My petition is written from the perspective of a Submitter (with no intention of imposing my beliefs on anyone but reaching out to anyone concerned about the current pandemic) and it involves TWO aims:

My FIRST aim is to raise your awareness and invite you to reflect if we as human beings have stepped outside of GOD’s protection, making ourselves vulnerable to the Coronavirus pandemic because we transgressed GOD’s laws in the Quran (or the Final Testament); the Statute Book revealed as a warning to the whole world (Quran 25:1) not to transgress and violate GOD’s laws, to think and to distinguish right from wrong, and to establish justice. GOD also reminds us that He created the earth for a purpose and for ALL His creatures (including the animals), not just for humans (Quran 55:1-10). GOD also teaches us that anything good that happens to us is from GOD, and anything bad that happens to us is from us (Quran 4:79).

Using the example of the wet market in Wuhan that has been considered one of the possible launching pads for the Novel Coronavirus/COVID-19 in 2019, I explain below how, as human beings, we have transgressed GOD’s laws, and thus, made ourselves vulnerable to this deadly infectious disease:

First, these wet markets provide humans a venue for the illegal sale of unusual wildlife like bats, pangolins, civet cats, and other exotic animals that are more apt to interact negatively near human beings. For example: SARS in 2002–2003 started in a wet market in the southern Guangdong Province, originated in bats, and then jumped to civet cats, which acted as the “amplifying host” before transmitting to humans. Asian Flu in 1956–1958 started from a mutation in wild ducks that combined with a pre-existing human strain. H5N1 Bird Flu in 1997 started from Chinese geese in Hong Kong, and H7N9 Bird Flu in 2013 started from poultry at a live bird market in China.

Second, these wet markets allow humans to poorly treat the animals by putting them in cages and torturing them, and in some cases, boiling or beating them so they have tender meat. And when an animal is stressed out, their immune system is compromised and the hormone cortisol is elevated in their blood, making the animal more likely to harbor new diseases.

Third, the cages in which these animals are put are unsanitary and stacked on top of one another, giving rise to a major mechanism for passing a virus from one animal to another; the animals in the bottom cages are soaked by any pus, waste, entrails, or blood excreted by the animals stacked in the cages above.

Fourth, keeping the animals in close contact with humans in these wet markets during the entire rearing and slaughtering process creates the perfect breeding ground for new infectious diseases.

Fifth, GOD teaches us in the Quran four types of foods that are specifically prohibited for human consumption; for example, animals that develop an infectious disease, and as stated in Quran 2:173 die of themselves (without human interference, meaning without being slaughtered), or as stated in Quran 16:115, dead animals.

My SECOND aim is to invite you to please seriously reflect on the following questions, sign the petition, and share it with your network. As a Submitter who follows GOD’s laws in the Quran, to me, the illegal and unrighteous sale of animals that died of themselves due to disease, is an extension of violating the laws prohibiting the consumption of dead animals. Thus, I would boycott these wet markets as a venue for business.

The wet markets reopened in China despite the fact that millions were infected worldwide, hundreds of thousands have died a painful lonely death far from loved ones, many countries are still in lockdown, millions have become jobless, and no vaccine or effective drug has been discovered yet.

For me, what's important is to answer the call to stand up, at a **global** level, for the basic human right of living a life without the fear of becoming infected by a deadly virus, for a patient’s right not to die of a deadly infectious disease, for a health worker’s right to not be at risk of dying while caring for COVID-19 patients, and for an animal’s right to not be tortured, boiled alive, or die from a disease.

I answer this call in a few ways: (1) by adding my name to prior petitions on this topic; (2) by creating a petition of my own to raise awareness about the negligence of some governments who, despite having the resources and the wealth, do nothing for the welfare of their own people and the world; (3) by creating a petition of my own to invite global leaders to not fear economic loss but to fear GOD’s wrath instead, and to hold such governments accountable for their negligence in reopening their wet markets; and (4) by supporting organizations such as the Vanderpump Dog Foundation that raised my awareness about animal cruelty in wet markets.

Please watch the “THE ROAD TO YULIN” - Documentary Teaser 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI7Wn5shQmo

How are YOU going to answer this call? My plea to sign this petition is to all who are mindful and conscious—be it from faith or not—who believe that our actions and inactions have consequences, and that we’re all connected no matter where in the world we live.

We pray to GOD and trust in GOD. But we must also take righteous action NOW and do our part. We MUST unite and together pressure global leaders such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease at the NIH, the United Nations Security Council, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to demand that wealthy governments ban their wet markets to prevent the next deadly infectious disease pandemic, by GOD’s grace.

