[Speaker 15]

Save, save the Turkish strays!

 

[Speaker 14]

We’re very upset. We’ve seen videos of these animals in mass graves, where they’ve been bludgeoned to death. And we are very deeply disturbed.

 

[Speaker 13]

Do not remain silent in the face of injustice, of an intended genocide. The silence means death for millions of animals.

 

[Speaker 12]

This is about a president who is tired and old, trying to hold on to power. Who is demonizing dogs for political purposes. The biggest mass slaughter of dogs and cats seen anywhere in modern recorded history.

 

[Speaker 1]

But how do we stop it? I’m Jane Velez Mitchell with Unchained TV. Welcome to this global emergency town hall to save Turkey’s dogs from an ongoing massacre.

 

Millions of dogs and cats dead and or threatened as we speak. We have a huge group of animal organizations and their representatives here. We have someone live in Turkey, several in fact, as well as live in London.

 

We are in Los Angeles. Let’s go straight out to Turkey on the ground. Siyami Tekin and his wife Emil, animal rescuers who are taking risks to save animals.

 

Please tell us, sir, what is the situation on the ground in Turkey right now?

 

[Speaker 7]

It’s just horrible, my friend. Thank you for being here with us. Day by day, it’s getting worse.

 

These people are obsessed with killing every living being. If you’re an opponent, if you’re thinking the vice versa, they also want to erase you from the earth too. They don’t even want you to breathe.

 

Not only dogs or cats, any living being, you know. I don’t know who they want to please. I don’t know what their aim is.

 

For example, I have 267 dogs and cats in my home. I have a large property for them. They’re messing with us all the time.

 

They can’t do anything because I have people, friends, in this so-called government. It’s not a government. It’s like a cult.

 

So whenever they mess with me, somehow I’m able to stop them. But until what point, I don’t really know. I’m just 60 years old.

 

How much will I be able to defend? I don’t really know. But the things are getting worse.

 

Every goddamn day, they are getting worse, my friend.

 

[Speaker 1]

Unbelievable. So now we have the problem. What is the solution?

 

I want to go to Fleur Dawes with InDefensive Animals. You’ve done so much to help us organize this global town hall. What is the solution?

 

There have been protests, which we’ll show in a moment. It seems like it doesn’t matter what anybody, celebrities or government officials say, as somebody is just saying now, shame on Turkey. What could possibly be done?

 

[Speaker 3]

Yeah, thank you so much, Jane, for what you’re doing. I want to say that Unchained TV has been with this campaign from the very start. As soon as we started getting reports from Turkish rescuers and Turkish advocates on the ground, Unchained TV was there with us.

 

And we organized a global protest. We held them in London. We held them in Los Angeles, San Francisco, all over the place.

 

And, of course, these were in solidarity with the Turkish rescuers, the Turkish advocates on the ground who were doing an incredible job. I mean, they turned out in unbelievable numbers. You can see here.

 

And these people are risking their safety. As Siami just explains to us, rescuers are really putting their safety and their lives on the line. So I think we really want to uplift those brave people in Turkey who are continuing to save animals in defiance of this horrendous law.

 

It was passed a year ago and it basically is called the Turkish massacre law because it will massacre four million cats and dogs who have up until now been beloved. So what we’ve been doing is organizing, bringing together different groups from around the world and seeing what we can do to support activists and rescuers on the ground because they need us. They need our global voices.

 

[Speaker 1]

Let’s go to the woman who helped organize that protest. Oh, I have to actually go to Jane Elizabeth because I think she has one of the dogs rescued from Turkey. I’m going to unmute you right now, my dear.

 

Let’s put a face to this tragedy. Tell us about this dog you rescued.

 

[Speaker 10]

This is Jimmy. And thanks to Amal and Siami, he is safe with us. He’s been with us.

 

This is his forever home. He is amazing. And Amal and Siami, I will tell you right now, they have been working with various animal rescue groups within the U.S. specifically Retrieve the Golden of the Midwest and Roberts Retreat, both of whom I have worked with and volunteered with and been doing adoptions and fostering. And they’re both incredible groups. And thanks to people like Amal and Siami in Turkey, they are doing everything they can to rescue these dogs, to get them spayed, neutered, vaccinated, and get them to the U.S. They can find their forever homes. And what I want to share, Jane, and I think it’s important, is hope because it is so easy to get, you know, into this despair, right?

 

And there is a point to that. There is hope in these people on this meeting today who are doing everything they can to make a difference. And these people need your help.

 

Everybody here, we all need to work together to continue to push forward for the rights of these animals, regardless of the political climate.

 

[Speaker 1]

Yes. And I’m going to put up the URL you could go to everybody watching IDAUSA.org forward slash save Turkish strays. And we’re also putting this up on social media.

 

And the first thing you can do if you’re disgusted by this is just go to IDAUSA.org forward slash save Turkish strays and sign the petition. That’s super important. Now, I do want to go to the woman who organized the London protest.

 

Where are you? Okay. We’re going to come.

 

There you go. I apologize. Melda.

 

Melda, tell us about the London protest.

 

[Speaker 2]

Hi, Jane. Thanks for having me. I’d like to start with saying I wasn’t the only one.

 

I had Fleur by my side. We’ve organized over around four protests in London to counter this law. Unfortunately, the law has passed.

