Activists, lawyers barred from parliament amid discussions on mass murder of stray animals

Ceren Bayar / Gazete Duvar

Animal rights activists, NGO representatives, and lawyers who attended last week's committee discussions on the proposed amendments to the Animal Protection Law on July 22 were banned from entering Turkish Parliament.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has drafted a new law that requires municipalities to murder stray animals, particularly dogs, and to arrest of municipal personnel who refuse to comply.

Those who came to attend the first committee meeting held on July 18 were not allowed into the meeting room and were kept waiting in the corridor while watching the meeting from a TV outside the room.

Last week's meeting was marked by heated debates and lasted until the early morning. While AKP brought in families whose children had been "attacked by stray animals," many animal rights activists and experts were unable to participate in the presentations.

Those who returned to follow the commission's meeting on July 22 learned that they had been banned from entering the Parliament.

Among those who could not enter the Parliament was Gülay Ertürk, head of the Veterinary Doctors Association.

Lawyer Arzu Ayyıldız, who was barred from entering the parliament, commented on the previous meeting, saying, “In last meeting, individuals invited by lawmakers were inside until the early morning and did not encounter any warnings during that time. This indicates they did not cause any disturbances, and there was no reason to remove those present in parliament that day. Had there been any misconduct, we as lawyers would have warned them. We believe there is ill intent here.”

Ayyıldız stated that lawyers who were not present at the last meeting were also banned from entering the parliament.

MP Gizem Özcan, who had submitted names for visitor entry to parliament, commented on the ban, “Today, discussions will continue in the parliament on a legislation that contradicts universal law and animal rights. Experts and advocates involved in the fight for animal rights wanted to come to the parliament to contribute to this legislative process and assess the situation regarding animals and street conditions within a framework of collective reasoning.”

The lawmaker stated that the ban was also contrary to parliamentary customs, adding, “A legislative process that does not grant the public the right to speak is incomplete, wrong, and unacceptable.”

Parliamentary sources, on the other hand, noted that actions such as “shouting slogans in the parliament” were sanctioned according to the bylaws and that this was in line with the standing orders.

At the previous meeting of the committee, the television watched by those waiting in the corridor who were not admitted from entering the meeting room and broadcasting discussions live to the public via their cell phones was removed. Additionally, strict security measures were implemented in front of the commission room.

Those who were admitted to the parliament but not allowed into the meeting were kept waiting in the corridor once again.

Discussions: ‘You even detain television’

When the committee meeting began and opposition members inquired about which organizations were participating, Commission Chair Vahit Kirişçi stated that only “officially approved organizations” were involved.

Pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Deputy İbrahim Akın said that the exclusion of the citizens and the removal of the television in the corridor created the perception that the meeting was held secretly from the public and asked that the participants be allowed into the hall.

When chair Kirişçi said, “The television was damaged, they will reinstall it after it has been repaired,” lawmakers showed their reaction once again.

Chairman Kirişçi responded, "Live broadcasting from committees is not a custom of the parliament. I do not find it appropriate to request a step that we should not take. You are already broadcasting live from your phones. Let’s settle with that." He also approved one representative from the veterinarians to enter the room.

However, opposition members insisted that the chair should exercise his discretion.

Chair Kirişçi stated that no steps would be taken regarding the broadcasting, the requested participants would not be admitted to the committee, and lawmakers who were not part of the committee would not be allowed to speak.

In response, opposition members reacted by saying, "There is no such procedure," and "You cannot start like this," while banging on their desks.

Although Kirişçi insisted on not broadcasting the meeting, he announced that MPs who were not members of the commission could also take the floor.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Başarır stated that between 2004 and 2019, the majority of municipalities were under AKP control, and that the issue could have been resolved by now, though there was still a chance to address it. 

