There is significant opposition to the proposed amendment to the Animal Rights Law, which would permit the euthanization of stray animals. Several prominent figures from the cultural and arts community, such as Sezen Aksu, Ajda Pekkan, and Zülfü Livaneli, are against this law.
Surveys conducted by different research companies show that most of society also opposes the bill. For example, a survey by MetroPOLL Research found that only 2.4 percent of AKP voters support euthanizing animals.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is considering to amend the Animal Rights Law to allow euthanasia for stray dogs. The amendment is expected to arrive at the parliament for a vote soon after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan demanded urgency from the party.
In Türkiye, everyone is reacting and standing up against a proposed law that would infringe on the rights of living beings to live freely. This law also includes a provision that would confine dogs to municipal shelters, which is unacceptable to animal rights advocates. There is support from all segments of society for the campaigns with the slogan, “You can’t capture, you can’t imprison, you can’t kill!”
In a recent television broadcast, Prof. Dr, İlber Ortaylı said, “These places (dog shelters) are very shameful. It’s a shame, it’s a sin… It’s a death camp.
The proposed amendment to the law is concerning as it may infringe upon the right to life of stray animals. There are ongoing objections to this law, which is expected to be quickly approved by the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Citizens can voice their opposition to the proposed changes in the Animal Rights Law by submitting their objections through CİMER. Additionally, a petition on Change.org has garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures against the amendments under the slogan “NO to Massacre, NO to Capturing Shelters #StreetAnimalsAren’tOwned.” On June 2, large animal rights rallies are scheduled to take place in Ankara Tandoğan Square (14.00), Istanbul Yenikapı (13.00), and Izmir Gündoğdu Square. The rallying calls for the events are “If You Keep Silent, I Will Die, Don’t Be Silent!” and “Street Animals Are Not Stray Animals”.
People from the arts and culture scene of Türkiye are also raising their voices against the law change with their social media posts. Many names, such as Sezen Aksu, Ajda Pekkan and Zülfü Livaneli, oppose the bill by sharing posts on their social media accounts with the hashtag #StreetAnimalsNotOwned.
Sezen Aksu, singer and songwriter: Why is it that when we seek a solution, the first thing that comes to mind is destruction?
“The story of Sivriada in our history deeply affects my conscience and my heart. 80 thousand dogs; I heard their voices as I read about them being rounded up and taken to Sivriada. Sometimes it was because they attacked a tourist, sometimes it was because their numbers increased. They were left to starve and die despite the efforts of the good people who have always existed. We refer to it with its well-deserved title as ‘No Good Island’. Even though it is written that they died from hunger, I am sure that their cries of betrayal are recorded somewhere in the sky for all of us.
“We will seek forgiveness for more than a century. Why is it that when we seek a solution in my beloved country, the first thing that comes to mind is destruction?”
Zülfü Livaneli, Writer : Massacre cannot be the solution
“Couldn’t public institutions have sterilized thousands of dogs every day for years? They could have easily done so, but now they want to make the poor animals pay for their own negligence. There was a cat massacre because the population of cats increased after the dog massacre, and then a mouse invasion when the cats disappeared. We need to find modern solutions. Massacre cannot be the solution.”
Ajda Pekkan, singer: If they are going to euthanize the dogs, they can also euthanize us.
“Animal lovers are not just people with pages on Facebook and Instagram. If you are running 15 fake accounts and acting on the words of people who are hostile to stray animals all day long, you are making a mistake. Millions of conscientious and compassionate people, whom you have never encountered before in this country, will never allow this to happen, no matter what the outcome. It is not necessary to be an animal lover to defend this; it is enough to be conscientious. Let us also underline that we are the ummah of our Prophet, who stated in Surah Enam 6/38 that animals are also the ummah of Allah (swt). Allah Almighty will call to account those who unjustly kill a sparrow on the Day of Judgment.”
“When addressing the issue of increasing population due to the failure to carry out sterilizations for years, it is not acceptable to resort to killing. Animals should not bear the consequences of municipalities neglecting their duty. It is crucial to prioritize sterilization efforts to control the population. There is no alternative solution.”
Pekkan also said in a concert if they are going to euthanize the dogs, they can also euthanize us.
Disinformation Conducted through Fake Accounts
In a YouTube broadcast on May 24, journalist Nevşin Mengü highlighted the spread of disinformation on social media about the issue of stray animals. Mengü pointed out that a group on social media, which includes fake accounts followed by former Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek, is spreading false information about stray animals. She emphasized that there is a significant amount of disinformation and fake news being spread through social media channels. Mengü also mentioned that Street Cat Ebru meticulously examined these accounts and found that some of them are real people while others are not. She noted that many of these accounts have similar profiles and are all followed by Melih Gökçek. She concluded that this appears to be an organized effort to spread disinformation, citing examples of posts claiming that “street dogs are eating people” or that people “can’t go to work.”
We were always living with dogs
The photograph below, titled “Taşkafa and His Family,” is taken by Kayıhan Güven. This photograph of Güven, who records Istanbul life through photography, reminds us again of Galata’s famous dog Taşkafa and his family.
Taşkafa, who was once asked about the district’s security, is one of the pioneers of the ongoing story of street dogs in the history of Istanbul. So much so that his connection with the district and his story also influenced the German director named Andrea Luka Zimmerman. From the story of Taşkafa, Zimmerman tells the story of Istanbul’s dogs in the movie Taşkafa: A Street Story. The bond of Istanbul and Istanbulites with stray animals, especially dogs, always affects those who come from outside throughout the city’s history… One is the famous Italian traveler Edmondo De Amicis, who came to Istanbul in the 1870s.
We are not complete without dogs
The literary scene has also raised their voice against the violence of stray animals.
Against the proposed law prepared by the government to slaughter stray animals under the guise of “putting them to sleep,” 158 writers and artists have announced that they are ready to be part of the public solution to defend the right to life of stray animals. Here is the statement and the list of signatory authors.
The proposed law to euthanize unadopted stray animals is the latest form of violence against living creatures. This act of mass killing should be seen as part of the ongoing cycle of violence within our society. Instead of killing or imprisoning these animals in shelters where they will be mistreated, the state’s responsibility should be to ensure that they can live freely and safely in our cities and neighborhoods, with the same rights as us.
As artists and writers, we are adding our voice to the chorus that says “you can’t capture, you can’t imprison, you can’t kill.” We are committed to protecting the right to life of stray animals and are ready to be part of any public solution that will ensure they live healthy, happy, and free lives.
