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CNN
10 hours ago
- CNN
Why is Morocco killing thousands of stray dogs ahead of the 2030 World Cup?
For 19-year-old Fatimazarah from Ifrane, a small mountain town known as the 'Switzerland of Morocco,' dead dogs are a common sight. Fatimazarah asked CNN not to publish her surname for fear of being targeted by local authorities. 'Walking to school, I would pass pools of blood on the street,' she recalled in an interview with CNN. 'At a certain point, I realized it wasn't normal to start your day stepping over dead bodies.' According to Fatimazarah, the killings have gotten especially bad in the last year. 'There used to be occasional shootings every few months,' she said. 'Now, they are more systematic. They kill dogs like it's a sport – like people hunt ducks.' Animal welfare groups say the killings are part of a campaign to 'clean up' Morocco's streets ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the nation is co-hosting with Spain and Portugal, while Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina will all host stage an opening match each. 'Individuals armed with rifles go out into the streets, often at night, and shoot the dogs,' Les Ward, head of the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC), told CNN. 'Others are rounded up and taken to municipal dispensaries where they are poisoned. They simply disappear.' Omar Jaïd, President of the Provincial Tourism Council of Ifrane, told CNN that the city has 'started cleaning the streets of stray dogs, as part of our preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.' Ifrane is roughly a 40-mile drive (about 64 kilometers) from Fez Stadium, one of the proposed tournament venues which is expected to host a multitude of national soccer teams alongside thousands of visitors. Jaïd added that the animals are rounded up and relocated to dispensaries where they can be vaccinated. He emphasized he is a 'dog lover.' Fatimazarah, however, witnessed something different. On the night of February 9, 2024, she was jolted awake by the sound of gunshots. Stepping outside, she discovered three dead dogs in a dumpster. One of them was a male husky she knew from the neighborhood. 'I was terrified,' she recalled. 'I carried the husky out of the trash can, covered in blood. I didn't know what to do. I felt so helpless.' CNN cannot independently confirm who killed the dogs. CNN contacted Ifrane municipality for comment but did not hear back. 'Stray dogs pose a serious public health risk, particularly as carriers of rabies,' Mohammed Roudani, head of the Public Health and Green Spaces Division at Morocco's Ministry of Interior, told CNN. 'Around 100,000 people are bitten every year, 40% of them children under 15.' In 2019, Morocco's government introduced the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR) program, a humane strategy to control stray dog populations. 'We are working with local authorities to implement this in compliance with animal welfare standards,' Roudani said. But there's a major obstacle: municipalities, not the national government, are responsible for managing stray animals. 'There's a legal vacuum,' Roudani explained. 'Some cities still rely on traditional methods, and there's currently no law against killing stray dogs.' In some cities, stray dogs are poisoned with strychnine, a pesticide banned in many countries for causing inhumane suffering. 'We must deal with the issue in a different way,' Roudani said. 'No more slaughter. No more strychnine. We need an ethical solution.' CNN has verified footage of dog culling in cities including Marrakech, Casablanca, Agadir and Ifrane. Videos filmed as recently as May 2025 show dogs being restrained with metal wires and tossed into pickup trucks already filled with carcasses. And it's not just animals at risk. On January 24, Abderrahim Sounni, a barista in the town of Ben Ahmed, had just finished his shift when a stray dog dashed past him, chased by a car. Gunshots rang out and three bullets missed the dog, instead striking Sounni in the knee and thigh. The 34-year-old recounted the incident in a local media interview, later confirming the details in a call with CNN. Sounni didn't believe the shooter saw him but was instead focused on the dog. As he cried out for help, bleeding on the sidewalk, the vehicle sped away. Bystanders found him and he was rushed to a hospital in Casablanca, where doctors were unable to remove the bullets. He said police later informed him that the vehicle belonged to the municipality. CNN has contacted the local police, who didn't comment on the incident. Sounni declined to provide further comment to CNN, saying he felt overwhelmed by the media attention. 'It's gotten to the point where people are in danger,' IAWPC chairman Ward told CNN. 