Statement from the Istanbul Bar Association following the animal massacre in Gebze: 'We call on the Constitutional Court to take action!'

The Istanbul Bar Association Animal Rights Center made a statement following the killing of nearly 35 dogs, 13 cats, and 1 crow with drugs at the Stray Animal Treatment, Rehabilitation and Training Center affiliated with the Gebze Municipality.

'AS IF THEY WERE TRASH...'

The statement included the following expressions:

The video recordings showing the massacre that took place on 11.10.2024 at the Stray Animal Treatment, Rehabilitation and Training Center affiliated with the Gebze Municipality have deeply wounded society. In the images showing the massacre, it is seen that dogs were thrown into a dumpster alive after being injected with chemicals, and that dogs, cats, and even birds—regardless of whether they were adults, puppies, disabled, pregnant, or whether they had passed away—were put into trash bags and thrown into a dumpster as if they were trash. As the trash bags removed from the dumpster were opened, it is understood that some animals were still struggling for life; in other words, they were put into trash bags and the bags were tied shut to ensure they would die by suffocation if they did not die from the chemicals before they had actually passed away.

UNCONSTITUTIONAL!

The massacre that occurred is clearly contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237, and all rules regarding the protection of animals and the environment regulated in the Animal Protection Law No. 5199. The perpetrators of this grave incident are primarily the Gebze Municipality, and the veterinarians and auxiliary staff working at the Stray Animal Treatment, Rehabilitation and Training Center affiliated with the Gebze Municipality. We would like to state that this massacre, carried out by the relevant veterinarians or under their supervision, consent, or instruction, is also diametrically opposed to the Veterinarian's Oath.

No animal deserves to be brutally killed—regardless of whether they are adult or puppy—and thrown into a dumpster in a trash bag while still struggling for life, as happened today at the Stray Animal Treatment, Rehabilitation and Training Center affiliated with the Gebze Municipality. These blood-curdling acts are unacceptable; they not only clearly violate the legislation but are also contrary to the supreme compassion of our society. Even the bloody amendment made to the Animal Protection Law No. 5199 does not condone such savagery; what has been done is clearly a massacre, and those who committed it will be prosecuted.

This is our open call to the Constitutional Court: In order to stop the brutal acts that are being or will be carried out by trying to hide behind the amendment made to the Animal Protection Law No. 5199, such as the massacre that took place in Gebze today, and to stop these heinous behaviors that will cause public outrage and break hearts, the amendment made to the Animal Protection Law No. 5199 must be canceled immediately as a requirement of respect for the right to life.

We will not leave the innocent animals or the nature of the Republic of Turkey to these bloody hands; all necessary legal processes, including criminal complaints against the Gebze Municipality, the relevant veterinarians, and auxiliary staff, will be initiated immediately."