Prevention of animal abuse gains urgency in Saudi Arabia
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Roshan Amiri
- . August 1, 2022
- . Update: August 1, 2022 11:52 pm
Saudi arabia–After a video showing a group of young men lighting a firework into a dog’s rectum and appearing to torment the animal went viral on social media, calls to punish the culprits brought attention to Saudi Arabia’s animal care issues once again.
On social media, a hashtag that means “punish the animal burner” in the original Arabic trended for many days, with users urging more enforcement of laws against animal cruelty.
Having ratified the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Law on the Humane Treatment of Animals in 2013, Saudi Arabia has strict regulations protecting animals.
Arab News was contacted by animal welfare campaigners who said that the legislation’s implementation lagged behind their original objective.
Animal mistreatment and abuse are extremely serious matters in the Kingdom. A first-time offence carries a fine of SR50,000 ($13,300), which doubles for a subsequent infraction, according to Saudi legislation.
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Fines of SR200,000 and SR400,000 are assessed for the third and fourth violations of abuse, respectively. In more severe cases, violators may lose their business licences or possibly go to jail.
In October 2021, attorney Waleed bin Nayef told Arab News that the ministry “has provided, through its website, a way to report any abuse or torture, and these reports are dealt with seriously.” He added that a strong animal welfare system was enshrined in the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 reform plan.
The legislation offers significant protections for animals, including provisions requiring that pets and livestock be provided with acceptable facilities and handled by a sufficient number of skilled staff members who are competent in matters of animal welfare.
Additionally, it requires pet owners to feed their animals in amounts appropriate for their species and ages in order to maintain their health. Governments all across the world have realised the need to safeguard animals, in part because other forms of interpersonal violence against people and property frequently coexist with animal maltreatment.
According to data gathered by the FBI in the US, combating animal cruelty can aid in lowering the rate of other crimes like severe assault and vandalism. In a statement outlining the FBI’s efforts in the area, Nelson Ferry, a member of the Criminal Statistics Management Unit, stated that “some studies show that animal cruelty is a forerunner to larger crime.”
However, abuse and neglect of animals are seen to be widespread in the Kingdom, and while the legislation is sporadically implemented, the majority of violations—even those that are documented—go unpunished, according to Saudi animal welfare campaigners.
Saudi Arabia was placed 50th out of 67 countries in the 2021 Animal Rights Index, which was developed by the San Francisco-based data business The Swiftest. Only 29 people who broke the Animal Welfare Act were penalised that year.
This is what happens when a single government organisation serves as both the legislative branch and the executive branch, acting simultaneously as the police and the law’s enforcer.
As a result of the reports of animal abuse, Princess Moudhy bint Fahd Al-Saud, president of the Saudi Animal Welfare Society, informed Arab News that her organisation also serves as the court that decides the punishment and is the same organisation that receives funding from the payment of those infractions.
“If we can directly engage our fortunate Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—as he did when reforming other government organisations to better align them with the vision—Animal Rights 2030 will encompass the full implementation of animal rights.” These laws are in place. Just put them into action. ” In Souq Al-Hammam, south of Riyadh, it is allegedly particularly prevalent to abuse and neglect animals.