'You can't have shootings happening on the street – especially during a World Cup with thousands of tourists.' In February this year, a coalition of 10 animal rights groups urged FIFA to address Morocco's 'increased capture and culling' of stray dogs ahead of the 2030 World Cup. In a letter addressed to FIFA's Secretary General, conservationist Jane Goodall said she was 'absolutely appalled' to see Morocco's government 'engaging in large-scale killings of street dogs as part of an apparent effort to make FIFA World Cup venues more 'presentable' to foreign visitors.' FIFA did not respond to the letter but told CNN in a statement that Morocco's World Cup bid 'outlined its commitment to the protection of animal rights,' including the expansion of 'clinics and support programs for stray dogs.' 'FIFA is following up with its local counterparts with the aim to ensure commitments are upheld,' the statement said. As international scrutiny has grown, the dog catchers appear to have become more discreet, particularly in tourist hubs like Marrakech. Jane Wilson and Louise Jackson – two British residents living in Marrakech – told CNN that, until last year, vans openly displayed cages in the back with dead and alive dogs in plain sight. Now, unmarked white vans quietly patrol the streets, seizing stray animals, they said. In Casablanca, vans bearing the logo of Casa Baia, a municipal development company, are rounding up animals. Owned by the municipality, the company's website claims its 'expert teams are permanently mobilized' to 'capture and impound' more than 20,000 stray dogs per year. CNN reviewed footage prepared by an animal rights group showing dogs being dragged into Casa Baia vehicles with metal chains. Smaller dogs are shown ensnared in fishing nets, their bodies thrashing in distress before being thrown into white vans. Erin Captain, originally from Indiana, moved to Casablanca with her husband last year and quickly grew attached to the local strays. 'They're amazing creatures,' she said. 'I began caring for two puppies: vaccinating and feeding them, watching them grow.' Then, one by one, the neighborhood dogs started disappearing. Captain told CNN that Casa Baia vans prowled the streets day and night. One night, she says, they came for her puppies. 'They took them from outside our house, kicking them,' she recalled. 'One had its little legs broken; the other was kicked to death. It was a nightmare – I was terrified. My husband had to step in before they drove off.' For months, Captain paid to vaccinate as many dogs as she could. 'But the dog catchers came and killed them anyway,' she said. 'It's more barbaric than you can imagine. I don't sleep anymore.' Reached by CNN, a spokesperson for Casa Baia declined to comment on accusations of killing stray dogs or using inhumane methods to capture stray dogs. FIFA has been aware of Morocco's dog culling since at least 2023. That March, the European Link Coalition (ELC), a UK-based NGO, met with senior FIFA officials to present evidence of a rise in culling ahead of the 2030 World Cup. The materials included dozens of photos, videos, and witness testimonies – some directly referencing Casa Baia. In April 2024, FIFA Human Rights Advisor Marta Piazza told ELC that the organization 'truly valued' their input and was engaging with Morocco's government to 'ensure alignment with FIFA's bidding requirements' – the checklist of services and standards expected of a prospective host nation. A 'suggested way forward' was promised in the coming weeks. According to the ELC, FIFA then fell silent. The organization says it hasn't heard from Piazza or her colleagues since. In response to CNN's request for comment, FIFA said it is 'in contact with animal welfare organizations on this important matter.' Morocco's government is taking steps to regulate dog culling practices. Last month, Roudani and his colleagues submitted a draft law mandating municipalities to stop killing stray animals and implement TNVR programs. In a statement to CNN, FIFA said it had contacted the Moroccan Football Federation and 'received confirmation that a number of measures have been implemented over the last 5 years,' with new legislation in the works aimed at balancing public health and animal welfare. The issue is drawing global attention ahead of the 2030 World Cup, with celebrities including Ricky Gervais and Peter Egan condemning the killings on X, calling them a 'slaughter.' 'Football fans around the world love dogs,' Minky Worden of Human Rights Watch told CNN. 'Animal mistreatment could become a major PR issue if FIFA doesn't take concrete action.' 'It's not just a question of animal mistreatment,' added Nick McGeehan, co-director of rights group FairSquare. 'Having a clear knowledge of issues and choosing to ignore them – that's a breach of basic human decency.'
