While violence against stray animals cannot be prevented lately, a new incident is added every day. Finally, it was revealed that nine cats were killed in Okmeydanı Anatolian Park, located in the Çağlayan neighborhood of Kağıthane district of Istanbul. Following the incident, animal rights activists filed a criminal complaint at the Istanbul Courthouse. In the statement made by Okmeydanı Life Defenders, it was requested that the causes of death of the cats be revealed, those responsible be found and prosecuted, and the park be made safe. Additionally, volunteers started keeping watch for the animals living in the park.
Life defenders, who made a press statement in front of Çağlayan Courthouse before the criminal complaint, emphasized that what happened was not an isolated incident. In the statement, it was stated that violence against animals has become widespread in an environment of impunity and uncontrol, and it was said, "If we organize and fight together for the right to life, we can stop these massacres."
'THE MURDERERS MUST BE FOUND ASAP'
Advocates demanded that parks and gardens, especially Anatolian Park, be adequately illuminated, inspected and turned into safe areas. The statement also called for the implementation of legal regulations that guarantee the right to life of animals. In the press release, "Finding and prosecuting the murderers of animals as soon as possible" was listed among the main demands, and it was stated that the fight will continue until those responsible are found.
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE AFRAID TO GO INTO THE PARK AT NIGHT
Cumhuriyet spoke with residents of the neighborhood who kept watch for the animals living in the park. Melike Albaş said that what happened posed a serious problem not only for the safety of the animals, but also for the safety of the people living in the neighborhood. Albaş stated that no sanctions had been imposed on incidents that harmed animals before and warned that impunity could encourage new attacks. Albaş said, "If you do not impose a sanction, if there is no punishment, the crime rate will increase even more," adding that violence against animals can be a harbinger of greater acts of violence. Albaş called for effective sanctions, saying, "Whoever does this today may do something else tomorrow, even bigger things." Albaş also reminded that from the first moment the Law on Amendments to the Animal Protection Law No. 7527, commonly known as the Slaughter Law, was adopted, they warned that "Today it is dogs, tomorrow it is cats" and that they are afraid that it will be the children's turn.
'WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NINE LIVES'
Albaş also pointed out that animals are excluded from urban life and said, "We are talking about nine living creatures. Today they are dogs, tomorrow they are cats, tomorrow they are birds." Reacting to the normalization of violence against animals, Albaş stated that the problem is not only a legal but also a social issue. Leyla İş, one of the residents of the neighborhood, said that they take care of the cats living in the park together with volunteers. Stating that they collected the dead bodies of the cats with their own hands, İş said that the park was not safe, especially at night. Business called for increased enforcement of alcohol use in parks and for security guards or rangers to patrol at night. Stating that he was afraid to go through the park at night, İş expressed his security concerns by saying, "A person who harms animals will do it to me too."
'HE IS STILL TRAVELING AMONG US'
Stating that the anxiety continues in the neighborhood after what happened, İş stated that the suspect or suspects need to be found and said, "He is still walking among us." Animal rights advocates and neighborhood residents demanded that the death of the nine cats be investigated in all aspects, that those responsible be identified and brought to justice, and that security measures in the park be increased to prevent similar incidents.
