Thousands gathered in Istanbul to protest new legislation aimed at removing stray dogs from Turkish streets, fearing it could lead to widespread culling and poor treatment in overcrowded shelters.
Bollywood Fever: Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Istanbul on Sunday to protest against recent legislation that critics argue is leading to the mass killing of stray dogs across Turkey.
The law, passed last month, mandates the removal of millions of stray dogs from streets and rural areas, citing public safety concerns. However, animal lovers fear that the law will result in widespread culling or the confinement of dogs in disease-ridden and overcrowded shelters.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has defended the law, describing it as necessary to address the country’s “stray dog problem.”
The Turkish government estimates that around 4 million stray dogs roam the nation’s streets, and while most are harmless, there have been reports of attacks, some resulting in fatalities. A report by the Safe Streets and Defense of the Right to Life Association claims that 65 people have died from street dog attacks since 2022.
Protesters, however, view the legislation as a “bloody law” that endangers the lives of millions of animals. Demonstrators carried posters reading “shelters are death camps” and “withdraw the bloody law,” demanding the immediate repeal of the legislation.
“We want this law to be withdrawn immediately,” said Hasan Kizilyatak, 64, one of the protesters. “They (stray dogs) are living beings, just like us. We are here because we are against them being annihilated.”
Ayten Arslan, 55, who identified herself as a supporter of Erdoğan’s AK Party, also joined the protest, emphasizing her opposition to the law despite her political affiliation. “Just like we stood beside our president on July 15 (2016) when there was a coup attempt, we are here for the stray animals,” Arslan said. “I say as an AK Party supporter, this law is a bloody law.”
In response to the new legislation, the main opposition Republican People’s Party has moved to repeal the law through the Constitutional Court, less than two weeks after its passage.
The law requires municipalities to collect stray dogs and house them in shelters, where they are to be vaccinated, neutered, and spayed before being made available for adoption. However, dogs that are in pain, terminally ill, or pose a health risk to humans will be euthanized. While the original draft of the bill also included cats, public outcry led to their exclusion from the final legislation.
Critics argue that the law is unfeasible given the financial constraints of many municipalities, which may lack the resources to build the additional shelters needed to accommodate the influx of animals. Animal rights activists are particularly concerned that some municipalities might opt to kill dogs under the guise of them being ill, rather than allocate the necessary resources for their care.
Recent videos circulating on social media have shown dead cats and dogs buried in ditches, which activists claim are the result of indiscriminate killings following the passage of the law.
As the debate over the treatment of stray animals continues, the protesters in Istanbul are calling for a humane approach that respects the lives of these animals while addressing the public safety concerns raised by the government. The future of the law remains uncertain as the Constitutional Court considers the opposition’s challenge.
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