Man filmed in act of cruelty to horse fired, wanted by authorities

AMMAN — A man who was seen in a video beating a horse in the ancient city of Petra has been fired from the service and faces legal action, officials said on Wednesday.

Activists on social media outlets shared a video showing a person beating a horse tied to a wagon that carries tourists in the old city, 235km south of Amman.

“I issued an arrest warrant against this person — handcuffed — to appear before me,” Petra District Governor Sultan Madi told The Jordan Times on Wednesday.

After questioning him, the assailant would be released on a judicial or financial guarantee that would amount to JD10,000, to be paid if he repeats the act, the official explained.

For its part, the Rawahel Society, the syndicate of horse owners in the town, sacked the suspect, banned him from entering the site and put the wagon the horse was pulling off service, said Mahmoud Hassanat, the society’s president.

He stressed that the society refuses such “heinous behaviour” and takes action according to its by-laws against any employee who violates them.

“Our community strongly condemns abuse of animals, which is rejected by our culture,” he added.

Cruelty to animals is a crime punishable by law (Penal Law Article 472), Sleiman Farajat, deputy commissioner of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) said.