In a groundbreaking ruling, Morocco’s Administrative Court in Rabat has found the Ministry of the Interior symbolically responsible for the widespread killing of stray dogs and cats, in a decision campaigners say could mark a turning point for animal rights in the country.
The judgment, handed down on June 6, 2025, followed a legal challenge brought by a coalition of Moroccan animal protection organisations who accused the government of authorising and facilitating mass culls in the run-up to the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host.
The plaintiffs, including groups such as United for Creatures, the Moroccan Animal Rescue Association, and the Chefchaouen Association for Kindness Towards Animals, alleged that the government’s actions, including shootings, poisonings and violent round-ups, violated ethical standards and inflicted severe harm on communities.
They called for an immediate halt to the killings and sought a symbolic compensation of one dirham, underscoring that their motivation was based on ethical grounds and the protection of animal life, not financial gain.
The court stopped short of awarding compensation but acknowledged the symbolic responsibility of the state, marking what many observers are calling a significant legal and moral precedent. While the judgment is not expected to impose direct penalties, it sets the stage for stronger protections and could influence future legal and policy reforms.
Les Ward, chairman of the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC), welcomed the ruling.
He said: “This is another key moment in the battle for animal welfare in Morocco.
“ In November 2022, a Moroccan Judge, convicted and fined the Governor of the Nador Province, of killing stray dogs as part of a campaign the municipality carried out. The Judge described the killing as “uncivilized,” done in “brutal ways,” such as shooting and poisoning.
“He stressed that those practices, ‘which date back to ancient times, are no longer acceptable.’ Now we have another court recognising that the mass killing of dogs is not only ethically indefensible, but that the state bears responsibility. It may be symbolic, but symbols matter, and this could set a vital precedent for animal protection laws across the region.”
The IAWPC, a coalition of international charities including PETA, the RSPCA, Soi Dog Foundation and Dogs Trust, has been leading a global campaign to stop the killings. The group is also fighting for the rights of children who witness these acts of violence, which often take place in full view of the public.
This week, the IAWPC released a harrowing video of a young girl crying moments after her dog was snatched and shot in front of her. The traumatised child, visibly distressed, describes what happened as others around her sob in anguish. This footage has intensified calls for urgent intervention by FIFA and protection not only for animals, but for children exposed to such brutality.
The case has thrown a spotlight on Morocco’s handling of its free-roaming dogs, where it is commonly believed that there is a plan to eradicate around three million by 2030. The Ministry of the Interior has denied any extermination campaign, stating that ethical animal population control measures are being implemented. The IAWPC calls these claims as mere state propaganda and pure nonsense from a Government under pressure.
The legal complaint, brought by the group of Moroccan organisations including Hand in Paw and the Association for the Protection of Street Animals in El Jadida, was a rare and courageous move in a country where animal rights cases rarely reach court. The ruling received little attention in the Moroccan press, which activists say has deliberately largely avoided the issue.
For campaigners, the court’s verdict is another important step forward, by providing further official recognition that the state bears responsibility for the suffering of Morocco’s street animals. Les Ward added: “It also once again poses the question – when is the Moroccan Government going to stop following the path of violence and instead, genuinely look for more humane solutions.
“Continuing to insist on the use of violence is plain and simple, a blatant violation of humanity, for which they should be utterly ashamed.”
