Egypt’s Administrative Court has sent a lawsuit calling for an end to animal performances in circuses to the Commissioners’ Department for review on Tuesday, 26 August, according to local media reports. The case demands that circus shows rely instead on human skills, creativity, and artistic innovation, in line with the Egyptian Constitution and Islamic Sharia. The lawsuit, filed by a lawyer on behalf of Animal Protection Foundation, a nonprofit in Egypt, accuses authorities of failing to protect circus animals from abuse, saying they ignored their duty to stop practices that amount to torture and violate the Egyptian Constitution. The complaint says animals, especially lions and tigers, are often beaten, starved, and even burned to force them to perform unnatural tricks. It argues this not only causes suffering but also endangers people. One example cited is a well-known case in Tanta, where a tiger attacked a trainer and left him permanently injured. The lawsuit points to Article 45 of the Constitution, which guarantees protection for animals, and Article 2, which makes Islamic Sharia the main source of law and encourages mercy toward living beings. It also includes Quranic verses and…