 

We have been successful in rejecting the euthanasia clause, which we were very happy about. However, it is important to highlight that there are over 4 million stray animals in Turkey and the shelter capacities is around 100,000. So this is a massive discrepancy in how this government will be dealing with this.

 

We don’t know what’s going to happen to these animals. We’d like to generate more global outrage to save as many animals as we can. Unfortunately, as Siami has mentioned, it is so hard up in Turkey.

 

Even speaking now, I am afraid. I am not a British citizen. I am afraid of getting arrested for freedom of speech.

 

So this is another angle to this problem, highlighting why there isn’t much interest in Turkey because people are scared. This is why we need global support and global media to pick up on this issue.

 

[Speaker 1]

We are going to now interview somebody who is scared for their life. We do not want to identify them. So I’m going to put up a banner that will prevent their identification.

 

But introduce them to the audience. You are not being seen. So you can speak, my dear.

 

You know who you are. Please tell us your story and speak up. Thank you.

 

[Speaker 11]

Hi, Jane. Thank you for having me. In Turkey right now, every dog is getting killed.

 

And for no reason, they are saying this dog is hurting the kids, which is not even true. And I want to tell that you cannot even trust right now the veterinarian here. Before they graduated from the college, they started working as a veterinarian here.

 

And one of them took my dog and, unfortunately, killed my dog and not even gave me the body. I asked to get the body back at least. And, unfortunately, he rejected that.

 

And I applied everywhere for my dog to get justice for my dog. And my case is still in the court. No one is doing anything.

 

They are taking everything super slow because they don’t care about the animal life at all. If it was the kids or any human being, yes, it’s going to solve more faster. But right now, I want justice for my dog.

 

And this guy also killed so many animals. Not only my dog and all this dog has the owner. They trust this guy.

 

They give their loving one. They give their animal. And this guy just taking this animal and saying, I’m going to treat this animal and never giving back.

 

[Speaker 1]

We are looking at an image of your beautiful dog taken from you, Venus. May you rest in peace, Venus. I am so sorry that you are going through this hell.

 

What is your message to the world? Again, you are anonymous speaking live from Turkey.

 

[Speaker 11]

Please share as much as you can. And these poor animals need you guys. And you can be their voice.

 

And please be loud because they need to hear from the government. They need to hear for who killing them. And we need to be with them.

 

Please, if you can rescue any animal, we will help you as much as we can. But rescue or please make them hurt.

 

[Speaker 1]

Well, I just want you to know our hearts go out to you. I hear your pain. I am going to remove you from here to protect your identity.

 

So let us say goodbye. But thank you. Stay strong.

 

Know that you did everything to save your precious animal, Venus. And you have all of our condolences. We will fight in the name of Venus to end this nightmare.

 

Please know that.

 

[Speaker 11]

Thank you so much for being here with us and being with these animals. Thank you so much, Jane.

 

[Speaker 1]

Stay strong, my dear, with love. Oh, my gosh. Honestly, I have to say just on a personal note, I am so overwhelmed and just uploading these videos of these animals.

 

I want to go out to Nina Jackal. Nina with Lady Freethinker. You are Lady Freethinker.

 

There’s been these huge protests. There’s been letter-writing campaigns. Is there anything we can do?

 

I’m thinking in terms of a boycott would be possibly, you know, follow the money.

 

[Speaker 5]

Yeah. First of all, Venus’ story just breaks my heart. And just watching the carnage in those videos that you’ve shown, Jane, it demonstrates clearly how much we must speak out and must keep supporting these local rescuers.

 

And it’s heartening to see so many brave and dedicated local activists in Turkey who are risking their own safety to help these dogs. For those of us across the globe, we must get the message out. We must support their efforts as best we can.

 

And we absolutely cannot give up. I know that it does look bleak. I know that there were court decisions that nobody wanted to see.

 

But at the same time, the more that we stick together and keep pushing to end this, the better chance that we have of saving these dogs. Lady Freethinker has sponsored some of the care and rescue that some of these local rescuers are providing. And I’m so happy that we could do that.

 

But, obviously, the problem is so tremendous that it’s going to take a lot more than just rescue. I think we need to make clear that the rest of the world is watching and that Turkey looks terrible in the eyes of animal lovers everywhere. And, you know, it puts a stain on their nation.

 

And we need to make clear that we are watching. And boycotting is one possibility. You know, people used to love to visit Turkey because there were strays running around.

 

And, you know, it was part of the scenery and part of, you know, why it was so lovely to be there. And now knowing that those dogs are being systematically rounded up and killed makes it a much less desirable place to visit in the first place. So, yeah, I think we need to keep reaching out to ambassadors, reaching out to the government officials within Turkey, and, of course, supporting the local citizens there to, you know, to keep getting the message out until this finally stops.

 

[Speaker 1]

Everybody’s been so patient. We are lucky to have so many people, considering that we’re live in Turkey and in London. But I do want to go to Lori Calief, who is the SPCA’s international executive.

 

SPCA is such an important organization, powerful. The world knows the acronym. What can be done?

 

[Speaker 4]

Yeah, thank you. And I just want to thank everybody for being here and being a voice for the animals. And I think that this is the key messaging, is that not every single person or organization can do it themselves.

