Syrian government exports cats and dogs to Asia for human consumption
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Omar Shalit, head of the Damascus Chamber of Agriculture, revealed that Syrian cats, dogs, and turtles are exported to Vietnam and China for human consumption, sparking resentment and condemnation from Syrians on social media.
One social media influencer wrote, “Even animals have not escaped you, leave them alone.”
Another Syrian said, “The regime exports even cats and dogs to collect dollars and conceal the bankruptcy of the treasury, and even boasts that Syria’s exports of cats and dogs, and even chicken legs, have reached Vietnam and China.”
Shalit recently walked back his statements on the export of dogs and cats for the purpose of human consumption, stressing that he never mentioned that the export of cats and dogs were for eating, but that they are exported for “decoration.”
He pointed out that the role of his chamber is limited to granting a certificate of origin, while exports pass through the ministries of agriculture and economy, in addition to customs and agricultural quarantine.
Shalit’s denial did not convince Syrians on social media, nor did it prevent them from mocking and denouncing the situation that Syria has reached.
Abdulrahman Omar (a pseudonym) believes that “the most exaggerated denial of Shalit was that they are exported for decoration, in addition to the turtles.”
According to what was published by the Damascus Chamber of Agriculture, “The volume of Syrian foreign trade of agricultural and animal products within ten months is 175 billion SYP (60 million dollars), including the trade of dogs and cats.”
Many animal welfare associations and those interested in domestic animals in Syria have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the Shalit’s statements.
Shalit said, “Rabbits and ornamental birds were exported to Kuwait and Qatar, while dogs and cats [were exported] to Taiwan and Japan in addition to China and Vietnam. We also exported ornamental fish (about 24,000) to Iraq and Libya, and turtles to Taiwan.”
Fouad al-Masara (a pseudonym) said, “The regime is working to seize any opportunity to export. 300 Syrian trucks entered Saudi Arabia in one day after Riyadh allowed direct entry of Syrian products and granted visas to Syrian drivers and trucks.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Trade, which banned the export of laurel leaves, “does not see meat’s high prices and how Syrians crave it, or any necessity to stop the export of [the Syrian Awassi sheep] to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.”
He added, while referring to the regime’s trade of Syrians’ food for products and weapons with Russia and Iran, “it is a sick joke about the lives of Syrians.”
On November 23, the Syrian government and the office of the Prime Ministry’s Economic Committee, which was established on July 12, 2016, issued a recommendation to prevent the export of laurel leaves required for the aromatic and pharmaceutical industries abroad.”