Please take a few minutes and reflect on the following questions:

1) Is the sale of illegal and/or forbidden food (dead animals) in such wet markets an unrighteous or immoral source of income?
2) Was the WHO’s recommendation not to ban such wet markets appropriate and responsible?
3) Is the WHO’s recommendations for food safety and hygiene regulations instead of banning such wet markets enforceable?
4) Should global leaders hold wealthy governments accountable for their failure to find sustainable and righteous solutions to enforce food safety and hygiene regulation of such wet markets?
5) Should the United Nations be responsible to establish new International laws to impose sanctions, restrictions, and bans on any government that refuses to be transparent and cooperate with the rest of the world in finding the cause of a deadly pandemic?
6) Should new International laws be established to give immunity to journalists, investigators, and whistleblowers to research and report on the potential causes of an outbreak in any country without risking their lives?
7) If no such laws are established and no protections or regulations can be enforced, would you support the GLOBAL ban or boycott of such wet markets?
8) Assuming, global leaders fail to enforce a GLOBAL ban of such markets because they’re concerned about the welfare of a few righteous farmers or fishermen who rely on such wet markets for their small earnings and are not torturing animals in cages etc., then, how do we balance the rights of the individual with the welfare of society and, in the case of pandemics, the welfare of the world?
9) As a righteous Submitter (or as a conscious human being) should we be choosing such venues for our business even though, it would be indirectly condoning animal cruelty and the sale of dead animals?
10) As a righteous Submitter, if we rely on such markets for our income but the markets closed down permanently, should we fear loss of income or should we trust GOD instead when He tells us in Quran 5:114; 22:58; 23:72; 34:39; 51:58; and 62:11, that He is the best Provider? when He tells us in Quran 16:97 that He guarantees happiness now and forever for anyone who works in righteousness?

Thank you and GOD bless you for adding your name. 

Please see below the Quranic references https://submission.org/QI#/contents

Chapter 96: The Embryo (Al-`Alaq)‎ (سورة العلق )‎

96In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
٩٦بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ
96:1Read, in the name of your Lord, who created.**

**96:1-19 From 96 to 114 is 19 suras. The first revelation (96:1-5) is 19 Arabic words, 76 letters (19x4). The sura consists of 19 verses and 304 Arabic letters (Appendices 1 & 23).
١:٩٦اقرَأ بِاسمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذى خَلَقَ
96:2He created man from an embryo.
٢:٩٦خَلَقَ الإِنسٰنَ مِن عَلَقٍ
96:3Read, and your Lord, Most Exalted.
٣:٩٦اقرَأ وَرَبُّكَ الأَكرَمُ
96:4Teaches by means of the pen.
٤:٩٦الَّذى عَلَّمَ بِالقَلَمِ
96:5He teaches man what he never knew.
٥:٩٦عَلَّمَ الإِنسٰنَ ما لَم يَعلَم
96:6Indeed, the human transgresses.
٦:٩٦كَلّا إِنَّ الإِنسٰنَ لَيَطغىٰ
96:7When he becomes rich.
٧:٩٦أَن رَءاهُ استَغنىٰ
96:8To your Lord is the ultimate destiny.
٨:٩٦إِنَّ إِلىٰ رَبِّكَ الرُّجعىٰ
96:9Have you seen the one who enjoins.
٩:٩٦أَرَءَيتَ الَّذى يَنهىٰ
96:10Others from praying?
١٠:٩٦عَبدًا إِذا صَلّىٰ
96:11Is it not better for him to follow the guidance?
١١:٩٦أَرَءَيتَ إِن كانَ عَلَى الهُدىٰ
96:12Or advocate righteousness?
١٢:٩٦أَو أَمَرَ بِالتَّقوىٰ
96:13If he disbelieves and turns away.
١٣:٩٦أَرَءَيتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلّىٰ
96:14Does he not realize that God sees?
١٤:٩٦أَلَم يَعلَم بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرىٰ
96:15Indeed, unless he refrains, we will take him by the forelock.
١٥:٩٦كَلّا لَئِن لَم يَنتَهِ لَنَسفَعًا بِالنّاصِيَةِ
96:16A forelock that is disbelieving and sinful.
١٦:٩٦ناصِيَةٍ كٰذِبَةٍ خاطِئَةٍ
96:17Let him then call on his helpers.
١٧:٩٦فَليَدعُ نادِيَهُ
96:18We will call the guardians of Hell.
١٨:٩٦سَنَدعُ الزَّبانِيَةَ
96:19You shall not obey him; you shall fall prostrate and draw nearer.
١٩:٩٦كَلّا لا تُطِعهُ وَاسجُد وَاقتَرِب

Chapter 25: The Statute Book (Al-Furqan)‎ (سورة الفرقان)‎

25In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
٢٥بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ
25:1Most blessed is the One who revealed the Statute Book to His servant, so he can serve as a warner to the whole world.
١:٢٥تَبارَكَ الَّذى نَزَّلَ الفُرقانَ عَلىٰ عَبدِهِ لِيَكونَ لِلعٰلَمينَ نَذيرًا

