Ankara, Turkey – The ⁣Democracy and Equality Party (Dem ⁣Party) has filed ‌a criminal complaint against Professor Dr. Bengi Başer following a social media post deemed inflammatory and potentially inciting hatred. The complaint, filed⁤ with the ​Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, ⁢centers around a post made by Başer on the platform X (formerly Twitter) in response to a directive issued by Governor Davut Gül.

Governor⁢ Gül had instructed​ authorities to urgently address the presence of stray animals, ⁢citing concerns over public safety. ​ Başer responded with an ⁤image captioned, “Valley of the Herds,” and the⁤ statement:‍ “If you spend the energy you spend ​to destroy the street animals to improve these human sub-species!”

The Dem Party alleges that Başer’s post‍ collectively targeted the Kurdish people, constituting an⁢ insult based on ethnic identity⁢ and a direct threat ‌to‌ social peace. Co-Chairpersons Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan​ submitted ⁤the‍ complaint on behalf of the‍ party.

The complaint ​specifically cites concerns ‍that Başer’s language violates ‌Articles 10 and 66 of the Turkish Constitution, which guarantee equality ⁤and dignity for‌ all citizens. It argues that the post damages social peace and potentially undermines ongoing peace‍ efforts.

According to‌ the complaint, Başer’s statement ‍equates certain groups of people to “sub-species,” associating ​them ⁢with criminality and​ inciting hostility. The Dem Party is seeking⁤ an indictment against başer on⁣ charges of ‍”public incitement or insults to ⁣hatred and hostility,” “incitement to commit crime,” and “hate ‌and discrimination.”

“Articles 10 and 66 ⁢of ⁤the⁣ Constitution of the ​Republic of Turkey ‌are protected in accordance with international conventions and the right of citizens to live in equality and honor. However, ‌as the suspect violates the constitutional guarantees of the suspect, he damages the social⁣ peace⁣ and peace process with the ecyter ⁤and crime identifying the social peace and peace process. ⁤It is indeed a danger to⁢ public ​order.” – Excerpt from the Dem Party’s criminal complaint.

The case highlights the increasing scrutiny of‌ social media‍ posts ⁢in Turkey, especially those perceived as ‌divisive or ‌inflammatory. The outcome of the examination could set a precedent for future cases involving online speech and its potential impact on social harmony.

Background and Trends in ⁢Turkey’s Animal Welfare Debate

The issue ⁣of stray animals in ‍Turkey is ⁣a long-standing one, with varying approaches to ⁣management and welfare. Recent directives like Governor Gül’s reflect ​a growing concern among some officials regarding⁣ public safety. Though,‌ these measures frequently enough ⁤spark controversy among animal rights activists ‌and those advocating for more humane solutions, such as Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. The debate is often