 

And to be able to be in a collaboration, to do more work together, I think, is the key to hopefully making a change. And I know that we’re seeing these images every single day. My heart breaks.

 

We work with partnerships all over the globe. We’ve put a lot of efforts and time into working with our partners in Turkey right now. Just to piggyback off what a couple of other rescuers were saying, some of them were just afraid to be on today because they’re afraid of their own safety.

 

So I want to reiterate that these rescuers are risking their own lives to saving animals. And I think what we’re looking at right now, and, you know, we’ve dealt with this in many other countries, is we’re looking at there is a problem. There’s an overpopulation, but there is a solution.

 

So how do we mix our solutions with the government solution? This is not, this is not going to work. A call is not going to work.

 

It’s been proven time and time again, that this is not effective to controlling the population. A humane approach would be to trap, neuter, vaccinate, and release. This takes time.

 

And this takes a lot of people coming together to make this happen. So I think, you know, speaking with everybody, especially on this call and our partners, we’ve tried that approach with the government. They’re not willing to listen.

 

How do we take a stand to make them listen? And how do we make Turkey have that sensitivity back again? How do we make them into that model country where animals have been integrated for years and years and years into everyday life society?

 

So we would love to look at this as taking an approach to not just an animal welfare approach, because we also realize that not everybody is going to love animals and want to find a solution that helps the animals. We want to find a solution that’s going to help the communities and the public health as well. So I think by collaboration, trap, neuter, vaccinate, release, obviously, you know, building infrastructures that are safe and humane for dogs to go to is something that we’ve put a lot of effort and funding into.

 

We’ve also helped, of course, with sending animals abroad. We’re primarily in the United States, but we work also in Canada and we have partnerships in Western Europe as well. But we’re really looking at, you know, what is the bigger scope here?

 

Not just a band-aid effect. And really that is changing this law. And I think a lot of more international pressure is needed.

 

[Speaker 1]

Let’s change the law, but let’s take a look at this extraordinary London protest that you organized, Melda, and what they had to say. And then we’re going to talk to some of our other guests on the other side.

 

[Speaker 13]

Do not be afraid to speak up. Even a single thing you say or a single action you take can make a huge difference. Do not remain silent in the face of injustice, of an intended genocide.

 

The silence means death for millions of animals.

 

[Speaker 12]

You know, in Turkey today, we are seeing tens of thousands of people take to the streets across Izmir, Ankara, Istanbul, in cities across that great nation, in some of the biggest animal rights protests the world has ever seen. And I know the Turkish people, the vast majority of Turkish people, are like you. They love animals and they care for animals and they want to stop this barbaric, crazy, cruel law.

 

Wouldn’t you agree? And we should never forget that this isn’t about animals. This is about politics.

 

This is about division. This is about a president who is tired and old, trying to hold on to power, who is demonizing dogs for political purposes. Wouldn’t you agree?

 

The biggest mass slaughter of dogs and cats seen anywhere in modern recorded history. Wouldn’t you agree?

 

[Speaker 1]

That is a stunning indictment. I want to go to Nilgün Engin, and I’m going to unmute you, my dear. Please unmute yourself so we can talk to you.

 

You are in Turkey. I don’t want to ask you any questions that are going to get you in trouble. We’ve just heard that people are scared for their lives, even somebody who’s in London.

 

But what is the political situation? What are the benefits politically to killing all these animals? I know that there’s this word beautification, which is so sad.

 

Killing is not beautification. Why? Why is this happening, do you think, deep down?

 

[Speaker 8]

It all started with the rumors and the social media, how can I say, campaigns of a minority telling that dogs are killing children, dogs are hurting children. And it was all, it was a plan. I believe it was a plan to divide people.

 

Animal lovers and the people who want to protect their children. So we were aware that this law was coming, and as NGOs, as animal rights NGOs, we did our best to defend the animals. Then the law passed, and we did our best to stop it through Supreme Court.

 

We put forward all the evidences we collected. We said, here is the report. There are not enough shelters for you to put all the, contain all the confines, sorry, all the dogs on the streets.

 

But they did it anyhow. I believe it was a plan to divide people. And telling that, dividing people, it is not like 50-50.

 

They are part of our world. In Turkey, people live together with this race. And we love them.

 

They still love them, and when we are walking along the street now, when we do not see our neighbor dog anymore, we are in tears every day. Because they used to sit there every day, saying hello to us. Now they are taken.

 

There are none on the streets now, and we know where they are. We know that they are either tortured or killed. Because that’s the way we have been hearing all the incidents.

 

Several municipalities, there are footage showing how they tortured the animals, how they killed them. And I don’t know. At this point, personally, I feel, I have no clue what to do.

 

We are saving individuals, but we have to save them all. But we failed them. I’m desperate about this, and I’m so sorry.

 

[Speaker 1]

Well, you’re doing everything you can. You should not feel bad about your efforts. You’re one of the heroes.

 

Just appearing and talking is a heroic act. Look, there’s a live dog mixed in with all the dead dogs. It’s just so awful.

 

And I want to make the point that was made at the London protest, that there’s nothing wrong with the Turkish people. The Turkish people love animals. And personally, when I look at this, what I see is cultural colonialism.

