Turkey drafts new law to jail anyone convicted of animal abuse

After increasing reports of animal cruelty, the country is looking to adopt harsher punishments

Anyone who inflicts cruelty on animals could find they are the one put behind bars (REUTERS)

All those who are found guilty of animal abuse in Turkey will face jail, a new draft law has proposed.

After increasing reports of animal cruelty, proposals have been tabled to guarantee jail time for anyone who harms animals.

Those found guilty of animal abuse could be jailed for up to four a half years and those who kill endangered animals could face up to seven years behind bars.

Those who have forced animals to fight will be given between two months and two years in jail and the severity of all punishments depends on whether the crime is a first time offence or a reoccurrence.

Gülay Yedekçi the deputy of the opposition Republican People’s Party, requested that parliament put forward this bill to protect animals and said that current punishments are too lenient.

“The provisions of the present law are not sufficient. The legal rights of all living creatures must be recognised. With this law proposal we want animal rights to be secured. The right to life for animals also needs to be defined legally,” Ms Yedekçi said, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

She also called on parliament to change the fact that animals are considered to be people’s “property”.

The draft, which is formed of 27 articles, has been sent to all the necessary ministry departments by the Justice Ministry. They have 30 days to express their opinions.