Last weekend, the goat “Pepper” was stolen in Borgentreich, North Rhine-Westphalia. The owner family and their children, who had an intimate emotional relationship with the trusting animal, had desperately appealed to the public via the local press, hoping that the rare Thuringian Forest goat (it is an endangered species of domestic animal) would be found unharmed and returned to them. Unfortunately, this hope dashed: on Monday, Pepper’s remains were discovered at the Central Accommodation Facility for Refugees (ZUE).The animal had been brutally slaughtered – that is, traditionally, without stunning – on the occasion of the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice, which takes place from July 9 to 13. The police discovered bones, fur and other relics of the goat on the fence of the facility. The meat was kept hidden in one of the buildings – of course without any minimum hygienic or sanitary standards. The devout amateur butchers allegedly behaved extremely aggressively towards the authorities when the remains were seized.
“Pepper” thus became another victim of Islamic cultural enrichment – fittingly on the occasion of the Eid feast. The owners of the goat were shocked, horrified and saddened: “Pepper was very trusting towards people and certainly let himself be caught quickly,” they said. “Stolen, slaughtered and thrown away – no animal deserves that,” they continued. Police are now investigating two men, whose age and origin remain undisclosed, for theft and violation of the Animal Welfare Act.It can be assumed that they will get off scot-free or at most with a small fine (which of course they cannot pay or if they do, then it will be paid with the money that the same German welfare state has previously paid them); it can also be assumed that this case will again be handled in a “culturally sensitive” manner and with the utmost consideration for particular Muslim sensitivities.
And, most importantly, nothing here must of course serve “Islamophobic resentment” or even “benefit someone politically” – which in the end could even be used to undermine the “fight against the far right”! One can already bet that the perpetrators – apart from their cultural imprint – are habitually granted various traumas because of their flight, which would possibly be appeased by their natural desire to practise ritual customs, and so on. In view of German jurisprudence, it would not even be surprising if they also received psychological help.