 

Because in the United States, we’re killing a lot of animals, but it’s all happening behind closed doors. So that people can run around in their yoga outfits, talking about how peaceful they are, while they are cosigning the killing of animals with their dollars. So I think in their heads, they think modernization.

 

They want to be modern, like the West, like America. But what they don’t realize is the way they’re doing it is medieval, and it’s actually backfiring and not making them look modern. And I’d like everybody shaking their heads.

 

Can you weigh in on that a little bit, Lady Freethinker, in terms of what their thoughts might be, and how we can appeal to their sense of wanting to be part of the modern world? This isn’t the way to do it. Spay and neuter, high-tech solutions is the way to do it.

 

[Speaker 5]

Exactly. And yes, they might be more developed countries where dogs aren’t roaming the streets. That this solution might help them achieve that.

 

But what is happening behind the scenes here in the U.S., and here in Los Angeles especially, is it’s heartbreaking. The number of dogs being killed is just unfathomable. And we need, both here and in Turkey, better solutions that include proper education, spay and neuter, and humane solutions that don’t involve the mass killing of any animals.

 

[Speaker 1]

And what’s really sad is that it appears to be spreading. And I just want to say, it gives me absolutely no pleasure to point out that, along with all the problems in Turkey, now we have a massacre planned in Morocco, because they’re trying to clean up and beautify their city ahead of the 2030 World Cup. And we also have a similar genocide of animals developing in India, in Delhi, and Rajasthan.

 

So I want to go to a hero who tried to disrupt the Morocco World Cup event in Philadelphia to make a point about the killing of dogs in Morocco. So there were two groups of people One of them is Johnny Mara. Thank you for being here.

 

You risked arrest. I don’t know if you were actually arrested. What was your point and what happened to you?

 

[Speaker 9]

Yeah, that was another amazing action by PETA. Same concept, you know, Morocco has this project or this plan to beautify their city by 2030 for the FIFA World Cup. And so it’s a story I’ve been following for a while.

 

So when PETA approached me and asked me if I wanted to partake in the event, I was more than thrilled to be able to, you know, step onto their platform and tell the world what’s really going on. I had already done an event for the bullfighting in Colombia and Mexico. And so it was a no brainer.

 

Came out to Philadelphia. That was my friend Scotty who got on the field and he’s half my age. And so he got out there in the field and then he was tackled.

 

I got halfway on the field and then I was tackled. But the point was to let people know or to let the government of Morocco know that we’re watching, that the world is watching, that we’re not going to tolerate the straight killings of these dogs, these innocent dogs. And, you know, it was an absolute pleasure to be able to put myself on the line.

 

And yes, I was arrested. I was incarcerated. And we were thrown in city jail for three days and two nights.

 

I think they wanted to make an example of us considering that this was in Philadelphia. I’m in Arizona. Scotty’s in Michigan.

 

And so I don’t think that they liked that we were in their town, you know, jumping into their Eagles football stadium field to tell the world about what’s going on. But it was a no brainer, like I said.

 

[Speaker 1]

I want to bring in, first of all, heroic work. I applaud you. I don’t have the guts to do something like that.

 

So I applaud anybody who has the guts to put their freedom on the line for this. We’re going to go back to some of the folks waiting in Turkey, but we do have a new guest joining us from Turkey, Bij Orer, with Four-Legged City Association in Turkey. You’ve been listening, Bij.

 

Tell us what your thoughts are about, you know, how we can get through to these governments, the Turkish government, now the Moroccan government, and then we have to include India as well. Is there a solution? When you have Ricky Gervais, who’s a famous guy, and you have all these big media showing up for London protests, and then we went to the Turkish consulate in LA, nothing.

 

Nothing seems to get to them. What could have worked, Bij?

 

[Speaker 6]

I think there’s always a solution. And I think the fact that we are here together, all of us, trying to defend the rights of animals, this is important, and this will change the world, and this will change how the politicians act and behave. There is a lot we can do.

 

So we are, as the Four-Legged City, which is a grassroots organization dedicated to advocating for and enhancing animal rights in Turkey, we believe that we really need to bring our forces and our passion to ensure the rights of animals for a well-deserved life. And, I mean, there are, of course, different actions that can be done at the governmental level, at the civil society level, and this needs to be really immediate. I mean, we have been working in this field since 2013, and we are also trying to respond to the consequences of the climate crisis.

 

So, I mean, there is really a lot that needs to be done. But we are really hopeful that if we are able to really bring our forces together from different parts of the world and really create, you know, create, I mean, bring our voices together, you know, act immediately, this hopefully will give us a secure space for animals to continue their lives.

 

[Speaker 1]

I love your optimism, but we’re looking now at a very large protest. And as I was listening to the video, they said that all these major news organizations were there and celebrities have, like I said, Ricky Gervais and others have spoken out about it, and it doesn’t seem, I mean, there’s some kind of missing piece to the puzzle that let’s hope that by putting our heads together we can get through to them and what’s in their self-interest. My personal feeling as an American, I’ve always wanted to go to Turkey.

 

I have read about Turkey’s history. I’ve envisioned it. Do I want to go now?

 

Hell to the no. I am not going to Turkey. So I think as this spreads, there’s a lot of Americans and others from around the world, and I assume, and let’s go back to somebody who’s live in Turkey, that tourism is a big deal and that if we make it clear that it’s going to hurt their tourism and get these tourist tours and these companies that do tours of Turkey, I’ve looked at them because I’ve always wanted to go to Turkey.

