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Facebook has refused to remove a horrific video of a cat being set on fire – because it’s not considered “graphic violence”.

The 30-second clip of the terrified animal having liquid poured over it, then screeching in agony as it goes up in flames, can be watched by anyone.

Despite complaints from sickened users, Facebook has not taken it down.

The footage begins with a man holding the small white cat by the scruff of its neck and pouring liquid on to its back.

A second man hands him a lighter, which he ignites.

The cat bursts into flames and runs away, screeching with pain as the men chase it, giggling.

The video ends with the flaming cat darting into a patch of leaves and weeds where its cries seem to stop, either because it is dying or exhausted.

The two men, who do not show their faces, give a cheer.

(Image: Facebook) (Image: Facebook)

They appear to be on a patch of waste ground but it is not clear exactly where.

The video was posted by a user from Iraq capital Baghdad on their ­publicly-accessible profile.

Richard Morris, 26, from Blackpool, reported it to ­Facebook after seeing the video when a friend made a comment about it.

He said: “I clicked to see what the video was about.

"When I saw what was happening to the cat I was gob-smacked. I contacted Facebook as I thought it was disgusting.”

But the company said it did not violate its “community standard on graphic violence which includes depicting harm to someone or something”.

Richard said: “I replied how disgusted I was with them for not doing anything to take this horrid video down.

"There is every chance a child could have seen it.”

A spokesman for Cats Protection charity said: ­“Such vile imagery could ­encourage similar incidents of cruelty towards cats.”

A spokesman for Facebook said the video depicted a real world event which was shared in the context of condemning it and to raise awareness.