Ahmet Hakan's remarks on 'stray animals': 'There is no point in politicizing the issue'
Hürriyet newspaper Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Hakan defended the view that "the AK Party does not see culling as the only solution" regarding the draft law proposing that stray animals be euthanized if they are not adopted within one month.
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The AKP is preparing to amend the Animal Protection Law for a new regulation regarding stray animals.
Acting upon the request of AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, AKP officials have initiated work on a legislative proposal that envisions the "euthanasia" of stray dogs if they are not adopted within one month, on the grounds that they pose a "life-threatening danger."
Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Hakan, known for his proximity to the government, shared details of a conversation he had with AKP Group Deputy Chairman Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu, who is leading the work on the bill in question.
Stating that Yenişehirlioğlu called him, Hakan used the following expressions: "There is no single view within the AK Party regarding the solution to the stray dog problem. There are those in the party who are strongly opposed to euthanasia, as well as those who advocate for it. The party's general approach has not yet been clearly defined. Contacts are ongoing, discussions are ongoing, and evaluations are ongoing. There is no point in labeling the AK Party as 'pro-culling' and politicizing the issue."