An animal-loving Dutch vigilante who attacked a man she saw beating a donkey in Egypt is now facing a lawsuit.
Astonishing footage shows expat Joke Van der Post punching the animal’s handler before chasing him with a whip as he tries to flee.
In the heartbreaking video – which has since gone viral – the donkey kicks out in agony as it is repeatedly lashed while tethered to a wall on the outskirts of Cairo.
Appalled by the horrific cruelty, the 47-year-old runs at the man before pinning him against a wall and striking him several times shouting, ‘You think you’re f****** normal.’
As the man tries to run away Ms Van der Post, who manages a veterinary practice called the Good Karma Sanctuary, grabs a whip from another donkey handler and chases him off into the distance.
The man filed a police complaint accusing Ms Van der Post of assault and claiming appearing in the viral video has caused him ‘psychological harm’, local media reports.
She was arrested and later released following the altercation.
The shocking clip has triggered outrage online and cast a spotlight on the mistreatment of working animals in Egyptian tourist hotspots.
This is the astonishing moment a Dutch woman punches a man who was beating a donkey before chasing him with a whip as he tries to flee
Heartbreaking footage shows the animal kicking out in agony as it is repeatedly lashed while tethered to a wall on the outskirts of Cairo
Appalled by the horrific cruelty, Joke van der Post runs at the handler before pinning him against a wall and striking him several times, shouting ‘You think you’re f****** normal’
As the man tries to run away Ms Van der Post, 47, grabs a whip from another donkey handler and chases him off into the distance
According to Ms Van der Post, who is married to an Egyptian and has lived in Cairo for many years, animal abuse is commonplace in the area.
Recalling the dramatic encounter she told NOS: ‘Of course I jumped in between them.’
She added: ‘When I shouted to stop, I was called a w**** and the man laughed and then hit harder.’
Egypt’s Ministry of Interior confirmed the man seen in the video had also been identified and arrested.
Ms Van der Post believes she may still face a lawsuit and told NOS: ‘I could probably get six months or a year in prison, or maybe even deportation. But if that means that something will finally change here, it was worth it.’
Her clinic, staffed by three full-time veterinarians, offers care to horses, donkeys, and mules, providing treatments for wounds, skin conditions, and deworming.
Ms Van der Post has spoken publicly in the past about her work and her first encounters with animal cruelty in Egypt.
Ms Van der Post runs a veterinary clinic in Cairo and has lived there for many years. She told NOS: ‘I could probably get six months or a year in prison, or maybe even deportation. But if that means that something will finally change here, it was worth it’
The man filed a police complaint accusing Ms Van der Post of assault and claiming appearing in the viral video has caused him ‘psychological harm’, local media reports
A recent post on the Good Karma Instagram page reads: ‘Dear fellow rescuers and Organisations, lawyers and connected people:
‘The everyday scene of the donkey being whipped has gone viral, the world is watching and we have been given a platform and an opportunity to reach positive changes for the future.
‘If we can stand Strong together our voices now will be heard, we can achieve a positive change for all animals in Egypt!!!!
‘I would love to have a meeting with all my fellow rescuers, I’m only the new kid on the block, but we have this amazing opportunity to bundle our strength!!!
‘There’s so many of us, some I know some I don’t, some I like others not , some who like me others who don’t, but in the end what truly matters are the animals so let’s try to put our differences apart and use this wave of media attention and make a positive thing out of this!’
Many have shared their support for Ms Van der Post in the comments section, with one person writing: ‘You’re a hero, thanks for all the work you do out there!’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .