Clerics in Syria have authorized Muslims living in the besieged Damascus suburbs to eat meat that would typically be forbidden by the religion.
In a video, a group of religious leaders issued a fatwa, or a ruling, allowing people stranded in areas that are controlled by rebels to eat cats, dogs, and donkeys to prevent starvation, BBC reports. The ruling came during the Muslim celebration of Eid Al-Adha, which ends Tuesday evening.
The clerics called it a “cry for help to the whole world” from the war-torn country, where tens of thousands have been killed and displaced during the civil war.
[BBC]
