Claim Muslim-majority city in Michigan legalized religious animal sacrifice is missing key context

Muslim council members were divided on the 2023 ordinance that allowed such sacrifices at private residences. Published Nov. 10, 2026 Claim: In 2026, the all-Muslim City Council of Hamtramck, Michigan, which has a majority-Muslim population, approved an ordinance allowing religious animal sacrifice. While it is true that the city of Hamtramck, Michigan, approved an ordinance that allows for and regulates religious animal sacrifice, it happened in 2023, not 2026, contrary to online claims. Animal sacrifice for religious reasons is expressly permitted in many U.S. cities, and federal law has protections for ritual animal slaughter. A 1993 Supreme Court decision determined a Florida city ordinance banning animal sacrifice was unconstitutional because "a law that explicitly restricts religious practices violates the First Amendment." Religious animal sacrifice in Islam — known as Qurban — involves slaughtering and eating livestock like goats and cows during Eid al-Adha, a festival that honors the willingness of the prophet Abraham (or Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God's command. Credible reports and estimates suggest that Hamtramck is a majority-Muslim city. However, the U.S. Census does not track religious affiliation and we found no definitive data on the city's religious demographics. The Detroit Free Press, a reputable news outlet, reported that every City Council member in Hamtramck was Muslim in 2023. Contrary to the claim's implications, the City Council actually first attempted to expressly ban individual animal slaughter in the city, before reversing course after receiving legal advice and pushback from some in the Muslim community. Both the City Council and Muslim residents of Hamtramck were divided on the ordinance. In late 2026, a rumor circulated online that Hamtramck, Michigan, a city with an allegedly Muslim-majority population, had recently "legalized animal sacrifice" for religious purposes. According to these posts, the city's mayor, Amer Ghalib, voted alongside an "all-Muslim city council ... to allow religious animal sacrifice in private homes after the city attorney cited a Supreme Court ruling protecting the practice." The claim spread across Facebook and X, and Snopes readers asked us to verify whether it was true. In 2023 — not 2026 — Hamtramck City Council approved an ordinance on a 3-2 vote allowing religious animal sacrifice in private residences, with certain regulations (see the 2:02:15 mark in video of the Jan. 11, 2023, meeting). Ghalib, then the mayor of Hamtramck, also voted in favor, making the final vote 4-2. While the U.S. Census doesn't track religion, reputable reports suggest Hamtramck became America's first Muslim-majority city in 2013 and had an all-Muslim City Council in 2023. Thus, we have rated this claim as a mixture of truth, falsehood and undetermined information. It also needs significant context, given that ritual animal sacrifice is allowed in many cities across the United States and it has protections in federal law. "People might be surprised to know that animal sacrifice is allowed in every city in the state. In fact, the state of Michigan allows it," said the city attorney, Odey Meroueh, during a legal presentation in front of council members (at 1:19:57). "Not only that, but the federal government allows it." Contrary to the implications of the posts making the claim, Muslim residents and council members were divided on the ordinance, with many actively opposing individual animal slaughter within city limits. (While online posts also claimed the animal-rights group PETA "stayed silent," a PETA official actually appeared on Fox News in 2023 to criticize the City Council's decision.) Furthermore, it's important to note that unlike the burnt offerings in traditions like that of ancient Greece, religious animal sacrifice in Islam — known as Qurban — simply involves slaughtering and eating livestock like goats and cows during Eid al-Adha, a festival that honors the willingness of the prophet Abraham (or Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God's command. (While Abraham tied his son Isaac to an altar in mainstream versions of the Bible, in the Quran's version, Abraham's son Ishmael agreed to the sacrifice. God then provided Abraham, who is known as Ibrahim in the Quran, with a ram to sacrifice instead.) Traditionally, one-third of the meat stays with the family who slaughters the livestock, another third goes to friends and neighbors and the final third is given to people in need. The ordinance Hamtramck's city code on animals prohibits the "owning, keeping, or harboring of pigs, horses, cows, sheep, goats, llamas, domestic fowl, outdoor rabbits," unless it is for the "temporary religious sacrificial purposes as permitted by law" (Chapter 90, Section 4). A separate section in Chapter 90 details regulations for any religious animal sacrifices, which must be done humanely and disposed "in accordance with local, state, and federal law:" § 90.030 RELIGIOUS ANIMAL SACRIFICE. (A) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit, abridge or in any way hinder the religious freedom of any person or group. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, ritual handling or other preparation of livestock for ritual slaughter are exempted from the terms of this chapter. For the purposes of this section, the term "ritual slaughter" means slaughter in accordance with the below definition. To conform with the provisions and intent of this chapter, animals not previously rendered insensible, and to be slaughtered in accordance with a humane method as defined in the definition below, shall be slaughtered immediately following total suspension from the floor as otherwise proscribed by city and state law (1) HUMANE METHOD. Means either: (a) A method whereby the animal is rendered insensible to pain by mechanical, electrical, chemical or other means that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast or cut; or (b) A method in accordance with ritual requirements of any religious faith whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument. (2) Residents conducting ritual religious sacrifice shall dispose of all waste in accordance with local, state, and federal law. (Ord. 2021-01-10, passed 1-10-2023) Penalty, see § 90.999 Background on the ordinance According to the Detroit Free Press (archived), the debate began in 2022 after three City Council members attempted to clarify language already in the city's code: [Council member Khalil] Refai said the current ordinance already effectively bans slaughter in the city. But in order to be clear, the subcommittee added the sentence: "No person shall slaughter any animal in the City except for properly licensed commercial facilities in the business of food preparation or police in the course of their duties." It was that sentence that set off criticism from some in the Muslim community on Facebook, where people organized and spoke out against it. In response to the outrage, council members struck the proposal to ban slaughter and moved to make revisions that would ensure the right to religious animal sacrifice. That, too, resulted in controversy. At a 2023 City Council meeting, residents shared concerns about sanitation and worried that children could be traumatized by the slaughter of animals in peoples' backyards. Some also said that they did not want to make their non-Muslim neighbors upset (at 5:41). Supporters of permitting religious animal sacrifice noted that some in the Jewish community perform animal sacrifices as well, known as kapparot, and have support from their city governments, like in New York (see 50:16). The Free Press reported (archived) that "a group of Orthodox Jews" travel to Hamtramck "every year on the eve of Yom Kippur to slaughter chickens at a halal butcher run by Muslims." Some supporters also referenced the right to religious freedom in the Constitution and several legal cases. In 1993, for example, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that a Florida city ordinance banning animal sacrifice was unconstitutional because "a law that explicitly restricts religious practices violates the First Amendment." Meroueh, the city's attorney, also referenced this case in his legal advice. "Unfortunately, for those who do not want animal sacrifice to proceed, we can't do anything about that. The Supreme Court has already stated that we can't," he said (at 1:24:05). Ghalib, the mayor, cast his vote in support of the ordinance, "based on legal advice, not based on emotions or self-interest," he said, adding that he would still recommend that people who want to partake in the practice do so outside of the city (see 1:30:52). Sources 37. As-Saffat. quran.com/as-saffat?startingVerse=107.Ali, Safia Samee. "Country's First All-Muslim City Council Is Elected in Michigan." NBC News, 10 Nov. 2021, www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nation-s-first-all-muslim-city-council-elected-michigan-n1283626. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.Bailey, Sarah Pulliam. "In the First Majority-Muslim U.S. City, Residents Tense About Its Future." 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"Hamtramck City Council to Remain Only All-Muslim Council in US as LGBTQ+ Candidate Loses." Detroit Free Press, 8 Nov. 2023, www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2023/11/08/hamtramck-city-council-to-remain-all-muslim-as-lgbtq-candidate-fails/71494617007/. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.———. "Hamtramck Debates Allowing Animal Slaughter for Religious Holidays." Detroit Free Press, 21 Aug. 2022, www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2022/08/21/hamtramck-animal-slaughter-religious-holidays-muslim-eid-al-adha/10222541002/. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026."What Is Qurbani? ." Islamic-Relief.Org, 1 Jan. 2026, islamic-relief.org/news/what-is-qurbani/. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026. By Rae Deng Rae Deng specializes in government/politics and is based in Tacoma, Wash. Article Tags