A Dutch woman living in Egypt has gone viral after attacking a man who was hitting a donkey near the Giza Pyramids.
The video, recorded in Nazlet El-Semman near the Sphinx, shows the woman running at the man after he repeatedly whipped the donkey. The footage sparked a wave of online support and triggered an official investigation into animal abuse in one of Egypt’s most popular tourist spots.
The woman, identified as 47-year-old Dutch woman Joke van der Post, has lived in Egypt for years. She is married to an Egyptian and runs the Good Karma Sanctuary. That’s a free clinic for working animals like donkeys, horses, and mules.
Together with her team, including three full-time veterinarians, she treats up to 50 animals daily for wounds, saddle sores, and other health issues.
“Unfortunately, this is the daily scene. This was actually even a mild case,” Van der Post told Dutch media outlet NOS. She added that when she tried to stop the man by shouting, he insulted her and hit the donkey harder. That’s when she ran toward him, and he fled.
الأكثر تداولاً في مصر:
سائحة أجنبية تنزل من سيارة الأجرة وتضرب سائسًا مصريًا بعد أن شاهدته على الطريق وهو يضرب حماره! 😅 pic.twitter.com/d2YbpcMhWB
— Golden Dose (@GoldenDose) April 10, 2025
Legal actions on both sides
Following the incident, the man in the video filed a complaint accusing Van der Post of assault and emotional harm. She was briefly arrested but has since been released. A court case is still possible.
On Friday, Egypt’s Ministry of Interior confirmed that the man who hit the donkey had been identified and arrested. He admitted to hitting the donkey. He said he was surprised when Van der Post tried to attack him and walked away.
Authorities are now investigating both the animal abuse and the confrontation.
Van der Post’s actions have been widely praised online. “I’m Egyptian, and I thank you for standing up for the donkey. You are a good person,” one user wrote.
“You are amazing and strong. I am honored you live in Egypt,” another person said.
She hopes the video leads to stronger protection laws for working animals in Egypt’s tourism industry. “I might go to jail for six months or a year or even get deported,” she said. “But if this leads to change, it will be worth it.”
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