Protected species (Sharifistan)

Under Sharifistani law, the following types of animals are protected. (This means they cannot be killed except under “exceptional circumstances”):

Members of endangered species

Frogs (because of the prohibition of killing frogs in Sunni Islam)

Cats (because of the prohibition on killing cats in Sunni and Shia Islam).

Apes (because of their intelligence)

Basis

These laws are based on Islam. Islam prohibits the killing of endangered species and Sunni Islam prohibits the killing of frogs and cats.

Punishments

The punishment for killing a protected species is up to 14 years imprisonment. The punishment for “egregious acts of cruelty” to a frog or a cat is punishable by amputation of a hand and foot or maximum penalty of 40 years to life.