The rise of user participation on social networks has led to widespread animal cruelty with the hanging of 15 stray cats in Algiers. A young boy hung the cats in a public place in the center of the city and left them on the streets. These incidents, documented in the Jijel province (309 kilometers south of the capital Algiers), sparked a discussion about user participation on social networks.
According to some sources, the boy, following the example of local authorities who regularly exterminate domestic animals to protect the population from feral cats and dogs, repeated their actions. This sparked severe criticism of his actions.
Many pointed out that one of the reasons for such incidents is the "strict law enforcement," which, although it presents punishment in the form of real prison sentences and fines for offenders in harsh terms or for the killing of animals, is practically not applied, which contributes to the recurrence of similar abuses against animals.
In her statement, the animal rights activist and veterinarian Badra Bashn emphasized that Algerians are accustomed to seeing such behavior, noting that offenders are not always minors, and expressed the need to raise the punishment to 7 years for offenders in animal cruelty cases.
However, regarding the child-offender, he was offered to place him in a rehabilitation center, as he may commit similar offenses against humans in the future.
