Egyptian Court Proceedings Initiate Amidst Donkey Meat Sale Scandal
The sale of donkey meat has sparked public outrage and legal action in Egypt, leading to court trials and debates over stricter penalties.
The sale of donkey meat has taken center stage in Egypt as the Giza Primary Court began trials last week for butchers involved in the scandal.
The situation escalated when roughly 300 butchers staged a protest during the court proceedings in support of their colleagues, while some individuals reportedly assaulted journalists covering the trial.
Legal voices have called for harsher penalties to deter such infractions from recurring.
The case commenced when a citizen alerted authorities that an individual was skinning a donkey on a side street off Abdul Aal Canal in the Boulaq Dakrour area of Giza, south of Cairo.
Following the report, Colonel Abdel Wahab Sharawi, the head of Boulaq police, responded and found the suspect, named Mohamed Mahmoud Khalifa, mid-process of slaughtering the donkey.
Khalifa confessed to law enforcement that he was slaughtering donkeys to sell their meat to Egyptian consumers.
He led police to a location where he had stockpiled a significant quantity of deceased animals, which he was processing and packaging for distribution to supermarkets, restaurants, and street vendors selling kebabs and kofta.
Khalifa also indicated that he had accomplices, including a trader specializing in frozen meats.
Following an investigation, police arrested a second suspect, Wasef Sawiris, who was found in possession of substantial amounts of spoiled meat at his shop in Boulaq Dakrour.
Authorities discovered that many customers were flocking to purchase these meats due to their lower prices.
It has been reported that the accused established connections within a major hotel for supplying large quantities of these meats.
During interrogations, Sawiris revealed that his store never experienced a lull in sales, especially from kebab and kofta shop owners eagerly purchasing the meat.
He noted that he sold donkey rib meat for eight Egyptian pounds per kilogram, while sandwiches made from donkey meat could go for as low as 30 to 50 piastres in public squares and lower-income neighborhoods.
An Egyptian security source informed Emirate Today that Giza police successfully conducted a comprehensive inventory of all meat shops and ready-meal restaurants that implicated vendors related to the scandal.
The source also highlighted support from local communities, particularly after uncovering the sale of deceased donkeys.
As of now, authorities have identified 50 restaurants and shops involved, and despite the suspects being brought to justice, they continue to pursue all individuals connected to the case.
The source mentioned that, although relatives of the suspects attempted to intimidate the public, substantial collaboration with the community persists.
During the trial proceedings on April 9, supporters of the arrested individuals reportedly clashed with journalists, leading to physical assaults.
Lawyer Ahmad Abdullah stated that the families of the defendants engaged in intimidation tactics aimed at undermining public attention to the case.
Journalist Jamal Al-Din, who was assaulted while covering the trial, described receiving punches to the face while attempting to carry out his journalistic duty.
He added that security personnel failed to protect them and instead provided heavy security for the defendants.
He mentioned that one police officer seized the camera of a photographer from the Akhbar newspaper when he tried to capture the courtroom proceedings.
In this context, former Qena Primary Court judge, Counsel Othman Mohamed Othman, has advocated for stronger penalties in cases that violate fundamental moral and ethical values.
He expressed astonishment that the punishment for such offenses ranges from one to six years in prison.
Counsel Othman noted that the judiciary typically exercises the maximum degree of punishment in such cases due to their public significance.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mohamed Hassan from the Giza Veterinary Authority stated that consuming spoiled meats poses health risks, including kidney failure and viral diseases.
He explained that donkey meat does not differ from other meats in these health risks, and the accused were skilled criminals who successfully mixed contaminated meat with imported varieties, complicating detection, particularly after masking them with spices popular among Egyptians.
The Giza Primary Court has postponed the consideration of the case until April 24.
The situation escalated when roughly 300 butchers staged a protest during the court proceedings in support of their colleagues, while some individuals reportedly assaulted journalists covering the trial.
Legal voices have called for harsher penalties to deter such infractions from recurring.
The case commenced when a citizen alerted authorities that an individual was skinning a donkey on a side street off Abdul Aal Canal in the Boulaq Dakrour area of Giza, south of Cairo.
Following the report, Colonel Abdel Wahab Sharawi, the head of Boulaq police, responded and found the suspect, named Mohamed Mahmoud Khalifa, mid-process of slaughtering the donkey.
Khalifa confessed to law enforcement that he was slaughtering donkeys to sell their meat to Egyptian consumers.
He led police to a location where he had stockpiled a significant quantity of deceased animals, which he was processing and packaging for distribution to supermarkets, restaurants, and street vendors selling kebabs and kofta.
Khalifa also indicated that he had accomplices, including a trader specializing in frozen meats.
Following an investigation, police arrested a second suspect, Wasef Sawiris, who was found in possession of substantial amounts of spoiled meat at his shop in Boulaq Dakrour.
Authorities discovered that many customers were flocking to purchase these meats due to their lower prices.
It has been reported that the accused established connections within a major hotel for supplying large quantities of these meats.
During interrogations, Sawiris revealed that his store never experienced a lull in sales, especially from kebab and kofta shop owners eagerly purchasing the meat.
He noted that he sold donkey rib meat for eight Egyptian pounds per kilogram, while sandwiches made from donkey meat could go for as low as 30 to 50 piastres in public squares and lower-income neighborhoods.
An Egyptian security source informed Emirate Today that Giza police successfully conducted a comprehensive inventory of all meat shops and ready-meal restaurants that implicated vendors related to the scandal.
The source also highlighted support from local communities, particularly after uncovering the sale of deceased donkeys.
As of now, authorities have identified 50 restaurants and shops involved, and despite the suspects being brought to justice, they continue to pursue all individuals connected to the case.
The source mentioned that, although relatives of the suspects attempted to intimidate the public, substantial collaboration with the community persists.
During the trial proceedings on April 9, supporters of the arrested individuals reportedly clashed with journalists, leading to physical assaults.
Lawyer Ahmad Abdullah stated that the families of the defendants engaged in intimidation tactics aimed at undermining public attention to the case.
Journalist Jamal Al-Din, who was assaulted while covering the trial, described receiving punches to the face while attempting to carry out his journalistic duty.
He added that security personnel failed to protect them and instead provided heavy security for the defendants.
He mentioned that one police officer seized the camera of a photographer from the Akhbar newspaper when he tried to capture the courtroom proceedings.
In this context, former Qena Primary Court judge, Counsel Othman Mohamed Othman, has advocated for stronger penalties in cases that violate fundamental moral and ethical values.
He expressed astonishment that the punishment for such offenses ranges from one to six years in prison.
Counsel Othman noted that the judiciary typically exercises the maximum degree of punishment in such cases due to their public significance.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mohamed Hassan from the Giza Veterinary Authority stated that consuming spoiled meats poses health risks, including kidney failure and viral diseases.
He explained that donkey meat does not differ from other meats in these health risks, and the accused were skilled criminals who successfully mixed contaminated meat with imported varieties, complicating detection, particularly after masking them with spices popular among Egyptians.
The Giza Primary Court has postponed the consideration of the case until April 24.
