Dog Fighting in Afghanistan

Each Friday morning in cold winter months, thousands of men and boys gather on the outskirt of Kabul. While Friday is the day of prayer and rest for most humans in Afghanistan, it is the worst day for the dogs here; as these man gather for a favorite local pastime: dog fighting. Mastiffs and other large breed mixes can be found on the plain, with teeth barred in preparation of a barbaric entertainment for the local men. Dog fighting was banned under the Taliban, who condemned it as un-Islamic. The tradition makes a comeback after the fall of the regime, although it is still illegal under the current regime. Policemen can be seen around the arena, to guarantee that it’s only the dogs  and not any others are fighting here. Winners of the fighting may earn up to US$20.000, but a dog owner told me that it’s not haram (forbidden) at all in Islam, as it’s not about the money but the pride, and as they don’t kill the dogs nor sell the dogs. A fighting dong with a winning record is actually may sell for as much as a new car.

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