MEDIA RELEASE: DC Turkish Embassy Faces Stray Dog Massacre Shame
PHOTOS: https://bit.ly/DCTurkiyePix
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 5, 2024) — Activists united on Wednesday at Washington D.C.’s Turkish Embassy to demand Türkiye repeal its “stray slaughter law” which passed last month. Horrifying photos and videos of the country-wide massacre have flooded social media showing dogs burned, bludgeoned, crushed, poisoned, and buried alive in mass graves. In Defense of Animals, Animal Save Movement, and local animal activists have organized a week of global demonstrations following a huge protest in İstanbul. Hundreds of thousands of people including major Turkish celebrities took to the streets to speak out against the largest mass slaughter of homeless animals in modern history.
WATCH: London protest
WATCH: Istanbul protest
Brandon Hughes, a local animal activist, led the demonstration. He said, “As someone who helps spay and neuter stray animals in Washington, D.C., I know that it is not easy work, but that it is lifesaving work. The strays of Türkiye are known and loved around the world, which is why it is so shocking and heartbreaking to see them being cruelly killed. We stand with these vulnerable animals and the compassionate people of Türkiye bringing attention to their plight. I look at sanctuaries like Sulala Animal Rescue, saving animals’ lives right now in impossible circumstances, and think that there must be another way that Türkiye can care for its stray animals instead of sentencing them to death.”
Turkish protests and animal killing photos available via We Animals Media
“It is deeply poignant that Washington, D.C. is taking part in a week of worldwide protests at Türkiye’s embassies to speak out for homeless animals. We have all been horrified to see the burning, poisoning, and crushing of dogs caused by the stray slaughter law. The vast majority of Turkish people reject the violence to animals and we are glad to show our strong support from D.C. We cannot stand by as millions of innocent dogs and cats are brutally killed. President Erdoğan is hearing the world calling for him to withdraw the stray slaughter law,” said Fleur Dawes, Director of International Partnerships at In Defense of Animals.
Millions of street dogs and cats in Türkiye are facing imminent death due to the implementation of a new law that mandates the capture and killing of stray animals. The law has already led to the deaths of thousands, with reports of animals being poisoned, bludgeoned, and buried alive. This cruel and ineffective approach does nothing to address the root causes of overpopulation and is a tragic departure from Türkiye’s long-standing culture of compassion towards street animals.
Activists in Türkiye have been exposing the killings and protesting tirelessly against the law. A vigil in Kuğulu Park, Ankara, has been ongoing for over three months. Demonstrations have been held in the U.K., Amsterdam, Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Romania, and Poland, with more planned across the U.S. today in Los Angeles and on Saturday in New York City.
Wildlife protection campaigner, writer, and broadcaster, Dominic Dyer said, “President Erdoğan has declared stray dogs enemies of the state and is now undertaking the biggest slaughter of dogs anywhere in the world. The battle to protect these innocent animals in the face of such ignorance, cruelty, and exploitation is a battle for both human and animal rights in Turkey.”
TV presenter and wildlife campaigner Chris Packham, model Heather Mills, and Downton Abbey actor Peter Egan have also spoken out against the law.
In Defense of Animals and Animal Save Movement are calling for international support to pressure the Turkish government to repeal the massacre law. The organizations are also urging the global community to boycott Turkish tourism and trade, adopt Turkish animals, and sign petitions to demand humane treatment for all animals in Türkiye. Over 100,000 people have signed an Animal Save Movement petition calling for the law to be reversed. The inboxes of President Erdoğan and his top diplomats have been flooded with almost 10,000 emails from In Defense of Animals supporters.
“Turkish strays are a part of Turkish culture and daily life”, said Nilgün Engin, Organizer of Ankara Animal Save. “We demand the authorities to reverse the new law which means a death sentence for them.”
Activists in Ankara held a vigil outside the Constitutional Court today, after the main opposition Republican People’s Party moved to repeal the law. A stay of execution was denied. The case could take a year.
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CONTACTS
Brandon Hughes brandontyhughes@gmail.com (610) 427-3034
Fleur Dawes fleur@idausa.org (415) 879 6879
MORE INFORMATION
In Defense of Animals alert: Stop Türkiye’s Gruesome Mass Killing of 4 Million Homeless Dogs & Cats
Animal Save Movement: Act Now to Save Turkey’s Dogs & Cats
UPCOMING DEMONSTRATIONS
ORGANIZATIONS
Animal Save Movement is a global network of activists that bear witness to animals at the gates of slaughterhouses. Their vision is a vegan world for the animals, the planet and health. http://animalsavemovement.org
In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 40-year history of defending animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in central California, India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org
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