Article 5, which sparked 'euthanasia' debates, has been passed

Deliberations on the legislative proposal that paves the way for the killing of stray dogs have begun in the Parliamentary General Assembly.

In the General Assembly, where procedural debates took place regarding the proposal for amendments to the Animal Protection Law, Deputy Speaker Bekir Bozdağ, having considered the objections regarding 'unconstitutionality' and listening to the deputies' speeches on the matter, stated, "There is no change in my stance regarding the commencement of the proposal's deliberations," and sought to initiate the proceedings.

TİP Chairman Erkan Baş initiated a new procedural debate, stating that it was decided in yesterday's session that the proposal regarding stray animals would be discussed as a 'fundamental law' at the request of the AK Party, and that the right to speak of political parties without a parliamentary group was being obstructed.

Stating that a law was being rushed through, Erkan Baş said, "You are trying to hide it from view at every stage of the law, trying to handle it in a haphazard manner. You haven't made a normal law for a year. You always turn them into fundamental laws. If we were to make a normal law, every group would speak on every article." Noting that there are only 2 motions and 2 speaking rights once it becomes a fundamental law, Baş added, "You are making a great effort here so that deputies do not speak. You are doing your best so that the true voice of the people does not echo here, and so that the words 'stop the animal massacre' are not said to your faces. But the scales you have broken will one day weigh you too."

AK PARTY'S ÖZKAYA: THE OPPOSITION IS SUBMITTING MOTIONS JUST SO SPEECHES CAN BE MADE

AK Party Deputy Ali Özkaya, on the other hand, said, "Motions are being submitted just so speeches can be made, but to obstruct the law. The nation gave us a duty. Our duty is to pass these laws and to conduct this process within the scope of the ruling group's responsibility." Özkaya stated that according to the internal regulations, only parties with a parliamentary group have the right to submit motions and speak.

'THE SPEAKER ALSO KNOWS THAT HIS STANCE IS NOT CORRECT'

DEVA Party Deputy İdris Şahin also said that they have not discussed a normal law in parliament for 16 months and stated, "The Speaker also knows very well that his current stance is not correct. This is not a subject that can be seen as a fundamental law. Let us discuss this law as a normal law. Respect the views of political parties that do not have a group. We will not lead you down the wrong path."

Following the speeches, Bozdağ stated that he found the objections of the opposition parties without a group to be unjustified and that his stance was in accordance with the internal regulations. He did not change his stance regarding the proposal being discussed as a fundamental law.

SAADET: LIVING SPACES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED FOR DOGS

Speaking on the entirety of the proposal, SAADET Deputy Şerafettin Kılıç stated that no permanent and effective solutions had been produced for the problem during the 22-year AK Party rule, and that they did not find it appropriate for stray dogs to live in the same environments as humans; he said that healthy, controllable living spaces should be created for dogs. Kılıç also said that animal sales and breeding should be banned.

ÖZLALE TO YENİŞEHİRLİOĞLU: 'I PITY YOU'

İYİ Party Deputy Ümit Özlale began his speech with these words: "You are shamelessly and brazenly calling this legislative proposal the 'Animal Protection Law.' In which article of this do you aim to protect animals? There is a problem from the very first sentence. I am sorry for Mr. Yenişehirlioğlu, who worked on this proposal. It is clear that you have never stroked the head of a stray animal. I am sorry for you and I pity you. I am sorry because you are going to kill a feeling you have never tasted."

Stating that the government is forcing a choice between children and dogs, Özlale said, upon the heckling of AK Party deputies, "There are 10 of you here. There are 71 deputies' signatures under the legislative proposal. There are 10 of you here. You are this interested in the legislative proposal."

İYİ Party's Özlale, turning to the AK Party benches, said, "You are saying, 'Are you an animal lover or a child lover?' We love both," and continued: "Your concern is not to defend children, but to polarize as much as possible."

Stating that AK Party deputies cited children's safety and appealed to consciences while defending this proposal, Özlale asked the AK Party deputies the following questions: "Where was your conscience when dozens of children were raped in obscure foundations?"

YENİŞEHİRLİOĞLU: I WISH MR. ÜMİT AND MS. SERAP HAPPINESS IN BOTH WORLDS

Following Özlale's speech, AK Party Group Deputy Chairman Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu said, "My friends will respond to Mr. Ümit's words when the time comes. I wish Mr. Ümit and Ms. Serap happiness in both worlds and a long life." Bozdağ also said, "We also wish Mr. Ümit happiness in both worlds," and adjourned the session for 45 minutes.

MHP: WE CANNOT HAVE AN INTENTION TO KILL ANIMALS, THERE IS A NEED FOR THIS LAW

Taking the floor on the entirety of the proposal after the break, MHP Deputy Muharrem Varlı noted that there has been an increase in the animal population due to the non-implementation of previously enacted laws and that this law was prepared to reduce it. Stating, "We cannot have an intention to kill animals; we all have consciences, we all have animals in our homes," Varlı also stated that some responsibilities were imposed on municipalities with the law. He noted that the introduction of prison sentences ranging from 6 months to one year for municipalities and municipal council members who do not fulfill their responsibilities is positive in terms of auditability.

Saying that no one has a thought like killing, Varlı said, "We love animals. As our Chairman also stated, animals are our dear friends. We will do our best to keep them alive. Our municipalities will also do their best."

'ONE MUST LOOK AT THE REAL RESPONSIBLE PARTIES'

DEM Party Deputy Perihan Koca also recalled the relevant law enacted in 2004 and said that this law was not fully implemented. Stating that there are shelters in 322 out of 1389 municipalities and that sterilization rates are very low, Koca said, "If we are talking about a population lack of control today, one needs to look at the real responsible parties who do not implement the 'catch, sterilize, release' method."