 

Maybe that’s the way. I mean, any thoughts on that as you are in Turkey, Siami?

 

[Speaker 7]

Yeah. I don’t think this will make any difference for these suckers because I know their minds. I know their thoughts.

 

I was a good businessman. I was pretty wealthy. I’m spending all my fortune for these animals now.

 

They say they will find new tourists from Arabic land, from Afghanistan, from other places. They are very keen on this. They don’t give a damn.

 

They like the Qatari people now. They are selling our land to these Arabs, and we have more than 16 million Syrian killers in Turkey and 5 or 6 million Afghan young guys in Turkey. They are not older than 25.

 

They are trying to change the outfit of Turkey in 10 or 20 years. Hopefully, I won’t be alive at the time. We will see another different land, another different culture.

 

We are losing the country without fighting. So I’m not very hopeful. As I just said, I can’t sleep comfortably.

 

So this is why I’m doing this, trying to save as much as I can because I have the opportunity to do that. I don’t want to spend the money on my own welfare, on my own cheer. I just want to rescue as many animals as I can because I love them.

 

It’s hurting my conscience. This is unfair.

 

[Speaker 1]

Your wife wants to say something.

 

[Speaker 7]

Yes, I will translate what she says. These guys, they’ve been running the country for 25 years, and at least for the last 20 years, this Bay Trap nature release thing, it is written on the book, but it’s not applied. Even by the minority city municipalities, it’s not working.

 

Everybody in Turkey, in the ruling class, they are very keen on killing and wiping out. I don’t think this will be fixed. I am very hopeless about this.

 

The other thing is just an optimist dream.

 

[Speaker 1]

I’m not hoping that. Let me say this. We’ve heard from both sides.

 

We’ve heard from Bij, who’s an optimist. We’ve heard from you. You’re a pessimist.

 

You’re nodding your head, Melda. Where’s the reality?

 

[Speaker 2]

To be honest with you, I’m some days very optimistic, some days very pessimistic. I’m very optimistic of the youth in Turkey. There’s loads of animal lovers in Turkey.

 

Veganism is growing. I’d like to highlight the people, the common people, they are massive animal lovers. In Turkey, wherever you go, you’ll see bowls of water and food for stray cats and dogs.

 

As Siam highlighted, this is politics. This is political. In the 2004 animal rights law, TNR is mentioned, but it hasn’t been enforced.

 

It comes down to the ruling party, the authorities, not doing their jobs properly. That is Erdogan’s ruling party. Now with the law, the stray animals, mostly dogs, are blamed.

 

Here’s the interesting part. If you look up Turkey’s Instagram page, they advertise the cats of Istanbul to draw tourists in. Really, the burden is on mostly the dogs.

 

The dogs have been demonised. There are some Islamic arguments as well for this, which have been, as Negin mentioned, trending on Twitter and social media pages by government-supporting troll accounts. However, I am hopeful because we have been able to protest and we have organised Europe to protest.

 

It empowered Istanbul last year to protest. There was a massive protest in Istanbul. Thousands have attended.

 

After seeing immigrants in Turkey, I believe this has empowered Turkish people. Because of the protest, the euthanasia clause was removed. I see this as an animal rights researcher.

 

I see this as a positive. However, we have been in these shelters. These shelters are in horrific conditions.

 

Overcrowded, unsanitised, as you can see in the pictures and videos right now. We know these shelters are death camps. We would like to urge the local authorities and all the global animal charities and Turkish charities to start neutering and spaying these stray animals and initiate a culture of adoption.

 

We also have to stop puppy mills in Turkey. It is fashionable right now in Turkey to adopt pretty-looking poodles and terriers. However, this is ridiculous when there are so many dogs suffering, so many cats and dogs suffering on the streets.

 

We have to initiate educational campaigns. This has to start with the people and the local authorities. We have seen this in Romania.

 

We have seen this in 2013 in Romania. Killing hasn’t worked. We’ve seen this in Eastern Europe.

 

Now, I’m not really surprised with Morocco and India. Sadly, we will see it in other developing countries as well. However, I am hopeful because I have seen people rescuing individuals.

 

It might be one life that we have saved, but for that animal, it is that animal’s entire life. I have stray animals I have adopted in Turkey, looked after by my amazing parents. If you are watching, thank you for looking after my animals.

 

This is why I’m hopeful, because I know people who rescue in Turkey.

 

[Speaker 1]

What about Turkish celebrities? A lot of times, Fleur, when we want to get something done, and Jane Elizabeth, you can jump in too. You’re both here in California, and Hollywood is obviously a big thing.

 

When a celebrity comes out and says something all of a sudden, now, I know Ricky Gervais has spoken out, but what about Turkish celebrities? Is there any attempt to, can we get them involved? Who wants to take that, Jane Elizabeth?

 

[Speaker 3]

I will take that one. I think Jane’s very good on the Turkish rescue. She’s been amazing, as you can see.

