NEW LAWS TO PROTECT ANIMALS PASSED BY TURKEY

  • 04/07/2021

Turkey has put forward revolutionary legislation that aims to take away the classification of animals as commodities. This milestone bill is the culmination of the efforts of activists and people involved in animal welfare.

The bill submitted on June 30 by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is expected to be enacted into law in the coming weeks after deliberations by lawmakers, parliamentary sources told Xinhua on Saturday.

The issue of animal rights has been on the Turkish government's agenda over the past decade due to public pressure on politicians to come up with a solution.
The current bill defines animals as "commodities", denying them any rights.
Any act of torture or killing of a stray animal in the country is punishable under "damage to commodities" with a small fine.
However, the new legislation will redefine them as living beings and seek jail time for anyone who kills abuses or tortures animals.

Citizens believe that the new legislation will deter people from engaging in brutality against animals. The punishment for crimes against animals will be a jail term ranging from six months to four years, which will prevent criminals from getting out on bail or converting the prison sentence to a fine.
Under the new law, local police can establish animal protection squads to respond to any incidents in which an animal is harmed or in danger.
The force will also actively seek out perpetrators of blood sports involving animals, such as cockfighting and dogfighting, popular in some parts of Turkey.

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