Network for Animals (NFA) calls upon the government of Jordan to immediately end the unprecedented massacre of dogs that is seeking to exterminate every street dog in the country.
Dogs are being hunted down and shot because the country’s religious leader has declared a holy war on dogs.
Jordan’s Grand Mufti, Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaileh, issued a fatwa – a religious instruction to Muslims – to kill the dogs after a child was bitten by a rabid animal. It seems the hospital where the child was taken did not administer anti-rabies drugs and the girl died.
“The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered the killing of five animals including stray and rabid dogs in order to preserve human life, hence killing dogs is permissible.” Dr. Khalaileh said in an interview with Mohammad Al-Wakeel on the Jordanian radio station Radio Hala on Monday October 30, 2017. Dr. Khalaileh also said, preserving human life is one of the most important purposes of Islamic Law. It is not permissible to tolerate negligence in this regard, which is the duty of official authorities to kill these dogs and not leave them on the streets or between houses.
Because a fatwa is binding on Muslims, municipalities across the country started hiring snipers. In the city of Karak alone 340 dogs have been shot dead. At least one thousand have been killed so far. Images are emerging of rows of dead dogs who were shot by snipers.
“This slaughter simply cannot be allowed to continue,” said David Barritt, NFA’s campaign director. “It is the duty of all of us who love dogs, to do whatever we can to stop it now, before there are no dogs left in Jordan.”
Barritt urged those killing dogs in Jordan to remember that Prophet Mohammad repeatedly forbade cruelty to animals, saying in the Hadith popular tradition, "Whoever is kind to the creatures of God is kind to himself."
“The most important immediate step is to spread the word about the unspeakable cruelty and horror that is unfolding. The slaughter literally began overnight and gathered a horrible momentum, which is completely out of control.
The only way we can stop it is if enough people speak out against it, the government of Jordan will step in. I urge everyone who reads this to sign our petition calling on King Abdullah of Jordan to intervene and end this nightmare.”
For the animals,
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Brian Davies,
Founder
