A Deadly Dispute Over Land and Dogs: When Conflict Turns Lethal in Turkey
On 29 September 2025, the news broke from Havsa (in Edirne Province, Turkey): a dispute over land and dogs ended in tragedy. According to the local report, a man named Gürkan Solmaz was fatally shot during a confrontation in Hasköy village. The altercation was reportedly between Solmaz and another individual, who had longstanding tensions. The fight escalated over disagreements concerning land use and dogs, a seemingly local dispute that ended in lethal violence.
What adds a haunting detail is that the dogs involved did not leave the scene: the animals stayed near the body.
A Microcosm of a Larger Problem
Although at first glance this is a story of a land dispute gone wrong, the inclusion of animals and especially dogs exposes a fault line where animal-related conflicts can become extremely dangerous.
This case is not unique. Across Turkey, there have been numerous confrontations and violent episodes tied to animals feeding strays, disputes over keeping or excluding animals, or clashes over animal behaviour (noise, damage, or perceived nuisance). Many of these start small but can spiral when emotions, territorialism, or lack of mediation intervene.
A Call for Prevention
To protect both people and animals, we must disarm disputes, figuratively and literally through stronger institutions, better legal clarity, community investment, and a commitment to peaceful resolution. The goal must be not just justice after the fact, but safe channels before violence erupts.