Stating that the problem could be solved very easily with a real sterilization mobilization, Koca said, "If you do not lean towards even one of the solution proposals, you will open the door to new 'Hayırsız Ada' (Isle of the Unfortunate) incidents and a historical cycle of death."

'CALLS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARMAMENT ARE BEING MADE'

DEM Party Deputy Burcugül Çubuk, in her speech which she began by explaining that many citizens told them, "prevent the passage of this law," warned, "This is a transition violence; this violence will grow and increase. Calls for individual armament are being made."

'YOU HAVE BUILT 10 SHELTERS A YEAR'

Before the speech of CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın, who took the floor on behalf of his party, the CHP Group stood up and showed their banners and red-stained gloves.

Günaydın noted that no steps were taken to solve the problem while the municipalities were under AK Party administration, and that CHP-run municipalities sterilized 1 million 300 thousand animals in 5 years, saying, "We did in 5 years what you did not do in 15 years." Stating that there were 120 shelters in 2002 and 320 today, Günaydın said, "You have built 10 shelters a year, and now you are saying build shelters that will house 4 million animals by 2028. You have built 10 shelters a year, and now you are saying build 1600 shelters in 4 years."

Stating that they want to pit citizens against citizens and CHP-run municipalities against citizens, Günaydın said, "We will not allow this. We will continue to defend life. Withdraw the proposal immediately. Negotiate with whoever will carry it out, talk to the stakeholders. Distribute the responsibility not only to municipalities but also to ministries. Start a sterilization campaign, activate vaccination. Take sick dogs, rehabilitate them. Do not kill, rehabilitate. Work together with NGOs."

'THE CHP CHAIRMAN WILL ALSO BE HERE TOMORROW'

CHP's Günaydın noted that they would oppose the proposal with all their might, saying, "We are here today with all our deputies. The CHP Chairman will also be here tomorrow. We will use all our means to prevent the law from passing. We will not allow you to polarize the citizens."

Parliament is expected to close on Tuesday after enacting the proposal providing for amendments to the Animal Protection Law.

TENSION ROSE IN PARLIAMENT

In the TBMM General Assembly, CHP and DEM Party deputies reacted and began hitting their desks after AK Party Group Deputy Chairman Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu used the words 'stray dogs' during his speech and pointed his hand at the opposition while using this expression.

Yenişehirlioğlu's words are as follows:

"Citizens of foreign countries who will come to Turkey are being warned about aggressive, stray dog packs and the risk of rabies. This situation creates a negative impression regarding the reputation of our country, where tourism revenues are an important item. While stray dogs struggle to survive in very harsh conditions, they cause harm to both their own species and other wild animals such as gazelles and roe deer, as well as nature." Following these words and his hand gesture, CHP and DEM Party deputies reacted and began hitting their desks.

Yenişehirlioğlu responded to the reactions by saying, "What am I doing? I am reading my text."

Parliament Deputy Speaker Bekir Bozdağ said, "I think there was a misunderstanding, can you explain what you meant?" Bekir Bozdağ adjourned the General Assembly for 15 minutes due to the continuation of the debate and the ongoing tension.

Yenişehirlioğlu later apologized.

INTERESTING DEFENSE FROM HARUN MERTOĞLU

Afterwards, when AK Party Deputy Harun Mertoğlu, who took the floor, asked, "You say the only solution is sterilization, but where do you get the authority to sterilize without their permission?" voices rose from the opposition benches.

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır said, "When we say 'let's sterilize,' there are AK Party deputies who say 'let's put in an IUD,' 'you will get permission from the dog to sterilize it'," and added, "If you care about animals this much, tear this law up and throw it away."

ARE WE REALLY SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE

DEM Party Group Deputy Chairman Gülistan Kılıç said, "You are saying that killing is preferable to sterilization, and that not getting their permission for sterilization is a problem. Are we really speaking the same law, the same language? Let us say this; no DEM Party municipality will implement this law."

STERILIZATION, ADOPTION, VACCINATION, SHELTER DATA

After the speeches on the entirety of the proposal were finished, Vahit Kirişçi, the chairman of the commission where the proposal was discussed, answered the deputies' questions.

Kirişçi said that the number of animals sterilized between 2004-2023 was 2 million 504 thousand 595; the number of animals vaccinated was 2 million 846 thousand 387, and the number of animals adopted was 533 thousand 004.

To the question, 'Why don't you ban the breeding, sale, and import of cats and dogs to solve the problem?', Kirişçi replied, "Permits for breeding and sales places are issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. In 2024, an administrative fine of 73 thousand liras is applied to these transactions. There is no commercial import of cats and dogs in our country; it is only possible for them to enter with their owners."

Providing information about the number of shelters, Kirişçi said that there are 322 shelters with a capacity of 105 thousand.

Responding to the question of how 4 million animals will be housed in shelters with a capacity of 105 thousand, Kirişçi said that December 31, 2028, was set for the completion of the shelter construction process and said, "From the moment this law enters into force, municipalities will build these shelters by allocating the determined budget within 4 years."

MOVED TO THE FIRST SECTION

With the completion of the question-and-answer session, the deliberations on the entirety of the proposal ended and deliberations on the first section began. The session continues with 10-minute speeches by political party groups on the first section.

In the 14th hour of the deliberations, the critical 5th article of the bill, which caused debates over 'euthanasia' for stray dogs and which was amended in the commission, was accepted. Thus, the first 5 articles have been passed by Parliament.