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Horse repeatedly whipped in Eid al-Fitr celebration
Footage shows youths repeatedly lashing a defenseless horse during what was supposed to be a children’s attraction for end of Ramadan festivities; horse is rescued by Jerusalem Municipality.
Youngsters in east Jerusalem were filmed last Thursday violently abusing a horse during the Eid al-Fitr festival, which is celebrated by Muslims worldwide at the conclusion of the month of Ramadan.
Eventually raising its legs in an effort to fend off the attack, the horse does not manage to avoid another flurry of whips.
“It was an attraction for the children and it was supposed to be a nice activity that turned into violence against animals,” he said. “Sometimes, horse training is aided by small blows, but what happened there wasn’t training or a way of educating it, but was youngsters beating a horse.”
During the celebrations, several horses were placed on the lawn next to the Damascus Gate in the Old City to enable children and youngsters to enjoy rides on them.
Horse repeatedly whipped by east Jerusalem youths
However, the attraction turned into one of cruelty when one youth began to violently whip the horse as it attempts to flee. The act was also repeated on Saturday.
At the same time, another youth is recorded trying to hold the defenseless horse in place as the attacker dishes out several lashes on its body.
Assim Jabar, a resident of east Jerusalem who was passing by when the incident occurred described what he saw.
The Jerusalem Municipality also weighed in on the matter after viewing the distressing footage. “After complaints were made to the veterinary services last Thursday about abuse of a horse, inspectors of the municipal and veterinary services arrived at the scene, tended to the horse and transferred it to a veterinary compound,” a statement said.
“On any matter related to animals, the municipality should be contacted at once on hotline number 106 so that inspectors can arrive as quick as possible at the scene and tend to the animal,” it continued. "Offense of abusing animals are criminal and complaints can be filed with the police.”
