RABAT, Morocco (July 16, 2025) — Morocco has announced a new animal control law that officials claim will “strike a balance” between public safety and the protection of street dogs. Yet despite the law — and a landmark court ruling in June which found the government responsible for a country-wide canine massacre — the killings continue in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Animal advocates are preparing for a national protest in Fez on Saturday to shut down the Ain Qados “dog death camp,” while international organizations are condemning the construction of new dog detention centers in Oujda, Agadir, Chefchaouen, and Casablanca which violate modern, humane standards for animal protection.

“The government claims this new law will strike a balance between protecting people and protecting dogs — but this is not ‘balance.’ This is elimination,” said Latifa, a dog defender based in Oujda, who declined to share her last name.

In June, an administrative court ruled against the Ministry of Interior following a lawsuit brought by Moroccan animal protection organizations including Hand in Paw, the Association for the Protection of Street Animals in El Jadida, United for Creatures, the Moroccan Animal Rescue Association, and the Chefchaouen Association for Kindness Towards Animals. The court found the government in violation of Moroccan law and international agreements by ordering the poisoning and shooting of street dogs without scientific or veterinary oversight. It emphasized that under Islamic principles, dogs may only be euthanized when posing a direct threat, and that even then, they must not be tortured.

“The killing of stray dogs by shooting or poisoning, without scientific or veterinary support, constitutes a violation of laws and agreements related to the protection of animals,” the ruling states. “From a religious standpoint, dogs may only be killed if they pose a direct and real threat. The Prophet, peace be upon him, forbade the torture of animals.”

“The administration is not exempt from liability simply by remaining silent about a violation occurring within its jurisdiction,” the judgment adds. “It is obligated to intervene preventively or punitively.”

Despite the ruling, disturbing new footage shows the Moroccan government intensifying its extremely cruel anti-dog campaign. Oujda in northeastern Morocco is in the middle of a month-long dog round-up and extermination. A video posted to the official Facebook page of the city’s mayor, Lakhdar Haddouche, provides a guided tour of a new government-run animal facility under construction. The site features tiny concrete cells, a chemical-filled “animal disposal pit,” and no evidence of facilities for adoption, sterilization-release efforts, or public education. Advocates say the so-called “shelters” being built will become death camps.

Watch Oujda animal facility tour: https://youtu.be/E1Nl0piRJSg

“All Moroccan animal advocates know there’s likely no escape from a facility like this,” said Akrame Elouardi, a local who shared the video.

“It’s very clear. These ‘centres’ are killing stations,” said Debbie Wilson, spokesperson for the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC), a global alliance of 26 animal charities including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and PETA. “This has nothing to do with an effective program of TNVR — trap, neuter, vaccinate, release. This is a ‘fill and kill’ facility, like many others across Morocco, including the one being protested this weekend in Fez.”

Watch Ain Qados slaughter facility tour: https://youtube.com/shorts/57axbnkT2BQ

In Fez, conditions are as bad as they can get. Distressing footage taken in June shared by Association Salsabil Pour les Animaux Fes shows starving dogs crammed into filthy cells without food or water at the Ain Qados slaughter facility — dubbed “Fez’s hell” by locals. A national protest is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. outside the slaughterhouse. Activists are demanding its demolition, emergency relocation of the animals, and a formal dialogue between government officials and animal protection organizations.

Although officials claim the killings ended in August 2024 and have passed the new law No. 19.25 as evidence of reform, video evidence and eyewitnesses continue to document ongoing public shootings, poisonings, and mass burials.

Children have witnessed these brutal acts, which violates Morocco’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“In my neighborhood alone, municipal teams came eight times in one month,” Latifa said. “They’re still killing dogs — even those that are vaccinated and tagged. And the psychological toll on our children is devastating.”

Despite international offers to fund humane spay/neuter programs, Morocco restricts sterilization to Moroccan-licensed veterinarians, many of whom refuse to work without guarantees that the mass killings will stop. Sterilized and vaccinated dogs are clearly marked with ear tags, yet they continue to be rounded up and killed.

“This isn’t about rabies danger, it’s about removing dogs from existence,” adds Latifa. “Through propaganda, the government has turned the public into militant participants in its anti-dog campaign.”

In Defense of Animals and 25 other organizations that make up the IAWPC are calling on Morocco’s leaders and FIFA to halt the killings, close the pounds, and adopt internationally recognized humane practices.

“We stand in solidarity with Moroccan animal lovers,” said Fleur Dawes, Communications Director for In Defense of Animals. “Sickening dog death camps like the one in Fez and new ones being built across Morocco breach international standards and must be shut down immediately. Sports fans and animal lovers globally have a responsibility to call urgently for mercy from FIFA and Morocco’s leaders.”

Public figures including Ricky Gervais, Dr. Jane Goodall, and actor Peter Egan have all condemned Morocco’s campaign. Gervais tweeted a UK news exposé, Goodall wrote directly to FIFA, and Egan released a video urging immediate action.

More than 67,000 people have signed letters to FIFA and Moroccan officials through campaigns launched by In Defense of Animals and Lady Freethinker.

Members of the public are urged to take action by signing: www.idausa.org/morocco

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CONTACTS

Fleur Dawes fleur@idausa.org +1 (415) 879 6879
Debbie Wilson campaigns@iawpc.org +44 (0)7746-331-533

GRAPHIC VIDEO & IMAGES: https://bit.ly/MoroccoDogSlaughter

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 40-year history of defending animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in California, India, South Korea, and Mississippi.

The International Animal Coalition (IAWPC) comprises 20 respected international animal welfare and veterinary organizations that collaborate to respond to major animal protection crises worldwide.

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