Mass goat sacrifice in Maldives to mark independence

Malé, the capital of the Maldives. Image by Timo Newton-Syms / CC BY-SA 2.0

The government of the Maldives  has announced that 150 goats will be sacrificed today as part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the islands’ independence from Britain. Goat sacrifices have become increasingly popular in the Maldives in recent years, despite warnings from religious leaders that the practice is un-Islamic. In a gentler celebration, 2000 islanders marked Independence by swimming unaided from the island of Villingili to the capital Male. Read more: minivannews.com