CNN
11 hours ago
- CNN
Why is Morocco killing thousands of stray dogs ahead of the 2030 World Cup?
For 19-year-old Fatimazarah from Ifrane, a small mountain town known as the 'Switzerland of Morocco,' dead dogs are a common sight. Fatimazarah asked CNN not to publish her surname for fear of being targeted by local authorities. 'Walking to school, I would pass pools of blood on the street,' she recalled in an interview with CNN. 'At a certain point, I realized it wasn't normal to start your day stepping over dead bodies.' According to Fatimazarah, the killings have gotten especially bad in the last year. 'There used to be occasional shootings every few months,' she said. 'Now, they are more systematic. They kill dogs like it's a sport – like people hunt ducks.' Animal welfare groups say the killings are part of a campaign to 'clean up' Morocco's streets ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the nation is co-hosting with Spain and Portugal, while Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina will all host stage an opening match each. 'Individuals armed with rifles go out into the streets, often at night, and shoot the dogs,' Les Ward, head of the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC), told CNN. 'Others are rounded up and taken to municipal dispensaries where they are poisoned. They simply disappear.' Omar Jaïd, President of the Provincial Tourism Council of Ifrane, told CNN that the city has 'started cleaning the streets of stray dogs, as part of our preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.' Ifrane is roughly a 40-mile drive (about 64 kilometers) from Fez Stadium, one of the proposed tournament venues which is expected to host a multitude of national soccer teams alongside thousands of visitors. Jaïd added that the animals are rounded up and relocated to dispensaries where they can be vaccinated. He emphasized he is a 'dog lover.' Fatimazarah, however, witnessed something different. On the night of February 9, 2024, she was jolted awake by the sound of gunshots. Stepping outside, she discovered three dead dogs in a dumpster. One of them was a male husky she knew from the neighborhood. 'I was terrified,' she recalled. 'I carried the husky out of the trash can, covered in blood. I didn't know what to do. I felt so helpless.' CNN cannot independently confirm who killed the dogs. CNN contacted Ifrane municipality for comment but did not hear back. 'Stray dogs pose a serious public health risk, particularly as carriers of rabies,' Mohammed Roudani, head of the Public Health and Green Spaces Division at Morocco's Ministry of Interior, told CNN. 'Around 100,000 people are bitten every year, 40% of them children under 15.' In 2019, Morocco's government introduced the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR) program, a humane strategy to control stray dog populations. 'We are working with local authorities to implement this in compliance with animal welfare standards,' Roudani said. But there's a major obstacle: municipalities, not the national government, are responsible for managing stray animals. 'There's a legal vacuum,' Roudani explained. 'Some cities still rely on traditional methods, and there's currently no law against killing stray dogs.' In some cities, stray dogs are poisoned with strychnine, a pesticide banned in many countries for causing inhumane suffering. 'We must deal with the issue in a different way,' Roudani said. 'No more slaughter. No more strychnine. We need an ethical solution.' CNN has verified footage of dog culling in cities including Marrakech, Casablanca, Agadir and Ifrane. Videos filmed as recently as May 2025 show dogs being restrained with metal wires and tossed into pickup trucks already filled with carcasses. And it's not just animals at risk. On January 24, Abderrahim Sounni, a barista in the town of Ben Ahmed, had just finished his shift when a stray dog dashed past him, chased by a car. Gunshots rang out and three bullets missed the dog, instead striking Sounni in the knee and thigh. The 34-year-old recounted the incident in a local media interview, later confirming the details in a call with CNN. Sounni didn't believe the shooter saw him but was instead focused on the dog. As he cried out for help, bleeding on the sidewalk, the vehicle sped away. Bystanders found him and he was rushed to a hospital in Casablanca, where doctors were unable to remove the bullets. He said police later informed him that the vehicle belonged to the municipality. CNN has contacted the local police, who didn't comment on the incident. Sounni declined to provide further comment to CNN, saying he felt overwhelmed by the media attention. 'It's gotten to the point where people are in danger,' IAWPC chairman Ward told CNN. 