Renowned French actress and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot, who previously wrote a letter to Abdullah Gül regarding animals, has now written to President Erdoğan, urging him to withdraw the proposed law concerning stray dogs. Bardot called on Erdoğan not to allow Turkey to become a country known for cruelty towards these loyal animals.
Letter Details:
Bardot, who is 89 years old and the founder of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for animal rights, emphasized in her letter that Turkey should not become a country that is criticized and condemned for its cruelty towards sensitive creatures like dogs. In the letter obtained by AFP, Bardot added that until now, street cats and dogs in Turkey have lived in harmony with the public.
Previous Correspondence:
In 2012, Bardot also wrote a letter to then-President Abdullah Gül expressing her concerns about the proposal to gather animals and send them to “natural parks” as part of the Animal Protection Law Bill.
Recent Legal Developments:
The proposal to amend the Animal Protection Law, which is known as the law that could lead to the euthanasia of stray animals, was approved by the TBMM Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Affairs Committee after more than 42 hours of discussions. If approved by the TBMM General Assembly, the proposal will be presented to President Erdoğan for his signature. The controversial regulation, which would allow the killing of hundreds of thousands of stray dogs, is opposed by animal rights activists, numerous civil society organizations, and opposition parties.
Who is Brigitte Bardot?
Brigitte Bardot, born on September 28, 1934, is a former French cinema actress, model, singer, and animal rights activist. She is best known as an iconic figure of the 1950s and 1960s and a symbol of women’s independence. Bardot trained as a ballerina at the Paris Conservatory before starting her acting career in 1952. She gained international fame with the film *Et Dieu… créa la femme* (And God Created Woman) directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim.
In 1963, Bardot achieved significant success with her role in Jean-Luc Godard’s film *Le Mépris*. She was also nominated for a BAFTA award for Best Actress for her role in Louis Malle’s 1965 film *Viva Maria!* and attracted the interest of the French intellectual community. Bardot was the subject of Simone de Beauvoir’s 1959 essay “The Lolita Syndrome,” in which de Beauvoir described her as a “locomotive of women’s history” and declared her the first and most free woman in post-WWII France.
