Turkey’s Top Court Rejects Appeal to Annul Controversial Law on Stray Animals
Turkey’s Constitutional Court (AYM) has rejected a request to annul and suspend the enforcement of a controversial legislative amendment to the Animal Protection Law, widely referred to by critics as the “massacre law.”
The ruling concerns Law No. 7527, introduced by the ruling AKP and officially published in the Official Gazette on August 2. The legislation amends the existing Animal Protection Law and lays out new procedures for dealing with stray animals, including provisions that have drawn sharp criticism from animal rights advocates.
The main opposition party, CHP, had filed a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court seeking the annulment and suspension of 16 out of the 17 articles of the law. The Constitutional Court reviewed the application in plenary session and ultimately dismissed the request.
According to sources familiar with the proceedings, the court rejected the annulment demands for some articles unanimously, while other parts of the law were upheld by majority vote.
What Does the Law Encompass?
The new regulation authorizes the collection of stray animals—both dogs and cats—without distinction. It mandates that stray or debilitated dogs be kept in shelters until adopted. It also stipulates that municipalities may only conduct rehabilitation procedures after placing animals in shelters. Most controversially, the law introduces specific conditions under which euthanasia of animals is permitted, outlining detailed procedures and criteria.
The legislation has been widely condemned by civil society groups and animal welfare advocates, who argue that it opens the door to large-scale killings of stray animals under the guise of population control. Despite mounting public pressure and protests, the Constitutional Court’s decision now solidifies the legal standing of the law.
