India, Feb. 20 -- Morocco is facing mounting international scrutiny after animal welfare groups accused authorities of carrying out a large-scale cull of stray dogs as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

A joint investigation and advocacy campaign led by the International Animal Welfare and Protection Coalition (IAWPC) alleges that hundreds of thousands of dogs are being killed annually - and warns that as many as three million could ultimately be targeted in what campaigners have described as a "mass slaughter".

The claims, strongly denied by Moroccan authorities, have drawn global attention, including from Oscar-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo, who called the alleged plan a "moral failure".

A recent investigation by...