Turkey’s opposition fears political motives behind stray dog bill

ANKARA — As Turkey's parliament prepares to discuss a controversial bill aimed at addressing the country's stray dog issue amid widespread fears of potential mass cullings, analysts and experts suggest that the government's motivations may extend beyond tackling the dog problem. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged Wednesday that the parliament would pass the bill, which could have serious implications for opposition-held municipalities.

“Although some people persistently ignore it, Turkey has a stray dog problem,” Erdogan said, adding that the bill will be passed by lawmakers from his Justice and Development Party (AKP) as well as its allies in the parliament, who together hold a majority. 

The bill, which has animal lovers afraid for the country's millions of street dogs, was approved by the parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee late Tuesday and is now awaiting a full floor vote. It is expected to pass with the support of AKP members and their allies in the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).