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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TURKEY DOG CULLING
HEADLINE: Turkey’s proposal to kill stray dogs sparks outrage
TEASER: Move by Erdogan government to cull street animals spreads nationwide, crossing political lines
PUBLISHED AT: 6/20/24, 1:31p
BYLINE: Dorian Jones
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Istanbul
VIDEOGRAPHER: Agency, Courtesy, Berke Bas DO NOT USE NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, DLJ
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, AK Party, AFP
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT: 3:01
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTE: FOR PRODUCTION THURSDAY; DO NOT USE Berke Bas NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS))
((INTRO)) [[Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's call for the culling of street dogs is provoking outrage that analysts say is crossing political lines across the country. As Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul, the proposal is resurrecting dark memories of Turkey’s past.]]
((NARRATOR))
Protests have broken out across Turkey recently over proposed legislation to round up millions of street dogs. Under the law, the dogs would be killed after 30 days if their owners don’t turn up or new owners aren’t found.
Protester Zulal Kalkandelen explains for her, it’s a matter of acting humanely, and taking history into account.
((RADIO VERSION: She says the dogs would be rounded up into shelters that she compares to death camps. There has been a campaign to fuel hatred for stray animals, she says. Our people have been living for street dogs for centuries, and we’re now being brought to the point where these animals will be erased.))
((Zulal Kalkandelen, Protester (FEMALE IN TURKISH – VOA ORIGINAL)))
“They are planning to round them up into shelters, which we call death camps. For some time, there has been a campaign to fuel stray animal hatred. Our people, who have been living with street dogs for many years, in fact for centuries, are now being brought to the point where all these animals will be erased.”
((NARRATOR))
The proposed legislation evokes memories of a dark chapter in the city's past, when, in 1910, street dogs were rounded up and left on a nearby island to starve.
But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismisses opponents' concerns, claiming stray animals have become a menace to society, causing traffic accidents and spreading disease.
((Radio version: The president says the truth is that a very large part of society wants this issue to be resolved as soon as possible and our streets to become safe for everyone, especially our children. He is unthinkable for us to remain indifferent to this demand, this call, even this cry.”
((Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish President – MALE IN TURKSH))
((Mandatory cg. AK Party))
“The truth is that a very large part of society wants this issue to be resolved as soon as possible and our streets to become safe for everyone, especially our children. It is unthinkable for us to remain indifferent to this demand, this call, even this cry.”
((NARRATOR))
However, activists say there are more humane ways to address people's concerns over the number of street dogs.
Lawyer Elcin Cemre Sencan is one of the protest organizers.
((Radio version: She says there is a group of people who are disturbed by these stray animals or who are afraid to even touch them. But even if there are these concerns, the solution to this is not to kill the dogs. He says scientific studies have shown that the sterilization of animals, especially the sterilization of dogs, reduces not only their numbers but also attacks on people.”
((Elcin Cemre Sencan, Protest Organizer (FEMALE IN TURKISH – VOA ORIGINAL)))
“There are people who are disturbed by these stray animals, But the solution is not to put the dogs to sleep, killing them. Scientific studies have shown that the sterilization of animals, especially dogs, reduces their numbers and attacks on people.”
((NARRATOR))
Erdogan's AK Party recently suffered a big defeat in local elections. Opponents say Erdogan could be working to consolidate his religious base, by calculating opponents to his street dog legislation will come mainly from the secular opposition.
((Radio version: Protester Eyup Cicerali.))
((Radio version: He says we know our problems in the country; the world knows our problems, but they want to change the main topics to these animals. He says the dogs don't talk, they cannot say anything, we are here to be their voice.”))
((Eyup Cicerali, Protester – MALE IN ENGLISH))
“We know our problems in the country; the world knows our problems, but they want to change the main topics to these animals. They (the dogs) don't talk, they cannot say anything, we are here to be their voice.”
((NARRATOR))
A recent opinion poll suggests that less than three percent of Turks support the killing of street dogs – indicating opposition crosses political and religious lines.
Analysts warn the street dog legislation going before parliament in the coming weeks could be a risky move for Erdogan.
((Dorian Jones, VOA News, Istanbul))
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