'Life Defenders' protest in Ümraniye for animals killed

In Ümraniye, an AKP stronghold, it was recently revealed that many animals were killed and left neglected at the Hekimbaşı Stray Animal Shelter, which is operated by the Ümraniye Municipality.

Following this, the Ümraniye Animal Rights Initiative announced that they would begin a vigil regarding the disturbing scenes at the Hekimbaşı Shelter. The group, which held a press statement in front of the shelter, said: "We are on vigil until our demands are met. We are reporting it here: if there is a crime, there is also misconduct of duty. If there is a crime, there are also officials who turned a blind eye to it."

Stating that they will continue their vigil until their demands are met, the life defenders said the following:

"Ümraniye Veterinary Affairs Manager Muhammed Nuri Coşkun should be dismissed. All conditions of the shelter should be made suitable for the ethological structure of the animals. The shelter's doors should be opened to volunteers; they should be able to see everywhere, not just certain areas, and visiting hours should be increased. Treatment protocols should be implemented and this issue should be transparent. Treatment methods applied outside the cages should be posted in appropriate places and no collection of animals should take place."

NO TO THE DEATH LAW

Ümraniye Animal Rights Initiative Spokesperson Bulut Can Okuducu said in his statement: "We are here to say no to the death law and to convey our demand for the Constitutional Court to cancel this law. The scenes and events that have occurred, first in Gebze and then in Ümraniye, and from all over Turkey, reveal how eagerly this law is being implemented. In Gebze, they were being killed with injections; in Ümraniye, they are killing them by letting them suffer to death. This is far beyond the massacre that took place in Gebze."

Saying that "if precautions are not taken, animals in all shelters could be killed by disease and captivity using similar methods," Okuducu continued:

"Unfortunately, with shelter capacities as they are, the constant collection of animals will lead to this inevitable end. We all know what happened at the Ümraniye Municipality Shelter. During routine visits by animal lovers in Ümraniye, the lifeless bodies of two cats were first seen, and then the public was informed. Animals were found suffering to death inside closed cages. In other words, there was no outside interference here as claimed, nor is it possible. After the officials and the press arrived, the cages were opened and other dead cats were discovered in front of the cameras.

We have camera footage moment by moment showing how the crowded group claimed by the mayor came to the shelter, their visit, and how they detected these dead cats from a distance. Officials who portray a routine shelter visit as if writing a conspiracy theory should know that even if you try to cover up this brutality, we will bring the facts to light one by one. The Ümraniye Shelter is now under our 24/7 surveillance. We have started a vigil, and this vigil will continue until this shelter is opened to volunteers and conditions are improved. We are reporting it here: if there is a crime, there is also misconduct of duty. If there is a crime, there are also officials who turned a blind eye to it. Furthermore, if a crime was committed, it is very clear that it was done by people who wanted to create a provocation. It cannot be attributed to animal lovers.

With all the information, documents, and footage we have, what happened is clear. You will not be able to cover up what happened at the Ümraniye Municipality shelter.

We will not allow this. We demand that the officials responsible be removed from their duties."