'You can't have shootings happening on the street – especially during a World Cup with thousands of tourists.' In February this year, a coalition of 10 animal rights groups urged FIFA to address Morocco's 'increased capture and culling' of stray dogs ahead of the 2030 World Cup. In a letter addressed to FIFA's Secretary General, conservationist Jane Goodall said she was 'absolutely appalled' to see Morocco's government 'engaging in large-scale killings of street dogs as part of an apparent effort to make FIFA World Cup venues more 'presentable' to foreign visitors.' FIFA did not respond to the letter but told CNN in a statement that Morocco's World Cup bid 'outlined its commitment to the protection of animal rights,' including the expansion of 'clinics and support programs for stray dogs.' 'FIFA is following up with its local counterparts with the aim to ensure commitments are upheld,' the statement said. As international scrutiny has grown, the dog catchers appear to have become more discreet, particularly in tourist hubs like Marrakech. Jane Wilson and Louise Jackson – two British residents living in Marrakech – told CNN that, until last year, vans openly displayed cages in the back with dead and alive dogs in plain sight. Now, unmarked white vans quietly patrol the streets, seizing stray animals, they said. In Casablanca, vans bearing the logo of Casa Baia, a municipal development company, are rounding up animals. Owned by the municipality, the company's website claims its 'expert teams are permanently mobilized' to 'capture and impound' more than 20,000 stray dogs per year. CNN reviewed footage prepared by an animal rights group showing dogs being dragged into Casa Baia vehicles with metal chains. Smaller dogs are shown ensnared in fishing nets, their bodies thrashing in distress before being thrown into white vans. Erin Captain, originally from Indiana, moved to Casablanca with her husband last year and quickly grew attached to the local strays. 'They're amazing creatures,' she said. 'I began caring for two puppies: vaccinating and feeding them, watching them grow.' Then, one by one, the neighborhood dogs started disappearing. Captain told CNN that Casa Baia vans prowled the streets day and night. One night, she says, they came for her puppies. 'They took them from outside our house, kicking them,' she recalled. 'One had its little legs broken; the other was kicked to death. It was a nightmare – I was terrified. My husband had to step in before they drove off.' For months, Captain paid to vaccinate as many dogs as she could. 'But the dog catchers came and killed them anyway,' she said. 'It's more barbaric than you can imagine. I don't sleep anymore.' Reached by CNN, a spokesperson for Casa Baia declined to comment on accusations of killing stray dogs or using inhumane methods to capture stray dogs. FIFA has been aware of Morocco's dog culling since at least 2023. That March, the European Link Coalition (ELC), a UK-based NGO, met with senior FIFA officials to present evidence of a rise in culling ahead of the 2030 World Cup. The materials included dozens of photos, videos, and witness testimonies – some directly referencing Casa Baia. In April 2024, FIFA Human Rights Advisor Marta Piazza told ELC that the organization 'truly valued' their input and was engaging with Morocco's government to 'ensure alignment with FIFA's bidding requirements' – the checklist of services and standards expected of a prospective host nation. A 'suggested way forward' was promised in the coming weeks. According to the ELC, FIFA then fell silent. The organization says it hasn't heard from Piazza or her colleagues since. In response to CNN's request for comment, FIFA said it is 'in contact with animal welfare organizations on this important matter.' Morocco's government is taking steps to regulate dog culling practices. Last month, Roudani and his colleagues submitted a draft law mandating municipalities to stop killing stray animals and implement TNVR programs. In a statement to CNN, FIFA said it had contacted the Moroccan Football Federation and 'received confirmation that a number of measures have been implemented over the last 5 years,' with new legislation in the works aimed at balancing public health and animal welfare. The issue is drawing global attention ahead of the 2030 World Cup, with celebrities including Ricky Gervais and Peter Egan condemning the killings on X, calling them a 'slaughter.' 'Football fans around the world love dogs,' Minky Worden of Human Rights Watch told CNN. 'Animal mistreatment could become a major PR issue if FIFA doesn't take concrete action.' 'It's not just a question of animal mistreatment,' added Nick McGeehan, co-director of rights group FairSquare. 'Having a clear knowledge of issues and choosing to ignore them – that's a breach of basic human decency.'
