The organisation also called on the Government of India to consider restrictions on beef exports and appealed to West Asian and Arab countries to discourage the import of Indian beef
NEW DELHI — Against the backdrop of recurring communal tensions over cow-related issues, the South Asian Minorities Lawyers Association (SAMLA) has appealed to Muslims across the country to voluntarily refrain from cow sacrifice, trade, and beef consumption in the interest of communal harmony and protection of lives.
The appeal comes amid criticism that several BJP-ruled states have failed to curb rising religious polarisation, with allegations that sectarian sentiments are being amplified for political purposes.
In a statement, SAMLA Secretary General Advocate Feroz Khan Ghazi stressed that peace, mutual respect, and human dignity must remain paramount in a diverse society like India.
The association also referred to recent remarks attributed to the West Bengal Chief Minister on cow sacrifice, as well as appeals by several imams and Islamic scholars urging restraint.
Calling for proactive intervention, SAMLA urged religious leaders, imams, and ulema to use Friday sermons and public platforms to promote communal harmony, social responsibility, and respect for the religious sentiments of others.
“SAMLA suggests that Muslims may voluntarily refrain from rearing cows, engaging in cow trade, performing cow sacrifice, and consuming cow meat in the interest of maintaining peace and communal goodwill,” the statement said.
It noted that a large section of the Hindu community holds the cow in deep religious reverence, stressing that sensitivity towards such beliefs is essential for peaceful coexistence.
At the same time, the association expressed concern over what it described as a growing climate of fear around cow-related issues, particularly in BJP-ruled states, where incidents of vigilante violence and inflammatory rhetoric have contributed to tensions.
Extending its appeal beyond India, SAMLA urged governments in South Asian countries, especially those where Hindus are minorities, to frame policies on cow slaughter and beef consumption with sensitivity to inter-community relations.
The organisation also called on the Government of India to consider restrictions on beef exports and appealed to West Asian and Arab countries to discourage the import of Indian beef, arguing that such steps could help safeguard the “life, property, dignity, and security of Indian Muslims.”
The statement said the appeal was made “in the interest of peace, communal harmony, and protection of minorities.”
