February 15, 2012 – Joshua Gardner
Will the new sense of freedom, openness, and compassion that has bloomed in the wake of the Egyptian revolution benefit animals as well as humans? On October 31, Professor Kristen Stilt, a visiting professor of Islamic law from Northwestern, offered some answers to this question. Professor Stilt began by discussing Islamic legal rules (including verses of the Quran and suras of the Prophet Muhammad) that relate to animals. These seem, overall, to require compassion toward animals, although dogs are identified as “unclean” in a ritual sense, while cats are labeled “clean.” This requirement of compassion stands in sharp contrast to the situation on the ground in many Muslim-majority countries, where there are few laws on the books to prevent animals from mistreatment, the laws that exist are rarely enforced, and prevailing cultural attitudes tend to objectify animals and treat the idea of “animal rights” as a joke. The result is that work animals are often treated harshly, street dogs are mercilessly abused, and endangered animals are shot for sport by wealthy tourists. Autocratic rulers have repressed the few animal rights groups that exist, like other non-governmental organizations, including by choking off contributions from abroad.
Against this backdrop, the Egyptian revolution has offered both a measure of hope and new challenges. On the positive side, the renewed sense of national pride and civic engagement felt by the Egyptian people has generated an outpouring of support for NGOs like the Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals. At the same time, greater willingness to protest perceived injustice has brought demonstrators not only into Tahrir Square, but also to the Giza Zoo, a site of longstanding abuse. On the negative side, however, the recent economic downturn has meant near-starvation for many work animals, including thousands of horses and camels that carry tourists around the pyramids. In addition, the increasing taste of the Egyptian public for meat has encouraged the growth of western-style “factory farming,” which means that Egypt might trade random acts of abuse toward animals for a regimented system of abuse. In all, Professor Stilt’s discussion provided a compelling look at a complex issue that deserves more attention in Egypt and around the world.