Chapter 55: Most Gracious (Al-Rahmaan)‎ (سورة الرحمن )‎

55In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
٥٥بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ
55:1The Most Gracious.
١:٥٥الرَّحمٰنُ
55:2Teacher of the Quran.
٢:٥٥عَلَّمَ القُرءانَ
55:3Creator of the human beings.
٣:٥٥خَلَقَ الإِنسٰنَ
55:4He taught them how to distinguish.
٤:٥٥عَلَّمَهُ البَيانَ
55:5The sun and the moon are perfectly calculated.
٥:٥٥الشَّمسُ وَالقَمَرُ بِحُسبانٍ
55:6The stars and the trees prostrate.
٦:٥٥وَالنَّجمُ وَالشَّجَرُ يَسجُدانِ
55:7He constructed the sky and established the law.
٧:٥٥وَالسَّماءَ رَفَعَها وَوَضَعَ الميزانَ
55:8You shall not transgress the law.
٨:٥٥أَلّا تَطغَوا فِى الميزانِ
55:9You shall establish justice; do not violate the law.
٩:٥٥وَأَقيمُوا الوَزنَ بِالقِسطِ وَلا تُخسِرُوا الميزانَ
55:10He created the earth for all creatures.
١٠:٥٥وَالأَرضَ وَضَعَها لِلأَنامِ

                                      Nothing Bad Comes From God
4:79Anything good that happens to you is from God, and anything bad that happens to you is from you. We have sent you as a messenger to the people,* and God suffices as witness.

2:173He only prohibits for you the eating of animals that die of themselves (without human interference), blood, the meat of pigs, and animals dedicated to other than God. If one is forced (to eat these), without being malicious or deliberate, he incurs no sin. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

 ١٧٣:٢إِنَّما حَرَّمَ عَلَيكُمُ المَيتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحمَ الخِنزيرِ وَما أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنِ اضطُرَّ غَيرَ باغٍ وَلا عادٍ فَلا إِثمَ عَلَيهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفورٌ رَحيمٌ

                                         Only Four Foods Prohibited
 16:115He only prohibits for you dead animals, blood, the meat of pigs,* and food which is dedicated to other than God. If one is forced (to eat these), without being deliberate or malicious, then God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

                           Greater Miracles Bring Greater Responsibility*
5:114Said Jesus, the son of Mary, "Our god, our Lord, send down to us a feast from the sky. Let it bring plenty for each and every one of us, and a sign from You. Provide for us; You are the best Provider."*

*5:114-115 The Quran's overwhelming miracle (Appendix One) is described in 74:35 as ``One of the greatest miracles,'' and brings with it an uncommonly great responsibility.
١١٤:٥قالَ عيسَى ابنُ مَريَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنا أَنزِل عَلَينا مائِدَةً مِنَ السَّماءِ تَكونُ لَنا عيدًا لِأَوَّلِنا وَءاخِرِنا وَءايَةً مِنكَ وَارزُقنا وَأَنتَ خَيرُ الرّٰزِقينَ

                                         Striving in the Cause of God
22:58Those who emigrate for the sake of God, then get killed, or die, God will surely shower them with good provisions. God is certainly the best Provider.

٥٨:٢٢وَالَّذينَ هاجَروا فى سَبيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قُتِلوا أَو ماتوا لَيَرزُقَنَّهُمُ اللَّهُ رِزقًا حَسَنًا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُوَ خَيرُ الرّٰزِقينَ

23:72Are you asking them for a wage? Your Lord's wage is far better. He is the best Provider.
٧٢:٢٣أَم تَسـَٔلُهُم خَرجًا فَخَراجُ رَبِّكَ خَيرٌ وَهُوَ خَيرُ الرّٰزِقينَ

23:72Are you asking them for a wage? Your Lord's wage is far better. He is the best Provider.
٧٢:٢٣أَم تَسـَٔلُهُم خَرجًا فَخَراجُ رَبِّكَ خَيرٌ وَهُوَ خَيرُ الرّٰزِقينَ

51:58God is the Provider, the Possessor of all power, the Supreme.
٥٨:٥١إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزّاقُ ذُو القُوَّةِ المَتينُ

62:11When some of them come across a business deal, or some entertainment, they rush to it and leave you standing! Say, "What God possesses is far better than the entertainment or the business. God is the best Provider."
١١:٦٢وَإِذا رَأَوا تِجٰرَةً أَو لَهوًا انفَضّوا إِلَيها وَتَرَكوكَ قائِمًا قُل ما عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيرٌ مِنَ اللَّهوِ وَمِنَ التِّجٰرَةِ وَاللَّهُ خَيرُ الرّٰزِقينَ

                                             Guaranteed Happiness
                                                 Now and Forever
16:97Anyone who works righteousness, male or female, while believing, we will surely grant them a happy life in this world, and we will surely pay them their full recompense (on the Day of Judgment) for their righteous works.
٩٧:١٦مَن عَمِلَ صٰلِحًا مِن ذَكَرٍ أَو أُنثىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤمِنٌ فَلَنُحيِيَنَّهُ حَيوٰةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجزِيَنَّهُم أَجرَهُم بِأَحسَنِ ما كانوا يَعمَلونَ

The END.