A PLEAD TO IMPLEMENT UAE FEDERAL LAW NO.16 FOR ANIMAL WELFARE

  • by: AlRahma Animal Welfare Society
  • recipient: The Minister of Environment and Water : Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Cheif of Dubai Police: Dahi Khalfan and Hussein Lootah Director of Dubai Municipality

THIS PETITION IS WITH REGARDS TO THE BRUTAL KILLING OF THE IGUANA OPPOSITE TO AL BAYAN NEWSPAPER (SAFA PARK) IN DUBAI (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)  

THE STORY FROM ONE OF THE WITNESSES & FAMILY : 

"(Yesterday afternoon) a neighbour came back from a walk to say that she saw a beautiful... green Common Iguana sitting in a tree on the sand near our villas. Two other neighbours also witnessed the iguana in the tree on their walk passed. 
At approximately 5.30pm, my 15 year old daughter and housemaid were walking our dogs across the same sand area. 
They saw:
- 2 Police Officers, 
- a Security Guard (from the nearby Arabic newspaper company that faces the sand area) AND
- three young boys (aged approximately 10 years old).............. 
.......... My daughter witnessed all those present throwing stones and rocks at the iguana. It was alive and attempting to escape. 
One of the boys caught the animal by its tail and threw it! 
She saw the security guard pick up a very large rock and bring it down on the iguana. 
The stoning continued despite my daughter's cries for mercy; she shouted at them repeatedly to stop! When she was ignored, she ran home for help. She arrived home extremely distraught by what she had witnessed.
A neighbour and my husband, raced to the sand area ...... & chased the boys away (the policemen had already gone) and found eggs smashed in the sand. It took them a while to find the iguana, which was by now dead. It had been disemboweled and was hanging in a nearby tree, photos are attached. My husband removed the body and buried it.
Having lived on the edge of the park for the last 11 years, we have had several sightings of these quiet, vegetarian lizards. They have lived peacefully here for years!"

THESE IGUANA'S HAVE BEEN LIVING PEACEFULLY IN THE PARK FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS AND HAVE CAUSED NO HARM TO ANYONE . THIS BRUTAL MURDER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND THE ONES RESPONSIBLE PROSECUTED. PLEASE HELP US BY SIGNING THIS PETITION TO VOICE OURSELVES TO THE RESPECTED AUTHORITIES.

THIS STORY IS ONE OF HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF ABUSE THAT IS OCCURING IN THE UAE WHICH WE HAVE LONG STAYED SILENT FOR ! THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO SPEAK UP FOR THE SAKE OF ALL CREATURES THAT DESERVE TO LIVE ON EARTH ! 

WE BELIEVE IN THE LAW AND WE BELIEVE IN THE RESPECTED AUTHORITIES TO HELP US IMPLEMENT IT. PLEASE HELP US IMPLEMENT UAE FEDERAL LAW NO.16 FOR ANIMAL WELFARE WHICH CLEARLY STATES THAT MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST TORTURE AND ABUSE OF ANIMALS ACROSS THE UAE . 

 

Dear Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad,

We are writing you this letter with great respect to all your efforts in helping shape a better country over the years. The UAE has been a home to many and has opened it's doors to everyone from all around the world. We also appreciate the efforts that have been done in shaping a good solid foundation regarding the environment and amongst that animal welfare in the UAE.

Our main concern is that we have the law that clearly states and protects animal welfare and animal rights but unfortunatley it saddens us that it is not widely implemented and not too many people are aware of it. We have had several complaints about animal abuse and animal welfare that people from our respected communities try to voice out but are left with no answers for one of two main reasons : 1- The people we complain to, which are mainly the manicupalities & police, do not have a clue about it 2- Some people mistakenly believe that since human needs take priority, animal rights are not an urgent issue.  

