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How Turkey, Morocco and Eid al-Adha Were Misrepresented by Indian Media

Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now media How Turkey, Morocco and Eid al-Adha Were Misrepresented by Indian Media Afroz Alam Sahil 7 minutes ago The decision to ban animal sacrifice in Morocco and the high number of injuries in Turkey were represented very differently on social and news media. Eid al-Adha prayers in Istanbul. Photo: Afroz Alam Sahil. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now 'A total of 14,372 people were injured across Türkiye during animal sacrifices carried out for Eid al-Adha. The highest number of injuries were reported in Ankara (1,049), followed by Istanbul (753) and Konya (655),' said a report. When I asked a Turkish journalist about the 'high number of injuries' during Eid al-Adha he said that many feel that they can perform the animal sacrifice – a job that requires skill – themselves. Locals tell me that most people who end up in hospitals during Eid al-Adha in Türkiye suffer only minor injuries – the kind that, in countries like India, are often treated at home or with a quick visit to a local pharmacy. However, in Türkiye, even for such small issues, people often go to the hospital – especially during public holidays, when family doctors are also on leave for five days. Interestingly, Türkiye has a well-structured primary healthcare system where every individual is assigned a family doctor. These doctors handle minor health concerns and routine care — a service also available to many foreign residents. The injury statistics were widely reported in the Turkish media, based on data released by health minister, Kemal Memişoğlu. The goal behind publicising these numbers was to urge people not to perform animal sacrifices on their own, but instead to rely on trained butchers to reduce the risk of accidents. Distorted coverage However, in India, the statistics were manipulated by some media outlets to stir communal tensions. Some Hindi-language news websites framed the story through a lens of prejudice, using it to further divisive narratives. One striking example comes from Zee News Hindi, which ran the headline: 'Preparations were underway for animal sacrifice on Bakrid, suddenly 14,000 people injured, chaos in hospitals.' The article continued with misleading claims, such as, 'In Türkiye, considered a close ally of Pakistan, animals for sacrifice were seen running wild on the streets during Bakrid, with people chasing them. More than 14,000 were injured in the stampede.' Ironically, the same article ended with a disclaimer stating, 'Dear readers, this news is intended for awareness. The videos included have been sourced from foreign X handles. Zee News does not verify the claims made in them. The intention is not to hurt anyone's sentiments.' Such framing not only distorts facts but also shifts the focus from public safety – Türkiye's actual concern – to communal sensationalism, which undermines journalistic integrity and responsible reporting. Morocco's decision Morocco's decision to suspend animal sacrifice (qurbani) during Eid al-Adha in 2025 due to livestock shortages and worsening climate conditions was also distorted in Indian media. The sensitivity of the timing is worth noting: this discussion in Indian media surfaced just as certain far-right groups were demanding a ban on animal sacrifice in India, as they do every year. Morocco was repeatedly cited as an example to justify their position. However, what was often left out of these narratives was the fact that Morocco's decision had been made back in February, well in advance of the festival. The country, facing a climate emergency – where over 92% of its land is now classified as dry or semi-arid – had taken the decision as part of broader efforts to address an agricultural and environmental crisis. Official Moroccan data indicates that the number of locally bred sheep and goats available in slaughterhouses this year has dropped to approximately 1.5 million — less than half the usual 3.5 million. This falls significantly short of the estimated six million animals typically needed to meet demand during Eid al-Adha across the country. By removing the environmental and economic context, and reframing the story as a religious or political statement, sections of the Indian media distorted the intent behind Morocco's decision, turning a climate-conscious move into a communal flashpoint. Some websites framed it as 'a strong message from Morocco to the global Muslim community, including India.' Some outlets portrayed Morocco as if it were representative of the entire Muslim world, ignoring the fact that Morocco's total population is just 37.7 million, roughly equal to the population of Delhi alone. On social media too, Morocco's decision was widely misrepresented, with many voices calling for a ban on animal sacrifice in India by citing Morocco as a model. One must remember how in 2020, an attempt was made to incite hatred in India during Eid al-Adha by circulating a video from Morocco on social media. Nepal Even Nepal was brought into the conversation to fuel communal tensions around animal sacrifice. For instance, ABP News published a report stating: 'There is a festival in Nepal called the Gadhimai festival, where animal sacrifice has been completely banned. In the past, hundreds of thousands of animals were sacrificed at the Gadhimai Temple, but in 2015, a ban was imposed to protect animals.' However, multiple independent reports contradict this simplified narrative. A BBC investigation in 2019 revealed that despite the official ban, animal sacrifices continued. Similarly, Time magazine reported in 2024 that approximately 250,000 animals were sacrificed during the 2019 edition of what it called 'the world's bloodiest festival.' According to the animal rights organisation Animal Equality, this tradition was still ongoing as of 2024. The Gadhimai festival is a Hindu religious festival held every five years at the Gadhimai Temple in Bariyarpur, about 160 kilometres south of Kathmandu, Nepal's capital. Preparedness and economic significance in Türkiye Despite the injuries, Türkiye prepared well. In Istanbul alone, the Turkish government deployed 62,200 healthcare workers across 53 public hospitals during Eid al-Adha this year. Specifically, 15,467 of them were assigned to emergency departments. Additionally, 6,234 healthcare personnel were on 24-hour duty within emergency services, including the 112 emergency call center and the National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE). Eid al-Adha is also crucial for Türkiye's leather industry, which depends heavily on the skin collected during the festival. Burak Uyguner, vice-president of the Istanbul Leather Exporters Association, estimated in 2022 that these skins were worth 500 million Turkish Liras before processing, rising to 5 billion TL afterward (at the time, one TL was about Rs 9). He warned that burning or burying skins could cause severe environmental harm. Türkiye exported $2.57 billion worth of leather products in 2022, underscoring the festival's economic significance. Afroz Alam Sahil is a freelance journalist and author. He can be contacted at @afrozsahil on X. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. 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