Headless Goat Polo at Karzai Inauguration



Headless Goat Polo
(Kabul, Afghanistan) To honor President Hamid Karzai during his inauguration next week, a traditional Buzkashi sport competition (headless goat polo) will be held.

The competition, which will be held November 19-21, consists of players on horseback who try to hold on to a headless goat as long as possible while riding full gallop to gain sympathy from the viewers.

Other players attempt to tear the goat carcass from its "owner" using practically any means. The carcass is sometimes thrown over a goal line, or slam-dunked into a vat. [...]

The Buzkashi competition is typically fierce, as other players may use any force short of tripping the horse in order to thwart scoring attempts.

Riders usually wear heavy clothing and head protection to protect themselves against other players' whips and boots.

I'd suggest that Ingrid Newkirk and others of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals make airline reservations for Kabul as soon as possible. PETA should loudly protest. Surely, headless goat polo violates at least some of PETA's rules.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.