We are writing this petition to plead of you to help us with regards to the very recent incident that happened in Al Safa Park in Dubai (opposite to Al Bayan News paper) when a group of kids and a security guard stoned and tortured an Iguana and her eggs while causing no harm nor threat to anyone while two police men were present.
These Iguana's have been spotted in the park for the last 11 years and have harmed no one since then.
Iguana's are peaceful vegetarian creatures that do not attack nor feed on meat, they only feed on leaves and grass, which makes this case a pure case of torture and abuse of a harmless living creature that the law should prosecute.

We, as animal advocates, have stayed silent for a very long time, we try our best to educate people about animal welfare along side of rescuing abusive cases from cats, to dogs, to horses, gazelles camels , etc...
But this incident has left us speechless and we strongly feel that it should be seriously investigated & the ones responsible punished to be an example to everyone in this society.
Individuals and governments have an important role to play in educating the public about the care of animals, and establishing institutions to support animal welfare and we believe in you and your efforts that is why we plead of you to help us with this case.

Islam has taught us to be compassionate towards all living creatures and we leave you with great examples that every person living in this country should be aware of and take them as their example in life.









ISLAM TEACHINGS ABOUT COMPASSION TOWARDS ANIMALS : 

In Islam, mistreating an animal is considered a sin. The Quran and guidance from the Prophet Muhammad, as recorded in hadith, give many examples and directives about how Muslims should treat animals.









Animal Communities









The Quran describes that animals form communities, just as humans do: "There is not an animal that lives on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but they form communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they all shall be gathered to their Lord in the end" (Quran 6:38).

These verses remind us that animals are living creatures with feelings and connections to the larger spiritual and physical world. We must consider their lives as worthwhile and cherished. "And the earth, He has assigned it to all living creatures" (Quran 55:10)









Kindness to Animals









It is forbidden in Islam to treat an animal cruelly, The Prophet Muhammad often chastised his Companions who mistreated animals, and spoke to them about the need for mercy and kindness. Here are several examples of hadith which instruct Muslims about how to treat animals.









Reward for mercy: It is related from Abu Umama that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever is merciful even to a sparrow, Allah will be merciful to him on the Day of Judgment."










Animals are like humans: “A good deed done to an animal is like a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as cruelty to a human being."

Animals cannot speak up for themselves: It is related from Sahl ibn Al-Handhaliyya that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, once passed by a camel that was so emaciated that its back had almost reached its stomach. He said, "Fear Allah in these beasts who cannot speak." (Abu Dawud)

Mental cruelty also forbidden: It is related from AbdulRahman bin Abdullah that a group of Companions were once on a journey with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he left them for a while. During his absence, they saw a bird with its two young, and they took the young ones from the nest. The mother bird was circling above in the air, beating its wings in grief, when the Prophet came back. He said,"Who has hurt the feelings of this bird by taking its young? Return them to her." (Muslim)

Forgiveness of sins: It is related from Abu Hurayra, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that a prostitute once saw a dog on a very hot day going round and round a well, lolling its tongue because of its thirst. She drew some water for it using her shoe, and for this action all her sins were forgiven her. (Muslim)

Mistreatment is a sin: It is related from Jabir that the Messenger of Allah, once saw a donkey which had been branded on its face and he said, "May Allah curse the one who branded it."(Muslim)





Give rest to beasts of burden: It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not use the backs of your animals as chairs. Allah has made them subject to you, so that by them you can reach places that you would not otherwise be able to reach except with great fatigue." (Abu Dawud)









Cultural Misguidance









As we have seen, all animals are to be treated with respect and kindness. Unfortunately, in some Muslim communities these guidelines are not followed. Some people mistakenly believe that since humans needs take priority, animal rights are not an urgent issue. Others find excuses to mistreat certain animals, such as dogs. These actions fly in the face of Islamic teachings, and the best way to combat such ignorance is through education and good example. Individuals and governments have an important role to play in educating the public about the care of animals, and establishing institutions to support animal welfare.









"Whoever is kind to the creatures of God, is kind to himself." -The Prophet Muhammad
 








Sincerely,









Animal advocates & lovers across the UAE 

























Sign Petition
Sign Petition
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.

Privacy Policy

By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.

Having problems signing this? Let us know.