Slaughtering sacrificial animals in Turkey sends hundreds to hospitals on the first days of Eid.

Turkey witnessed a significant increase in the number of injuries related to sacrificial slaughtering on the first day of Eid al-Adha, with hundreds of people being transported to hospitals in various states. In Istanbul alone, 776 people were injured, while Kayseri recorded 420 cases, Sakarya 293, and Van 144, according to "Bianet". Injuries ranged from wounds on the hands, head, and legs, mostly resulting from errors during the slaughtering process. Turkish media, especially the IHA agency, described the injured as inexperienced butchers, attributing the recurring injuries annually to lack of training and necessary precautions. One butcher stated, "We were holding the sacrificial animal, the knife slipped, and my head hit the iron. These incidents happen every year, I also lost a finger last year." Istanbul's Health Director, Abdullah Emre Güner, confirmed that 53 people were hospitalized due to traffic accidents, while the number of slaughter-related injuries reached 776 in Istanbul alone on the first day. Statistics indicate that the number of injuries this year exceeded last year's approximately 16,000 cases during the holiday period. According to the President of the Turkish Chambers of Agriculture Union, Şemsi Bayraktar, 3.35 million sacrificial animals were slaughtered this year, including 750,000 large livestock and 2.6 million small animals, a clear increase compared to last year's 2.7 million slaughtered animals. The recurring incidents highlight the need for awareness about the importance of safe slaughtering and the engagement of qualified professionals to prevent repeated injuries that mar the joy of the occasion.