LOS ANGELES: The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has launched a new campaign despite protests from animal rights activists and vegans to call for an Egyptian-American woman who was convicted of murdering and eating her husband 20 years ago to be switched to a vegan diet. In a letter to Cowchilla State Prison women's facility, the animal rights organization said that in order to get Omaima Aree Nelson off the desire to eat flesh, going vegan would be the best move. “The last thing that a convicted killer and cannibal should be allowed to do is chew on these innocent victims' body parts,” PETA Special Projects Coordinator Carrie Snider wrote in the letter to the warden. “Eating humane and healthy vegan food will undoubtedly help Nelson lose her taste for blood.” According to reports, Omaima Aree Nelson, was convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 28 years in jail for killing her husband, William E. Nelson, in their Costa Mesa apartment. Prosecutors say Nelson killed her husband, who was 32 years her elder, of less than a month, on Thanksgiving Day. She then cooked his head and his hands. She then attempted to get friends to help dispose of the rest of the body parts. “If people are revolted by the idea of eating a human corpse, perhaps they should also lose their appetites at the though of eating anyone's skinned and sauteed body parts,” said PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk in a media statement. But, many animal rights activists and vegans have expressed their disapproval of the letter and statements, saying it will once again alienate many people who may have been thinking of going the vegan way. “I know that PETA probably thinks these stunts are a good idea and that they increase people's interest in the vegan lifestyle and animal rights,” said LA-based vegan Marcus Upton. “It won't help.” Marta Dresson agreed, arguing that “PETA campaigns are bordering on ridiculous and they are doing more harm than good if you talk to many people who are interested in veganism and animal rights, because they turn people off.” BM