 

We’ve been reaching out a lot to lots of different celebrities, and we’re obviously delighted to get major names like Ricky Gervais, I think Chris Packham, a bunch of different celebrities who have been putting themselves out to help us. Turkish celebrities, there have been a few on the ground at the beginning. I think particularly, there was a massive, massive protest in Istanbul, and there were a few who actually, I believe, performed at the demonstration.

 

But since then, since the law passed, it’s been very, very difficult to get Turkish celebrities involved. I think the feeling is very real that we are hearing from the people who we have appearing on here from Turkey. They are scared.

 

They are scared of what the government can do to them. They are not free to voice their opinions, even if your voice is calling for something as wonderful as promoting compassion and stopping killing. Unfortunately, I think it really speaks to a greater message that’s going on here.

 

There’s a subliminal message being given from the government to the people, and it’s saying, we can snuff you out like this. You’re showing children that animals are garbage. You’re showing, I can do whatever you want.

 

Might is right. It’s telling people that if you’re an inconvenience to us, we are going to quash you. And that’s not just happening in Turkey.

 

It’s happening in Morocco. It’s actually a global day of action as well for the Moroccan dogs. And, yeah, we’re seeing in Delhi is even promoting dog killing, or it’s going to they say that they’re going to round up one million dogs, but they don’t have the space.

 

It’s the same story over and over again. And these governments, I think they want to be seen to be doing something. They’re also providing jobs for some people who are very violent people.

 

I mean, these are people who what kind of person is willing to kill a dog? And we’re seeing the most horrific kinds of killing. This is not kind of leading them off kindly into the back of a shelter and giving them a lethal injection.

 

This is bludgeoning them with poles, like dragging them by the neck. We’re seeing poisonings. We’re seeing them like suffocated in bin bags.

 

We’re seeing them put in the back of trash carts buried alive. It’s unbelievable what’s happening. So, yeah, please, I think one of the best possible things we can do, obviously, if you are watching from anywhere, you can go to sign these petitions that we have.

 

There’s two on screen there from the Save Movement. We’ve also got IDAUSA.org slash Morocco, IDAUSA.org slash Save Turkey Strays, and building this network. What we really want to see is we’re building a network in country to show the government that we are strong and we are resilient.

 

And no matter what you’re doing, no matter what kind of violence you’re perpetuating, we are going to stand in compassion. And, you know, Supporters Money, In Defence of Animals is sending Supporters Money to have that infrastructure that is supporting animals, that is supporting the compassionate people. So I think this is really backfiring on any governments who are doing these kinds of killings and saying that animal lives are not worth anything.

 

They are actually sowing the seeds of resistance to animal killing, the seeds of compassion against them. So, yeah, please keep doing what you’re doing and supporting all of the organisations and rescuers that are on this. And we’re just so grateful that you brought us all together today, Jane.

 

[Speaker 1]

And I want to say there’s some very disturbing footage, and I’m going to put up a warning, very short, but I think we have to see what’s really going on for a second to really understand the scope of it. You mentioned violent people doing violent things. Here you go.

 

This is what happens to these dogs when they’re taken. I mean, they’re being beaten to death. Look at this.

 

I mean, this is caught on tape, violence. So it’s so horrifying. And I want to also give a shout-out to all the social media influencers and videographers.

 

We credited them for their brave work. Can you imagine what they went through just to get that shot? So we’re almost out of time.

 

I want to just do a round-robin. I personally, listening to all this, feel like I understand the bad mentality, and I could be 100% wrong. But I’ll kick it off, and then we’ll do a round-robin.

 

My understanding of it is a flawed attempt to modernise and to be part of the 21st century. And while having all the strays around used to be quaint and wonderful in their minds, it means they’re not part of the 21st century modern club of Western world, especially America. They want to modernise.

 

They want to be considered modern. And our task, which seems very difficult, is to convince them they’re actually going in the wrong direction. They’re going toward medievalism, and that modern behaviour would be bringing in spay-neuter en masse.

 

I’m sure there are veterinarians from around the world who would converge on Turkey and spay-neuter in a mass effort very quickly to get the problem under control, just as some countries in Northern Europe have done and gotten their stray population under control. How do we convince them that this is the smart way, this is the modern way, that this is how you get in the club, not what you’re doing, that you’re going backwards and you’re actually co-signing what you’re trying to avoid? That’s my perception of it, listening to everybody, but I could be wrong.

 

So let’s do a round, Robyn. Starting with Melda, you’re in London. What are your final thoughts?

 

[Speaker 2]

My final thoughts are we must enforce TNR. We must lead educational campaigns. We need millions to adopt.

 

If it takes that local authority, don’t start neutering and spaying our animals. We as the Turkish people have to go out on the streets and save them one by one. This is the direct action solution.

 

Your understanding is spot on, Jane. This is an effort for Turkey to modernise, but look at Turkey’s other actions, putting the oppositional leader of Istanbul into prison, other human rights abusers. This is among only one other abuse that this government has carried out.

 

The solution is to hopefully one day vote them out democratically to get people fed up. Turkish economy has been in shambles for the last few years as well. Lots of students, journalists, academics in prison.

 

I am an academic. I am an aspiring academic. However, I don’t want to return to Turkey for fear of going to prison.

 

So we must build a grassroots movement, not just for animals, but for the youth.

 

[Speaker 1]

Thank you so much. Let’s go to Nilgin in Turkey, live in Turkey. What are your final thoughts on what we can do?

