Starving the Voiceless: Afyonkarahisar’s Ban on Feeding Stray Animals
In a deeply troubling move, the Governor’s Office of Afyonkarahisar has announced a ban on feeding stray animals across public spaces.
Feeding points in streets, schoolyards, university campuses, parks, and the gardens of public institutions are to be removed.
The decision has sparked widespread outrage among animal lovers, rights advocates, and concerned citizens.
A Cruelty Disguised as Policy
Framing starvation as “management” is not only inhumane but also dangerous.
Stray dogs and cats depend on community feeding points for survival. Removing these lifelines condemns thousands of innocent animals to hunger, suffering, and death.
Far from being a solution, this policy represents institutionalized neglect.
Why This Matters
Ethical Responsibility: As a society, we are judged by how we treat our most vulnerable members. Animals—sentient beings capable of suffering—deserve compassion, not punishment.
Public Health: Forcing animals to scavenge for food increases risks of disease transmission and conflict, undermining both human and animal welfare.
Legal & Moral Rights: International standards on animal welfare emphasize protection, not persecution. This ban moves Turkey further away from humane practices.
Starvation is Not a Solution
Stray animal populations cannot be “managed” by cruelty. Sustainable, ethical approaches exist:
Nationwide neutering and vaccination campaigns
Support for community feeding stations
Public education to foster coexistence
Stronger laws against abandonment and abuse
A Call to Action
We cannot remain silent as compassion is replaced with cruelty. Every feeding point dismantled is a lifeline cut short. Every bowl of food denied is a silent act of violence against those who cannot speak for themselves.
📢 We call on Afyonkarahisar’s Governor’s Office to reverse this decision.
📢 We call on citizens, activists, and animal welfare organisations to raise their voices.
📢 We call on policymakers to prioritise humane, science-based solutions over inhumane bans.
Animals are not pests. They are living, breathing beings who share our streets, our parks, and our lives. Starving them is not only unjust—it is unacceptable.