Turkish police detained four activists in Ankara on Friday during a protest against a controversial bill targeting stray dogs.
The protesters had gathered on Sakarya Street to voice their opposition to the proposed law, which animal rights advocates say could lead to the mass euthanasia of stray dogs.
The demonstration, which drew dozens of animal rights activists, was met with a heavy police presence. Officers attempted to disperse the crowd, leading to scuffles and the eventual detention of four people. The activists were holding banners with slogans such as “You cannot round them up, you cannot jail them, you cannot kill them” and “Take the law back.”
The bill, introduced to parliament by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), proposes to round up stray dogs and put them in shelters. Under the draft law, municipalities would be responsible for removing stray dogs from the streets and housing them until they are adopted. Dogs deemed aggressive or suffering from untreatable diseases would be euthanized.
Critics of the bill argue that a mass neutering campaign would be a more humane and effective solution to control the stray dog population, estimated to be around 4 million. Over the past two decades, municipalities have neutered approximately 2.5 million dogs. However, with only 322 shelters in the country, capable of housing 105,000 dogs, animal rights groups fear the proposed measures will lead to overcrowding and inadequate care in shelters.
“People here are those taking care of many animals. What is this? Do you want the dogs and cats on the street to be killed?” one protester shouted through a megaphone.
The bill has sparked widespread debate in Turkey, with proponents citing public safety and health concerns, while opponents argue it violates animal rights. Recent statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate a rise in rabies cases and dog bites, which the government says justifies the need for stricter measures.
Despite modifications to the original bill, including the removal of the explicit “euthanasia” clause, opposition parties and animal rights organizations remain dissatisfied. They claim the revised bill still permits the killing of stray dogs under certain conditions, which they argue is unacceptable.
The bill is expected to be debated in parliament on Monday. In the meantime, animal rights groups are planning further protests and urging the public to speak out against the proposed legislation.