 

[Speaker 8]

Thank you, Jane. Thank you for bringing this massive issue for Turkey to your portal. I agree with Siami.

 

I have lost most of my hope. But let’s please keep on collaborating to save individuals. We can do it.

 

There are thousands, millions of animal advocates, animal lovers in Turkey. And when they do, they need secure houses. Maybe if we can keep the connection very tight, we can help them find happy houses.

 

That’s what I could only recommend. From legislation-wise, from protest-wise, I see no future. I’m sorry.

 

[Speaker 1]

Well, you’re entitled to your opinion. You’re there on the ground. I want to thank you for having the courage to speak today.

 

Let’s go to the next person who is in Turkey on the ground. Siami, your final thoughts about what could be achieved here?

 

[Speaker 7]

My friends, if you can reach out to the master of the puppets, Mr. Trump is the guy at the moment. It is one order. I am exactly very much sure as my name.

 

All these people in Turkey, the government people, are going to suck the toes and the paws of all these animals. This is the only solution.

 

[Speaker 1]

Okay, that’s interesting. Get the United States government involved. And you know what?

 

Never say never. You are smiling. Let’s go to Lori Califf with SPCA International.

 

Lori, what is your final thought?

 

[Speaker 4]

First, I just want to honor the sensitivity of what our fellow rescuers are experiencing in the country. I think that we do need to start with a global human educational campaign about this. We’ve started to.

 

I think we can increase our efforts. I do want to say that there’s this notion where there’s out of sight, out of mind, because someone brought it up on this panel, that we have the same issue in our own country, but it’s behind the scenes. So it’s a lot easier to stomach.

 

But what the rescuers are seeing on the ground is absolutely atrocious. And I just want to, again, applaud everybody for being able to speak and also for validating the loss of hope. But I think that holding hands with one another all across the world, we can regain that hope because I think that there is change.

 

And I just want to use a very, very brief case study. Melda, I think you brought it up with what happened in Romania in January of 2013 when the government ordered for a mass culling and ordered the citizens to go out on the streets and kill as many stray dogs as possible. In Bucharest alone, the population went from approximately 60,000 to 20,000 within months.

 

Fast forward to almost a decade later, the regulations have completely changed and a lot of people got involved through education. And now it’s mandatory to spay and neuter your animal in the city of Bucharest. You will actually get fined close to $2 million if the police come back and knock at your door and they don’t see that you have neutered or spayed your animal through an NGO that they have partnered up with.

 

So I think there is, if we can show, and I know that we’re dealing with a very difficult government, if we can show that this actually works, then we have a chance and that hope is brought back. And lastly, I just want to say that it may seem overwhelming to anybody listening to watching this, but the moment that you say, how can I help? You are helping.

 

You’re being a voice, whether it’s sharing what’s going on, whether or not it’s signing petitions, attending protests around the world, supporting and funding the local grassroots organizations in Turkey through larger organizations who are supporting them as well. You are doing something.

 

[Speaker 1]

Thank you so much. OK, Johnny, you’re shaking your head, your final thought.

 

[Speaker 9]

Yeah, this is definitely a political issue. I am sure that the residents of Turkey are compassionate people that love animals. Just with our action when I was arrested and we were dragged off the field, I could see all the Moroccan fans reading our message.

 

And I can’t tell you the huge percentage of this I got from people. People were reaching out. You can see that 95 percent of the people out there absolutely loved our message.

 

And it was just a small percentage of the people out there that didn’t appreciate it. I think that if we continue to bring attention to the calling of any animals in any country on global platforms, such as what PETA provides, when we write letters, when we sign petitions, when we put pressure on the partners of these governments that are bringing westernized events to their countries, such as FIFA for World Cup or the Olympics. These countries are under the pressure of beautifying their cities, but they’re going about it the wrong way, as it was mentioned earlier by a panelist.

 

They’re going medieval with it as opposed to, you know, trap, neuter, vaccinate and release. And so we just need to continue to put pressure on these governments and let them know that the whole world is watching and that we’re not going to let them continue to do that. Otherwise, we’re just going to continue to show up in these places where the whole world is watching and continue to put them on blast, basically.

 

[Speaker 1]

Well, you raise a very important point. I mean, I want to amend my final thought is that maybe we need to go to like the World Cup, FIFA, and say, before you make an arrangement to go to any country, you have to guarantee, because I’m sure there’s some event happening probably in Turkey that they’re getting ready for, and go to those organizations and say, you must make a commitment that they don’t kill animals, make the city beautiful, because killing isn’t beautification, and it has to be in writing.

 

I mean, that’s a real practical one. And, Nina, your lady freethinker is shaking her head. What do you think?

 

[Speaker 5]

Jane, I think you’re on to something. I think that, you know, when we go to these larger companies who care very much about their self-image, even if certain politicians might not, and hold them accountable in some way, I think that they hold the power to make a difference themselves. And if anybody thinks that this effort to exterminate dogs makes them look more modern, we must be clear that it is the absolute opposite, and that these images of gore and beatings and torture truly are medieval, and really put them back in the Stone Ages.

 

[Speaker 1]

Absolutely. And when I saw this dog, Nina, I just literally my heart broke. This poor little puppy in a dumpster, this innocent face, going off to be crushed to death.

