and all members of City Council are Muslim. Some Muslims sacrifice animals for Eid al-Adha.
