The renowned Shooting Club, Nady ElSeid, is facing backlash after shooting players were seen killing dozens of pigeons illegally The birds were reportedly left scattered across the club, neither safe nor edible, sparking outrage over animal cruelty and negligence.
The Egyptian Shooting Club, founded in 1938 by royal decree from King Farouk I, was originally established as a hub for Egyptian shooters to practice and enjoy their sport.
It provided a dedicated space for shooting enthusiasts, with Prince Soliman Daoud as its first president, shaping its legacy in shooting sports.
However, this has grown to be a huge problem with animal safety and ethics. These past few days, they have been facing hard backlash over the harsh and vast pigeon shooting.
The shooters practice their sport in daylight, where they shoot and kill pigeons, leaving them suffering on the club’s floors and gardens. This situation with shooting pigeons was legally banned back in 2019 in the club. But was it accepted?
The Previous Ban
A major court ruling banned pigeon hunting inside Egypt’s Shooting Club in Dokki, after previous years of backlash from members and nearby residents.
The case, first filed in September 2019, came after repeated complaints about the club’s treatment of pigeons, with many describing the hunting practices as cruel and unnecessary.
Member Nevine Helmy, one of those who led the campaign, told Cairo 24 that activists launched a Facebook movement in early 2019, submitted two requests to the club, and only turned to court when their demands were ignored.
Nevine mentioned horrific incidents, including pigeons collapsing on balconies near the club, shaking and bleeding from hunting pellets.
She argued that pigeon hunting inside the club was unethical because the birds had already lost their natural instincts and ability to fly freely, making the practice more like slaughter than sport.
For years, members watched pigeons fall across tables and club grounds, sparking frustration.
With the court’s final decision, the club was legally bound to enforce the ban on all members, bringing an end to a controversy that had long haunted its reputation.
How The Situation Resurfaced
Menna Kotb, a known TV Presenter and an Advocate for Animal Safety, came to Instagram yesterday to address the situation.
In the video, she mentioned that the shooters have other items to practice on, not living creatures. She also said that the pigeons get picked up by the end of the day and thrown away harshly by cleaning staff.
Others commented on the situation, calling out the Ministry of Interior, and that it was completely against ethical and animal rights to do this.
