French actress and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot, now in the autumn of her life, has criticized what she described as “the Islamic dye that colors France.”
Bardot has previously been fined for inciting hatred toward Muslims. She has reportedly said, for example, that France is overwhelmed with sheep-slaughtering Muslims. This actress holds many opinions on what she describes as “Muslim savagery” in dealing with animals. Despite having been fined more than once, and despite the criticism directed at her by French and other Western writers, she still insists on her racist opinions by casting herself as a brave woman who says what she believes.
Poor Brigitte Bardot — her bravery is misplaced. It is important to understand that her personal circumstances have driven her to making these provocative statements from time to time, to regain the attention she was once used to.
Bardot used to live a glamorous life; she used to be the most famous woman in France. Now having turned 70, she is not the center of everyone’s attention anymore, and other, younger women have replaced her. Her remaining avenue to fame, it once seemed, was to enter the field of animal protection.
The field is full of merciful people who are honest in their intentions. Bardot must realize that she offers nothing new, and therefore she has hit on a subject that is bound to get her back into the pages of newspapers, and that is her criticism of Muslims. In doing so, she puts herself in the limelight through offensive opinions and the inevitable responses, comments and criticisms.
When Muslims read her statements, they are more or less forced to respond.
I believe that the best way to deal with such a fame-seeking old lady is to leave her alone and to disregard all that she says. She works for the comfort and health of dogs but cares nothing for the health of Palestinian, Iraqi, Afghan or African children whose lives are shortened and stunted by wars and illnesses.
Centuries before Bardot and her champions were born, Islam gave animals rights and banned cruelty and ill-treatment of them. A Hadith tells of a woman who went to Hell because she locked a cat away and failed to feed it or allow the cat to feed itself. There is also a Hadith of a man who went to Heaven because he gave water to a dog after seeing him panting with thirst.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “If you wish to slaughter, sharpen your knives and spare the animal.” By saying this, he put into place a healthy strategy and set out the manner in which people should deal with animals they intend to eat. The slaughter should be quick without torturing the animal — as mercy to the dying animal.
The stories and Hadiths of mercy to animals are ones that all Muslims know, and that all non-Muslims — Brigitte Bardot among them — would do well to take them on board. Ignorance is no excuse for insulting others.