Scotsman
20-05-2025
- Scotsman
This week is World Football Week, the beautiful game cannot be built on bloodshed and how people from Scotland can help
Scottish residents can help by emailing Fifa at humanrightscomplaint@ Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... By Les Ward MBE Founder, International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition Awarded the MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to animal welfare Les Ward MBE, chairman of the IAWPC Football is a game that unites the world. It transcends language, borders, and politics. This week, during World Football Week, FIFA celebrates the power of the game to bring people together. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But as FIFA, the governing body, waves the banner of unity and inclusion, a tragedy of nightmare proportions is unfolding in one of its future host nations – a tragedy that should shame the sport to its core. Morocco, one of the host countries for the FIFA 2030 World Cup and the sole host of the Under-17 Women's World Cup this October, is presiding over a mass killing of street dogs, including those already tagged, vaccinated, and sterilised as part of humane programmes. The International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC), a unified voice of global animal protection groups including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Soi Dog Foundation, and PETA, is calling for an immediate halt to this brutal campaign. It is estimated that as many as three million community dogs may be affected in the coming years, in what may become one of the largest state-enabled animal culls in modern history. Tortured, not just killed Let us be clear: this is not euthanasia. It is not humane. These dogs are being shot in the street, often in front of children, or dragged away with wire nooses to die slow, agonising deaths. Eyewitness reports and video footage from recent months reveal animals bleeding out on pavements, screaming in pain, or piled up in garbage trucks like rubbish. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Many of the dogs being targeted are not 'strays' in the typical sense. They are community animals – beloved, cared for, and in many cases vaccinated and microchipped as part of public health programmes. Their 'crime' is simply being visible ahead of a major global sporting event. The world is watching, and speaking out The legendary Dr Jane Goodall DBE, the world's most respected primatologist and a UN Messenger of Peace, wrote personally to FIFA President Gianni Infantino in support of our campaign. Her letter urged him to intervene with the Moroccan authorities and use the weight of football to halt the killings. 'This brutality,' she wrote, 'is entirely at odds with the values of compassion, respect, and unity that FIFA claims to champion.' She is not alone... Celebrities including Ricky Gervais, Peter Egan, Chris Packham, Dr Marc Abraham OBE, and Lorraine Kelly have added their voices to the outcry – sharing messages of support on social media, wearing campaign t-shirts, and speaking out about the killings themselves. Our movement will not stop until something is done. Moroccan people contact us every day in desperation, and we spend countless hours viewing and verifying unimaginable footage. What all footballers need to know about Morocco's killings Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As players lace up their boots for World Football Week, here are five facts every footballer – and every fan – should know: Every week, dogs are being shot or poisoned on the streets, causing prolonged and agonising deaths, often in full public view, including in tourist zones. Many of the killed dogs were already sterilised and vaccinated as part of public health campaigns. Local and international organisations have offered to help introduce humane alternatives, but were ignored or shut out. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The killings are believed to be politically motivated, aimed at 'cleansing the streets' ahead of World Cup tournaments. Children and families have been traumatised by witnessing brutal acts of cruelty and violence in their communities. A message to the parents of U17 Women's World Cup players This October, Morocco will welcome girls from around the world to compete in the U17 Women's World Cup. To the parents of these young athletes – be aware that Morocco, at the moment, is a war zone for animals and its people. You should seek assurances from FIFA: what are they going to do to safeguard your daughters, so that they will not witness the daily violence and death being inflicted on dogs, will not hear the painful death cries of shot dogs, and will be kept away from streets still stained with the blood of wounded or dead animals? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Will their memories of Morocco be of goals scored and dreams achieved, or of the inhumanity inflicted on dogs by the authorities' 'killing teams' – watching animals writhe and die under the indifferent eyes of local officials? A word to holidaymakers Morocco is a country of stunning beauty, rich culture, and welcoming people. But until the killing stops, tourists should ask themselves: do I want my hard-earned sunshine break to come with a front-row seat to daily animal cruelty and violence towards those individuals bravely trying to stop it? Many travellers have reported, through written testimony, witnessing dogs being killed, dragged, or left to die in agony – often near major resorts. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ask yourself – are these memories that have any place in your hearts, or deserve anything at all but our condemnation and contempt? We all have the power to act This is not about – and the IAWPC has never called for – Morocco to be stripped of the World Cup. It is about standards of decency and humanity towards other living, sentient creatures. It is about stopping the killings, introducing humane TNVR measures, and enacting a much-needed new animal welfare and protection law. It is about what we, as a global community, will tolerate. FIFA, players, tourists, parents, and fans all have the power – and the responsibility – to speak out. Write to your Member of Parliament and your local newspaper. Write to your national football federation. Tell FIFA this is unacceptable. Choose holiday destinations that align with your values. Share the truth about the Moroccan nightmare on social media. It is in everyone's gift to make a difference. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The world of football has the power to inspire greatness, but it must never be built on blood and violence, traumatised children, and human rights violations. Let us not turn a blind eye while the cost of a football tournament is paid through the lives of the voiceless and most vulnerable in society.
