Video via Instagram (@bakimevi07kumluca / Kumluca Municipal Animal Shelter location)
In a disturbing development that has resonated far beyond the borders of Antalya, the Antalya Bar Association sharply condemned an act of violence against lawyers conducting a public welfare inspection at the Kumluca Municipal Animal Shelter. What was meant to be a routine oversight visit to protect animal rights turned into a shocking confrontation that now raises troubling questions about transparency, public accountability, and respect for the rule of law.
Video via Instagram (@bakimevi07kumluca / Kumluca Municipal Animal Shelter location)
Inspection Gone Wrong: Violence Instead of Transparency
On 10 February 2026, three female lawyers representing the Bar’s Animal Rights Committee, were carrying out an inspection under the framework of the 5199 Animal Protection Law to assess conditions at the Kumluca Municipality Animal Shelter. Rather than being allowed to complete their legally sanctioned task, they were allegedly subjected to physical assault, intimidation, and attempts to seize their phones and block their documentation efforts by shelter staff.
The Bar’s official statement described these actions not just as an obstruction of professional duty, but as a shocking attack on public accountability and transparency cornerstones of democratic society. According to the Bar, trying to forcibly confiscate phones and prevent recording isn’t simply a procedural breach, it constitutes a criminal offence that violates trust and basic rights
A Broader Attack on Rights and Freedoms
In a statement issued after the incident, the Antalya Bar made it clear that this event goes far beyond a single workplace conflict:
The Bar defined the attack as part of a broader pattern of violence targeting lawyers, women, animals, and the public’s right to know.
It emphasized that attacks on lawyers performing official, lawful duties undermine both freedom of expression and the constitutional right to information.
The Bar also condemned the act as an assault on gender equality and the right of women to participate in public life without fear.
This stance reflects long-standing concerns from the Bar about rising incidents of violence against lawyers in Turkey, with the association frequently calling for stronger protections and legal safeguards for legal professionals
More Than Just an Incident - A Call for Systemic Change
The Bar has pledged to vigorously pursue all legal avenues against those responsible, including charges of intentional injury, harassment, threats, obstruction of duty, and illegal seizure. It has also urged the relevant municipality to initiate internal disciplinary action against involved staff.
But beyond legal action, the Bar’s response signals a broader call for:
Greater transparency in animal welfare institutions,
Respect for independent oversight, and
Public awareness of how and why such inspections should be protected, not attacked.
At its core, this is not just about one inspection. It is about whether lawful scrutiny of public animal facilities is supported or blocked and what that means for animals, professionals, and the rule of law.