Khaberni - Turkey is engulfed in a heated debate following the enactment of legislation on "merciful killing" for stray dogs, amid fears of repeating a historical scenario that some have linked to a devastating earthquake.
A Turkish judicial decision that permits resorting to "merciful killing" for stray dogs has caused a sharp division, with opponents believing that this legislation could have serious spiritual and natural consequences, recalling an event from the early 20th century.
Last year, the Turkish parliament passed a comprehensive law to regulate the proliferation of stray dogs, allowing for the elimination of dogs deemed harmful or posing a threat to residents, alongside setting controls to reduce their breeding and house them in closed sanctuaries following an increase in related accidents and deaths.
While the majority of the members of the Constitutional Court supported this legislation (13 out of 15 members), two members objected, considering that the law focuses only on human interests, without considering the animals' right to life.
Judge Kenan Yashar in his dissent referred to historical experiences, notably the incident of transferring about 80,000 stray dogs to "Severi" Island in 1910 and leaving them there until their death, an event that the locals linked with the devastating Marmara Sea earthquake in 1912, considering what happened as "the cry of the dogs." Yashar also referenced narratives from Turkish and Islamic traditions about mercy towards animals and the punishment for mistreating them.
Today, Turkey is experiencing a large proliferation of stray dogs in cities, some of which are causing serious incidents, either through direct attacks or through escape situations that end in deadly traffic collisions.
Supporters of the legislation believe that "merciful killing" is exclusively carried out under veterinary supervision and by methods that ensure the minimum possible amount of pain, and it is resorted to only in cases of utmost necessity when the animal poses a direct threat and cannot be controlled.
