Anger as Saudi psychologist shares son's animal abuse online

A famed Saudi psychologist has sparked anger after the Eid festival by sharing a video of his teenage son trying to slaughter an animal in a religious sacrifice. 

Dr Tareq al-Habib thought his 15-year-old son should learn how to slaughter an animal in accordance to sharia.

The approproate method of dispatch is supposed to be one swift, deep incision to the throat with a very sharp knife to cause as little distress to the animal as possible.

Instead, the visibly nervous boy continued to wave the knife over the animal’s throat, seemingy causing it great distress.

Within minutes of the video being tweeted, it went viral and sparked a range of reactions.

Occasionally, comments laughing at the situation would pop up...

Translation: Tareq al-Habib tortured this animal. God could not approve of this. I feel sick now

After the controversy, al-Habib spoke to Saudi newspaper Okaz where he explained that he had no intention to upset anyone.

He said his son was still learning and said the butcher training him should have prepared him with a sharper knife.

"We did not leave the animal for an hour before we slaughtered him, this was only for a few extra seconds while he was still learning," al-Habib said.

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