The struggle for animal rights in Turkey has left behind the most critical two years in its history.

The struggle for animal rights in Turkey is leaving behind the most critical, most painful and darkest two years of its history.

With the recent amendments to the Animal Protection Law No. 5199, which is publicly known as the slaughter law, the principle of "neuter, vaccinate, replace", which has been applied for years, has been abandoned and the way has been opened for the isolation of animals living on the streets and the end of their lives under the name of "euthanasia".

In this period when individual efforts are insufficient; Associations, academics, lawyers and students came together and started to organize the will of "we will keep it alive" in every field. The award ceremony, organized in cooperation with Sarıyer Municipality and MEF University on October 4, World Animal Rights Day, has become the platform of the resistance accumulated in the last two years.

Lawyer Umut Yıldız, who received the "Animal Rights Defender of the Year" award, said in his speech, "While euthanasia for humans is prohibited in our country, killing animals with the approval of a veterinarian is allowed. When the phone rings, we are the people who turn to that call with the concern of 'Has something happened to a life?'. We will teach animals that they have rights, too, sooner or later."

Yasin Köse, who was selected as "Animal Friendly Volunteer of the Year", expressed his struggle with the following words:

"Perhaps this is the first time I have worn such a dress, and it would be safe to say that I wore it at the airport. I sit with them, cry with them, and laugh with them," she said.

THE QUEST FOR FREEDOM

Academician and musician Alaz Pesen, who was deemed worthy of the "Animal Friendly Artist" award, touched upon the loss of awareness created by the new law in society. Stating that collective consciousness has increased despite the pressure brought by the law, Pesen said: "It has become clear how important freedom is, not only for humans but also for animals. The most important thing in this struggle is not to lose hope. We will continue to sing our songs with resistance, without bringing tears to our eyes and affecting each other badly."

Speaking at the opening of the ceremony, officials and student representatives emphasized that the struggle for the right to life is an indivisible whole. The event ended with the determination of constitutional law professor Süheyl Batum, Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs Association President Mustafa Alphan Tığlı and all participants to increase hope and struggle against the law of massacre and rights violations.