Scotsman
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Animal welfare campaigner from Edinburgh part of group forced to cancel Morocco press conference
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now An international alliance of top animal welfare organisations has been forced to cancel a major press conference in Morocco over fears for the safety of its speakers and supporters — as disturbing new evidence emerges of continued street dog killings in the country. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC), which includes the RSPCA, PETA, and Dogs Trust, had planned to hold the high-profile event in Marrakech later this month to expose what it describes as the "ongoing and brutal slaughter" of stray dogs, despite official claims the killings had ceased. But organisers say the event has been called off after multiple venues backed out without explanation and local partners expressed fear of government retaliation. The cancellation has sparked fresh alarm about freedom of speech and the treatment of animals in Morocco, one of the co-hosts of the FIFA World Cup 2030. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Les Ward MBE, Chair of the IAWPC and a long-time campaigner from Edinburgh, condemned what he called 'a climate of fear' that had effectively shut down dialogue. Les Ward MBE was due to speak at the press conference in Morocco - Animal News Agency 'In the democracies of the world, free speech is taken for granted,' Mr Ward said. 'But in Morocco, if you criticise or challenge the authorities, you do so at your peril. 'We've had reports of a mother being assaulted for filming one of the dog killing teams. Her daughter was then forced to watch as they shot a group of puppies in front of her. This is state-sanctioned cruelty — and it is a public trauma.' Set to speak at the press conference were academic and co-campaigner Debbie Wilson, who splits her time between homes in Leeds and Morocco, and Mr Ward himself. Both expressed deep disappointment at being silenced on an issue they say the Moroccan government is trying to bury ahead of the global sporting spotlight. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Wilson said: 'We were not coming to condemn the Moroccan people — far from it. Most citizens are horrified by what is happening. We were coming to propose humane, science-backed solutions. But the fear is palpable, and now even speaking out has become dangerous.' The IAWPC says it continues to receive verified footage of stray dogs being gunned down or poisoned in public spaces — in direct contradiction to the Moroccan authorities' assurances to FIFA that the mass culling programme ended in August 2024. 'Despite the promises, we are still seeing dogs die agonising deaths in the streets, in full view of children and tourists,' said Mr Ward. 'This is not just an animal issue — it is a national image issue. The world is watching.' The group had planned to call for the adoption of a TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Release) programme — a humane and internationally endorsed approach to controlling stray populations and eliminating rabies. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The solutions exist. The compassion exists. But without political will, nothing changes,' Mr Ward added. The coalition's campaign has gained the backing of international figures such as renowned primatologist Dr Jane Goodall, French actress Brigitte Bardot, British broadcaster Chris Packham, Downton Abbey actor Peter Egan, musician Gary Numan, and TV presenter Lorraine Kelly. Despite the setback, the IAWPC says it remains committed to constructive dialogue with Moroccan authorities, FIFA, and global partners to stop the killings and implement long-term humane strategies. 'We're not giving up,' said Mr Ward. 'Morocco has a chance to show real leadership here. But time is running out.' To find out more about the campaign go to or @iawpc on Instagram
