Region | Egypt
Cairo butchers arrested for selling cracasses of donkeys, dogs
Many Egyptians have decided to stop eating meat. One reason is the recent rise in its price. Another is the arrest of two local butchers late last month, accused of selling carcasses of donkeys and dogs by claiming it was beef.
- By Ramadan Al Sherbini, Correspondent
- Published: 00:35 April 26, 2008
Cairo: Many Egyptians have decided to stop eating meat. One reason is the recent rise in its price. Another is the arrest of two local butchers late last month, accused of selling carcasses of donkeys and dogs by claiming it was beef.
A court in Giza recently started hearing the case that has shocked this predominantly Muslim nation of 76 million, 40 per cent of whom are believed to live below the poverty line.
The defendants had allegedly mixed their meat with spices to cover up the bad odour of the meat and sold it for 20 Egyptian pounds [about Dh13.6] per kg. Beef sells in Egypt for 40 pounds [about Dh27.2] per kg.
Many eyebrows in Egypt have, however, been raised when some veterinarians sanctioned the eating of the donkey meat. "There is no harm to one's health in eating donkey meat because it is rich in protein and glucose," said Fareed Muselhi, a veterinarian in Cairo. "But, it is very important to ensure that the animal is in good health before it is slaughtered," he explained to Gulf News.
Muselhi's suggestion, nonetheless, drew harsh criticism from colleagues. "The meat of donkeys and horses is definitely harmful," warned Hatem Faraj, a specialist at the Veterinary Medicine Authority. "This kind of meat causes liver and kidney failure, as well as intestinal inflammation," he said. "Donkey and horse meat is used only for feeding wild animals such as lions."
Under Sharia [Islamic law], the meat of carnivores is prohibited. "Islam forbids eating the meat of any animal considered unclean such as the donkey, the pig or the dog," said Sabri Abdul Rauof, a professor at Egypt's Islamic seminary Al Azhar.
"Both the Holy Quran and Prophet Mohammad's [PBUH] Sunnah [traditions] have not approved eating the meat of these animals."
According to Abdul Rauof, donkeys should be used as a means of transportation and for farm work only. Following the arrest of the two butchers, branded in the local media as the butchers of donkeys and dogs, the authorities have intensified crackdowns on stores of meat products.
"It is nauseating to learn that greedy butchers and sausage peddlers sell to the unsuspecting public donkey and dog meat," said Mahmoud Abdul Qawai, a resident of Boulaq Al Dakrour, a populous area south of Cairo where the two suspects were detained.
"I never thought that one day I would eat such meat. I'm afraid that one morning I'd wake up to find myself braying or barking!" Abdul Qawai added sarcastically.
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