Literally, swine this time — not that group of infidels regularly conflated with them in Islamic scriptures. Even though the U.N. insists Egypt’s pigs are harmless, as a “precautionary” measure, the government has called for their eradication, possibly as many as 400,000. After all, as the following report reveals, “Egypt’s 80-million population consists mainly of Muslims, whose religion forbids them from eating pork, as well as an estimated six to 10 percent Christian Copts who may eat pig meat”: In other words, since Muslims won’t be affected, only Christians, might as well call for this extreme, and wholly unnecessary, measure. Besides, it makes for good PR with Egypt’s more “radical” segments.
“Egypt MPs seek ‘immediate death’ for nation’s pigs,” from AFP, April 29:
CAIRO (AFP) “” Egypt’s lower house of parliament called on Tuesday for the nation’s 250,000 [other estimates are as high as 400,000] pigs to be killed immediately because of fears over the spread of swine flu, state news agency MENA reported.
“The People’s Assembly urged the government to immediately start culling pigs and not to relocate pig-breeding farms away from residential areas for fear of the spread of swine flu,” MENA said.
Egypt’s 80-million population consists mainly of Muslims, whose religion forbids them from eating pork, as well as an estimated six to 10 percent Christian Copts who may eat pig meat…