Erdoğan's statement on stray animals

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at his party's parliamentary group meeting. Erdoğan began his speech by celebrating the conquest of Istanbul.

Erdoğan also addressed Israel's attacks on Gaza, calling out to the Islamic world, and made a statement regarding stray animals.

Highlights from Erdoğan's speech are as follows:

"We are celebrating the 571st anniversary of the Conquest of Istanbul as a nation. We once again commemorate with mercy Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who gifted Istanbul to the nation with his monumental personality, knowledge, and courage, and his army. Conquest means turning the dark fate of Istanbul into light. Without understanding the conquest, one cannot understand the faith, determination, belief, vision, and strategy that moved ships over land. Conquest means to make prosperous, to conquer not just the land and cities, but also hearts. Even if some still refuse to accept it, Istanbul is Turkish, Istanbul is Muslim, and it will remain so forever. We have not looked at Istanbul as just one of many cities. It is a trust left to us by the soldiers of that blessed army. Istanbul is the apple of our eye; we opened Hagia Sophia to worship in a way befitting Fatih's legacy. We have left our mark with our works and our services. We will continue to beautify it. I wish God's mercy upon all our martyrs who took part in the blessed conquest.

MAY 28 ELECTIONS AND KILIÇDAROĞLU

I offer my heartfelt gratitude to my dear nation, which entrusted the duty to us once again with a record number of votes on May 28. We are all watching with astonishment how those who preach about the homeland, nation, and morality here and there so easily sell out all the values they defended for the sake of their seats. What has been revealed is just the tip of the iceberg; the real scandals are hidden underwater. It is important for the presidential candidate of the six-party coalition table to clear the clouds of suspicion over him while he has plenty of time. Let him come out and resolve the question marks in the nation's mind. Let him stop speaking in insinuations and confess everything openly. We have never been interested in who stabbed whom in the back until today, but we have not allowed that dagger, dripping with blood at its tip, to be plunged into our nation's back.

"HUMANITY IS DYING IN EUROPE"

The genocide Israel is carrying out in Gaza has entered a much bloodier phase with the attacks on Rafah. In the latest attack, at least 45 innocent Palestinians were martyred. The heart cannot bear to look at the images. What did you want from 15 thousand innocent children? Is there no shred of humanity left in you? Do you have no limits or boundaries at all? Is there not even a speck of mercy in your hearts? No religion on earth, I swear, can legitimize this brutality. No faith sees or can show the decapitation of an innocent baby as legitimate. The world is watching the brutality of a patient, a maniac, a psychopath, a blood-fed vampire called Netanyahu. While humanity is dying in Gaza, democracy, human rights, women's rights, children's rights, and freedom of the press are dying in Europe. Let no one be offended, but from now on, no European should talk to us about human rights, freedom of expression, or freedom of the press. Oh, American state, this blood has stained your hands too.

CALL TO THE ISLAMIC WORLD

United Nations, what use are you if you cannot stop a genocide that all of humanity is watching via live broadcast? The United Nations could not even protect its own personnel. I have a few words for the Islamic world here; what are you waiting for to take a joint decision?

No one, no state is safe until Israel is brought under the control of international law. I am saying this clearly, and this includes Turkey. Do you think this barbarism is limited to Gaza? They will never be satisfied with drinking blood. Israel is a threat to all of humanity and to world peace. Israel is currently occupying the territory of another state. It must pay the price for its actions before the law. Israel and those who support it think this genocide will be forgotten. This genocide will not be forgotten. This brutality will not be forgotten.

Currently, the genocide is being protested in many countries around the world. They are paying heavy prices for this cause. The mask of Zionism is falling all over the world. This is also a revolution. I send my messages of solidarity from here to everyone who carries Gaza in their heart.

147 IS GREATER THAN 5

The recognition of Palestine as a state by Spain, Ireland, and Norway has comforted us to some extent. As of now, 147 countries have recognized Palestine as a state. The joint decision of 147 countries cannot be left to the whims of a Council consisting of 5 members. We invite all friendly and brotherly countries to object to this injustice. 147 is greater than 5. The common conscience of humanity is greater than 5. It must pay the price for its actions before the law. Israel and the countries supporting it think this will be forgotten. However, this genocide will not be forgotten; this barbarism, this brutality will not be forgotten. We will not forget, and we will not let be forgotten, the atrocities displayed in Gaza since October 7. In many countries around the world, young people are protesting this situation in universities; their freedom of expression has been taken away. Young people are in solidarity with Palestine. Artists, athletes, writers, and scientists are also supporting Palestine, risking all kinds of costs. Frankly, this is also a revolution. I send a message of solidarity to everyone around the world who carries Palestine and Gaza in their heart.

We have brought this issue to the agenda in all the countries we have visited since the first day. We have decided to intervene in the genocide case. We see that the Israeli administration is openly threatening; this should not be allowed.

NEW CONSTITUTION

Hopefully, we will save Turkey from a constitution that is a product of a coup, and we will both conclude our reckoning with coups and honor the spirits of the heroes of democracy.

WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT STRAY ANIMALS?

It is estimated that there are around 4 million stray dogs in Turkey. The official figure is 2 million. This number is increasing exponentially every year. The threat of rabies is growing at the same rate. In 2023, the number of rabies-risk contacts rose to 438 thousand.

In Ankara's Keçiören district, our child Tunahan was mauled by dogs; in Antalya, our daughter Mahra lost her life while running away from a dog; one of our children died in pain due to rabies; our aunt Medine was injured in Muş. There are many such examples. We receive news of an attack and injury almost every day. Also, there are cases where they attack and damage other pets, sheep, and goat herds. We have a problem with stray dogs that does not exist in a developed country. Some countries have started to warn tourists coming to Turkey about the risk of rabies. We are currently on the same list as African and Asian countries.

"SHELTERS WILL BE ESTABLISHED"

We enacted the Animal Protection Law in 2004, taking animals out of the status of property and into the status of living beings. It is essential that we bring this issue to a conclusion in a radical way. We wanted to solve the number of stray dogs with the 'catch-neuter-release' method, but this was not a solution. Our Ministry of Agriculture was studying the stray dog problem in every detail. A large segment of society wants this to be solved and the streets to become safe. We cannot be expected to remain indifferent to this cry. We aim for stray dogs to be adopted.

With the prepared draft law, dog shelters will be established in places where there are no shelters, stray dogs will be placed in these shelters, and adoption campaigns will be carried out. We believe that our animal lovers will take more responsibility by adopting more animals from these shelters."