 

Oh, my God. It made me so embarrassed to be a member of the human race at that moment, and just really just tore my heart apart. Oh, my gosh.

 

I want to just get everybody’s final thoughts. I get choked up a little bit sometimes because I’ve spent hours, like, uploading these videos, and there’s so many more that I didn’t. I said, let’s just do a taste.

 

We can’t overwhelm people. Jane Elizabeth, your final thoughts in terms of solutions.

 

[Speaker 10]

Yeah. Thank you so much, Jane, for doing this, and thank you to everybody for coming together. And I think this is a really good example, a clear example of corrupt government overreach, and we need to take action on all sides.

 

We need to stand with the people of Turkey. We cannot forget that because, like we have heard, the majority of people in Turkey do not support the torture and killing of these animals, and we need to tell them that they are not alone in this fight, that we are standing with them. We need to support education.

 

We need to support spay-neuter. You can adopt. If you can’t adopt, you can foster.

 

If you can’t foster, volunteer. If you can’t volunteer, donate. If you can’t donate, share on social media.

 

There’s always something you can do. Support your local rescue groups, rescue groups in Turkey who are working with rescue groups here in the U.S. We all share this responsibility together, and as a collective, we can make a difference. So it’s easy to think that one person can’t make a difference.

 

There are millions of us, though, so every single person can make a difference by doing what they can, when they can, where they can, and we are responsible for pushing this forward for the animals, regardless of what’s going on politically, and supporting the people here, too, because they are not alone. All of you in Turkey, you are not alone. We are here with you.

 

We support you. We are going to do everything we can, and everyone watching here, do what you can, because if you sit in that place of not being able to do enough, that’s when we’re not going to see change. We need you to do what you can, and that’s how we’re going to see real change moving forward is as a collective moving forward for the animals and for their rights.

 

[Speaker 1]

Well said. We are going to go back out to Turkey. Bij, we’re going to give you, I think you’re one of the last, the final word.

 

Thank you for unmuting. Go ahead. Unmute.

 

All right. Well, you’ve said your piece, so I know. Oh, there you go.

 

Go ahead.

 

[Speaker 6]

Thank you so much, Jane, for giving support, and thank you, everyone, for your compassion, care, and education. I mean, I really believe that there is a lot that we can do. And we can, I mean, we need to continue saving lives of animals, continue feeding them, giving them water, giving them, rescuing them, and giving medical aid, and to find homes in both Turkey and internationally, and to increase efforts for international and national campaigns to change legislations and to raise voices together.

 

To support grassroots organizations and people who are in the field in Turkey is really, really important. And putting pressure on the decision makers, you know, to change the legislations and for the implementation of these legislations. Our action together is, I think, very important.

 

And I’m really, I mean, against all these horrible things happening and all this grief, I really try to, you know, keep hope, because we cannot let it go. We have to, you know, bring our forces together and continue fighting against these acceptable things happening.

 

[Speaker 1]

Thank you. Thank you so much. Well said.

 

Okay, Fleur Dawes from Indefensive Animals did such a great job helping to organize this. I know you’re working around the clock on this. You’re the final, final thought.

 

[Speaker 3]

You’re so sweet, Jane. I know we’re kind of out of time, but Jane Elizabeth from Indefensive Animals wrapped it up so nicely. But I will say, I’ll leave this final thought.

 

If you’ve been affected by these very awful videos and what you’re hearing from activists on the ground, Indefensive Animals does offer support to you. Confidential, free, vegan counsellors who understand you. So you can go to IDAUSA.org slash activist support and we will be there to hear you and to help you. And also, of course, provide you with resources to do all of these actions. We’re going to be following up on them. So it’s been an amazing space.

 

Thank you so much again to Unchained TV. You’ve been there supporting us all the way and we will absolutely be following up. Everyone on here is going to be following up with these actions and we will not stop.

 

We will not be disheartened. So thank you again for watching.

 

[Speaker 1]

Well, I want to thank all the organizations involved. This is one of the links. There are other links that are on, for example, Facebook.

 

But just write this down. IDAUSA.org forward slash save Turkish strays. If you just sign that petition and there’s a lot of other action points in there to get involved.

 

I want to thank Indefensive Animals and the Animal Save Movement and Lady Freethinker and Four-Legged City Association and SPCA International. And I want to make sure I didn’t leave anybody out. Animal Save and Plant Based Treaty.

 

All of these organizations have come together. I think we have some ideas that have come out of this. So it’s not just, oh, my God.

 

It’s, oh, my God. But we can do this. We can do that.

 

And we’re going to continue to coordinate further and not give up. I’ll leave it with a quote from Nelson Mandela. It always seems impossible until it’s done.

 

Thank you, everybody, for joining us. Let’s do this. These animals cannot speak for themselves.

 

[Speaker 14]

We’re very upset. We’ve seen videos of these animals in mass graves where they’ve been bludgeoned to death. And we are very deeply disturbed.

 

[Speaker 13]

Do not remain silent in the face of injustice, of an intended genocide. The silence means death for millions of animals.

 

[Speaker 12]

This is about a president who is trying and all trying to hold on to power, who is demonizing dogs for political purposes. The biggest mass slaughter of dogs and cats seen anywhere in modern recorded history.