DR EV Rapiti : It is sad that animal rights have been interpreted as a Western creation foisted on the rest of the world.

The Jains, a sector in India, totally abhor the killing of life, both human and animal. This culture dates back about 3000 years.

Only good education and robust debate will help societies all over the world to rid themselves of senseless rituals without the fear of being "haunted by evil spirits".

I have no doubt that the judge who presided over the Ukweshwama case took into account the strong beliefs attached to the ritual when he allowed it to go on.

I don't for one moment think the judge overlooked the fact that the act was brutal, but he looked at the psychological impact it would have on the Zulus if the ritual were prevented from taking place.

There is a paucity of thinking men and women and the world is cursed with an abundance of people who are afraid to challenge the "norms".

Hence there are so many ills in the world - wars, bloody killings for "muti" and senseless rituals - in these modern times.