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Farmers Battle Egyptian Cops Over Swine Cull

UN calls pig slaughter unnecessary; critics see religious targeting

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted May 3, 2009 5:32 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Egyptian farmers are flinging stones and dodging rubber police bullets over a government order to slaughter the nation's pigs, the BBC reports. Originally touted as a way to protect the population against swine flu, the cull has reignited religious tensions between the country's majority Muslims and Coptic Christians, who farm and consume most of Egypt's pigs.

Farmers say killing an estimated 300,000 pigs will harm their livelihood and disrupt pigs' useful service: the disposal of organic waste. The government now says animals shouldn't be raised on garbage in slums, but on proper farms, and touts the slaughter as a fresh start. There are no recorded swine flu cases in Egypt, and the World Health Organization says animals are yet to infect people with the illness.

Egyptian riot police firs tear gas during clashes with Protesting pig farmers at the neighborhood of Manishyet Nasr at the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt Sunday May 3, 2009.
Egyptian riot police firs tear gas during clashes with Protesting pig farmers at the neighborhood of Manishyet Nasr at the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt Sunday May 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nouri)
A youth ducks during clashes between protesting pig farmers and Egyptian riot police at the neighborhood of Manishyet Nasr at the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, Sunday May 3, 2009.
A youth ducks during clashes between protesting pig farmers and Egyptian riot police at the neighborhood of Manishyet Nasr at the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, Sunday May 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nouri)
Egyptian police fired tear gas and clashed with irate pig farmers Sunday, leaving 12 people injured as owners resisted the government's attempt to slaughter all the nation's pigs.
Egyptian police fired tear gas and clashed with irate pig farmers Sunday, leaving 12 people injured as owners resisted the government's attempt to slaughter all the nation's pigs.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nouri)
Young pigs suckle from their mother at a private farm north of Cairo, Egypt Wednesday, April 29, 2009. Egyptian authorities began slaughtering the roughly 300,000 pigs in the country Wednesday.
Young pigs suckle from their mother at a private farm north of Cairo, Egypt Wednesday, April 29, 2009. Egyptian authorities began slaughtering the roughly 300,000 pigs in the country Wednesday.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nouri)
An Egyptian carries a pig at a private farm in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, April 28, 2009. No cases of infected pigs have been uncovered, but authorities want to slaughter the whole population.
An Egyptian carries a pig at a private farm in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, April 28, 2009. No cases of infected pigs have been uncovered, but authorities want to slaughter the whole population.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nouri)
Protesting pig farmers carry an injured youth during clashes with Egyptian riot police at the neighborhood of Manishyet Nasr at the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt Sunday May 3, 2009.
Protesting pig farmers carry an injured youth during clashes with Egyptian riot police at the neighborhood of Manishyet Nasr at the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt Sunday May 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nouri)
Protesting pig farmers clash with Egyptian riot police at the neighborhood of Manishyet Nasr at the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt Sunday May 3, 2009.
Protesting pig farmers clash with Egyptian riot police at the neighborhood of Manishyet Nasr at the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt Sunday May 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nouri)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
MarkFL
May 4, 2009 4:09 AM CDT
Aren't there any scientists in Egypt? What the hell is wrong with them? Oh yeah, I almost forgot.

Pig owners throw stones to protest 'injustice'
Al Arabiya

Government has yet to specify compensation
Florida Times-Union

 
Egypt • swine flu • pigs • pig farmers

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