Başarır said, “In our legal system, there is no such thing as 'euthanasia.' As CHP, we have a proposal: let's create a fund to solve this problem, to sterilize, vaccinate, and support the animals. Some 40% of AKP voters find our proposal sensible, and 60% of MHP voters do as well. Half of your voters do not agree with the euthanasia decision. If this law passes, there will be significant public outrage.”

Başarır also pointed out that the proposal would affect the parliament's schedule and added that if the government insist on “exterminating four million animals," there would be a significant resistance. 

CHP noted that if the government would not be open to reaching a consensus, they would use their “rights and powers granted by the internal regulations” to delay the legislative holiday until September.

Since AKP insisted on passing the amendments before legislative holiday, the parliament could not ended its sessions.

Erkan Baş, chair of the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), criticized the security measures implemented in the parliament for the committee meeting and pointed out that the proposed regulation is the exact opposite of the animal rights legislation signed by all political parties in 2017. He added, “Since our MP is in prison, I frequently visit Silivri Prison. I find it easier to enter prison than to enter here.”

Perihan Koca of DEM Party stated that the AKP, together with its small partner far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), has “placed dynamite in the history of the parliament.” She criticized the attempt to pass the law using undemocratic methods and remarked, “You have even detained the television.”

Sevda Karaca, Labor Party (EMEP) deputy, stated, “We are discussing this law while the destruction from Mehmet Şimşek's (economic) program is becoming evident. You want to divide the society by polarizing and inciting anger, but you will not succeed.”

She added, “There are doctors, bar association representatives, and experts who have studied international examples outside. They have files in hand. But you refuse to accept them.”

Karaca also expressed that they expect an explanation for choosing the more costly "slaughter" method over the less expensive "sterilizing" method.

Pointing to the surveys related to the proposal, TİP MP Sera Kadıgil said, “The surveys show that 60% of people in the country are against killing animals. 22% think there is no problem with stray animals. Only 15% support the proposal. So why are we even discussing this?”

Kadıgil continued, "The real issue is that the Communications Directorate wants this. We are facing a mentality that uses anger towards stray animals to suppress deep poverty. The real problem is a show of power. Even the AKP is not doing this. A faction within the AKP is openly conducting this operation. Would anyone make false news about dogs? Would anyone slander a dog?”

Activists protest in parliament

Animal rights activists who were not admitted to the committee room attempted to make their voices heard by chanting slogans in the corridor where they were waiting. The slogans heard in the parliamentary corridors included, “The state preserves, the state does not kill,” “Your shelters smell of blood,” “Is there anyone who hears us?” and “Withdraw the law, Allah will strike if you don't withdraw the law.”

The activists occasionally received updates about the meeting from the lawmakers who came by.

AKP proposes to remove ‘Euthanasia’ from draft

The AKP submitted a proposal to the commission to remove ‘euthanasia’ from the draft.

Accordingly, AKP proposed adding a provision that would apply the rules set forth in Article 9/3 of the Veterinary Services Law to the proposal.

Although the Veterinary Services Law states “Euthanasia of animals is prohibited," it lays down several exceptions: (a) When animals are suffering from conditions that cause pain and suffering or have no prospect of recovery. (b) For the prevention or eradication of an acute infectious animal disease or in situations posing a risk to human health, (c) In cases where the animal's behavior poses a danger to the life and health of humans or other animals and where negative behaviors cannot be controlled.

Opposition MPs underscored that all articles of the proposal should be harmonized and regulated in a way to prevent the collection and killing of animals.

Another suggestion of the opposition was to withdraw the whole proposal and put it on the agenda in October.

AKP deputy Harun Mertoğlu, who was the first signatory of the draft, announced that they had submitted a motion to amend the relevant article of the law "to exclude cats." Mertoğlu thanked TİP MP Kadigil for pointing out at the first commission meeting that the law covers all animals and that the article was ambiguous.

While the discussion in the commission have been continuing, animal rights activist were warned to leave the parliament as the visiting hours had ended. The activists started a sit-in protest in the corridors.

(English version by Can Bodrumlu)

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