The kitten ‘rape’ story, as narrated by JFK Animal Rescue and Shelter, spread over the internet like wildfire a few weeks ago. However, as it reached more and more officials, many experts started to question the authenticity of the incidents that were propagated by the person behind the aforementioned animal shelter.
And now, FIA Cybercrime Wing’s Assistant Director himself has come forward. After investigating the false and baseless claims made by JFK Animal Shelter, Asif Iqbal Chaudhry has stated that the entire story was fabricated with malicious intent.
No rape with Cat, confirmed by the Doctor. I am disgusted that how people put false blames.
Such people are not only the cause of unrest in the society but also the cause of disgrace of the country in the world.
I appeal to the people not to share news on social media without confirmation as it brings disgrace to the country.
No rape with Cat, confirmed by the Doctor. I am disgusted that how people put false blames
ایسے لوگ نہ صرف معاشرے میں بدامنی کا سبب ہیں بلکہ ملک کی دنیا میں بدنامی کا باعث ہیں۔میری عوام سے اپیل ہے کہ سوشل میڈیا پرایسی خبریں بلا تصدیق شئیر نہ کریں اس سے ملک کی بدنامی ہوتی ہے۔— Asif Iqbal Chaudhry (@Aasifiqbalpak) August 10, 2020
Background to the story
Umer, who has worked for animal care services in Lahore, revealed how this story had a lot of issues. Not only did he explain how the allegations were baseless, but he also explained that a cat [let alone a kitten] could not have survived a human rape.
Here’s his thread that recounts how JFK Animal Shelter’s narrative of the alleged kitten rape was suspect, to begin with:
THREAD: Story of a #kitten being sexually assaulted by a teenager in #Lahore, which made everyone go crazy on social media (rightly so) – – – IS FAKE.
— Umer (@Umer_Rpk) July 28, 2020
TWS
Later, a registered animal rights NGO, Todd’s Welfare Society (TWS), also confirmed that the story was fabricated. They interviewed a veterinarian Dr. Khalil who had also initially examined the kitten.
As per Dr. Khalil, this was confirmed that it was a case of anal prolapse or a severe infection.
After examining the cat we found out that the kitten’s bladder was swollen. I told them it has some problems in its urinary bladder.
Dr. Khalil also reported that the owners of JFK Animal Rescue repeatedly asked him to pen down ‘sexual abuse’ as a possibility. But he refused since the evidence did not match up.
When they told me they feared this is a case of animal abuse, I told them it isn’t.
The animal that was present had no evidence of abuse…
…The blood was actually urine, it was blood stained because of the infection.
Curiously, JFK scrubbed all of its previous social media posts, before making a legal threat against folks who did not buy their fabricated account:
UPDATE: JFK fb page has deleted most of their posts from last 6 days, even the original post with made up story is gone. All of this is done silently without any public apology. #KittenRape
— Umer (@Umer_Rpk) August 3, 2020
FIA
Since we have dealt with sexual abuse against the helpless for decades on end, this story was sure to get the attention it did. The graphic details and the horrifying picture that was painted by JFK Animal Rescue left the whole nation in shambles.
Officials from FIA Cybercrime Wing took notice of the incident and it was under investigation. Asif Iqbal Chaudhry who is the Assistant Director, Cybercrime wing of Federal Investigation Agency confirmed that the kitten was not raped.
Here is the veterinarian who examined the kitten, in his statement to the FIA:
ڈاکٹرخلیل محمدجنہوں نےاس بلی کےبچےکامیڈیکل چیک اپ اور ٹریٹمنٹ کیاانکی زبانی حقیقت جانیے۔
مجھےدکھ صرف اس بات کاہےکہ اس جھوٹےپراپیگنڈاکی وجہ سےمیرےملک پاکستان کی بدنامی ہوئی اوربہت سے حساس لوگ زہنی کوفت کاشکاررہے۔
اللہ پاک ہمیں سچ بولنے،لکھنےاور سچ کا ساتھ دینے کی توفیق عطا فرمائے۔ pic.twitter.com/FuizYXx8Mw— Asif Iqbal Chaudhry (@Aasifiqbalpak) August 11, 2020
What’s next?
Before we conclude this story, it is pertinent to mention a few things.
Animal abuse is a fact. It happens and should be condemned and prosecuted with the manner it deserves to be.
In JFK’s case, not only did the animal shelter concoct a false story without any accompanying evidence or medical reports, but they also misled a lot of well-meaning animal rights activists as a frenzied mob. Reportedly, some people believed that a mere voice note could count as ‘evidence.’
There’s no telling how much harm this false story has caused to real cases of animal abuse. People are going to think twice before donating their proceeds to animal rights organizations in Pakistan now.
The FIA has done its part. It is now time to let the law take its course. Will JFK Animal Shelter apologize for misleading people?
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Registered Animal Rights NGO Confirms Kitten ‘Rape’ Story Was Fabricated [Video]
If the story is fabricated then JFK should be punished to make an example for people who make fake news. Due to this, those cases which are not fabricated would not be taken seriously in the future.