Sacrificial outrage: Senator's ritual sparks fury in drought-stricken Mexico

On the grounds of the Senate in Mexico, a chicken was sacrificed. The animal was offered in a ritual honouring the pre-Columbian rain god. One of the senators organised the ceremony. The politician's idea sparked outrage in public opinion with accusations of animal cruelty.

Outrage in Mexico was sparked on Wednesday by reports that a group of people carried out a sacrificial ritual on the Senate premises, as reported by PAP. Journalist Leticié Robles de la Rosa recorded and published the event on social media. Local media report that the animal was offered to Tlaloc, the pre-Columbian rain god, as part of a prayer for rain. Mexico has been grappling with a severe drought problem for many weeks.

Senator Adolfo Gomez from the ruling National Regeneration Party (Morena) organized the ritual. The Senate leadership quickly distanced itself from this incident, emphasising that it did not consent to introducing "any animal" into the chamber's headquarters.

The senator's actions were met with a strong reaction from society. According to Mexican media, the ritual violated the law, which prohibits the use of animals in traditional rituals. The organisation for animal rights, Animal Naturalis, announced a report to the prosecutor's office on the suspicion of committing an animal cruelty offence.

Anthropologist and researcher of indigenous communities Marco Matias also expressed his opposition. In his opinion, the ritual was taken out of context, making it "absurd, inconsistent, and nonsensical." - They ripped a piece of culture, Matias said, quoted by the newspaper "El Universal".

Senator Gomez, in a conversation with the newspaper "24 Horas", stated that the Constitution mandates "respect for the practices of indigenous peoples". Asked about his knowledge of the regulations in Mexico City that prohibit animal cruelty, he replied: - Of course, I know the law. How could I not know it, since I am here where it is created.