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    PETA India Activists Attacked By Bhopal Residents For Campaigning For A "Vegan Eid"

    "it is shameful that in working to stop violence, our volunteers were made to suffer violence," said PETA India CEO Poorva Joshipura.

    In Bhopal on September 22, a group of PETA activists who were protesting the consumption of meat, and campaigning for a vegan Bakri Eid, were attacked by a mob of residents. The situation escalated when one of the protesters, Benazir Suraiya, who was wearing a burka made of leaves, was physically harassed by a mob, and the police had to intervene.

    The Hindustan Times reported that as soon as residents saw PETA members carrying the message of a vegan Eid, they responded with slogans like "PETA, go back" and "Mazhab mein dakhal-andazi band karoo" (which translates to: don't intervene in religious matters).

    "This is the first time they are interfering in religious issues of any community. Issuing an appeal is different and standing in front of a mosque to change the way we celebrate our festival and observe faith is different", said a protester in front of the mosque to Hindustan Times.

    The Hindu reports that Shahid Ali, Corporator of Shahajenabad and a prominent leader in the area, spoke to reporters about the incident, slamming the activists for trying to hold a campaign against a religious belief.

    "I am myself a vegetarian. Let them campaign for vegetarianism and protection of animals. But, they can't target a religious belief and tradition and that too outside a shrine held dear by the local community," he said. "How can one tolerate such a thing?"

    PETA goes on to report that an estimated 4,000 people had apparently gathered in anticipation of the event. The men present in the mob reportedly wanted the PETA activists, who were all women, to be stoned and stripped. They then proceeded to stone the activists present, resulting in several of them sustaining facial injuries and other wounds, while some had to be hospitalised.

    As the police tried to intervene and help the activists, three police vehicles were smashed, and several of the officers were beaten by the mob while they attempted tried to diffuse the situation. Furthermore, two of the PETA India activists have been remanded into police custody as some of the locals – apparently affiliated with the mosque – have charged the women with "outraging religious feelings."

    PETA India CEO Poorva Joshipura told the media that "PETA organises peaceful animal protection awareness programs for Christmas, Easter, Diwali, Janmashtami and other holidays, as well as Eid" and that "it is shameful that in working to stop violence, our volunteers were made to suffer violence."