In Egypt, to offend or insult someone, a single word is enough: hayawan (animal). Calling someone an animal implies that the person lacks reason, intelligence, and, above all, lacks dignity. This is not the only example of how animals are degraded in language; many other terms, like homar (donkey) or kalb (dog), are also used to insult others. It is hard to pinpoint exactly when or how language became so deeply tied to the degradation of animals, but at its core lies a worldview that treats animals as property, coupled that humans have souls and intellect, while animals do not. But the reality is that many animals suffer, so why, then, do we not extend them ethical consideration? This is the central question posed by the recently released Egyptian film Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo (2024), which premiered in Egyptian cinemas on January 1, 2025. At the heart of the film’s message is the idea that justice should not depend on an animal’s ability to reason, or any other ability, but rather on its capacity to suffer. Just as justice is not withheld from humans who are elderly, disabled, or…
