Man arrested in Egypt for traveling from Cairo to Aswan on donkey’s back

CAIRO – 16 February 2021: An Egyptian man is in hot water after he rode his donkey, planning to travel from Giza to Upper Egypt’s Aswan city, which was described as inhuman behavior. Bahaa was arrested Tuesday in the middle of the trip. 

Bahaa el-Din, 29 year old man, announced his plan and began his trip to document travel customs and traditions of Upper Egypt residents. Donkeys are usually used in Upper Egypt cities by farmers to move within the field and transfer crops.   

This trip could amount to one month if made on the back of a donkey; while a railway line connecting both cities is operating around the clock and transfers passengers in 12 hours.

In Samalout center in Minya governorate, Bahaa was arrested in the middle of the trip and security forces seized the donkey.

A security source said that Bahaa does not hold any permits, and caused many gatherings around him despite the precautionary measures to confront the emerging Coronavirus pandemic.

Bahaa said that he lives in Sohag, and decided to embark on this trip, adding that his trip started from Giza eight days ago, on February 6. He said that the whole trip could last for one month to arrive in Aswan.

He explains what he described as challenges during the first days of his trip, saying that some residents refused to host him at their houses, while others welcomed him and offered him food, drink and a place to sleep in.

Bahaa’s story was posted on social media, and attracted many anger comments criticizing his plan that lacks mercy and compassion to the donkey, which is forced to go on a very long trip, with some blaming social media trends that altered users’ behaviors.  

“Trends have destroyed people’s minds. What is happening? [The man] proudly says that the donkey can only walk for nearly 20 kilometers per day, but he made it walk for more than 40 kms per day,” commented Ali Professor at Al-Azhar University Mohamed Ali el-Azhari.  

Professor Azhari called on imposing a “deterrent punishment” against the man for such “crime.”