Turkey: Istanbul animal welfare chief jailed for running cock-fighting ring

The man appointed to oversee the welfare of animals in Istanbul has reportedly been imprisoned for overseeing a cock-fighting ring.

Turkish police received a tip-off about an illegal cock-fighting ring in a garage in Istanbul's Sancaktepe district, local media said.

After raiding it on 24 January, they found a ring made for roosters with seating around it. On the floor were animal hair, traces of blood and bottles of alcohol.

According to the Sabah newspaper, the owner of the garage was Ufuk Inanc, head of the Istanbul Association for the Protection of Animals, the Environment and Nature.

Inanc has denied that the garage was being used for cock-fighting and instead said it was used for the activities of his association.

"As the president of the association, I would not allow such a thing, it is against our founding purpose," he said.

Another suspect present at the scene was quoted by Sabah as saying the caged roosters found in the garage were being auctioned and had not been injured. However, investigators reportedly found blood stains and rooster feathers within the ring.

Despite his protestations, Inanc has been sentenced to three years in prison for "providing a place and opportunity for gambling", while three other suspects were sentenced to up to two years in prison for "violating the Law on the Protection of Animals".

Law against animal abuse

The raid reportedly came a few days after another on a branch of the association in the western city of Manisa, also connected with cock fighting.

The Sozcu newspaper said police had raided the Manisa Animals, Environment and Nature Protection Association on 22 January and found 21 injured roosters and a specially prepared area for fighting

Turkey's parliament passed a law in 2021 that made animal abuse punishable by between six months and four years in prison.

However, animal rights campaigners have criticised the law as insufficient, noting that judges usually defer prison sentences less than two years, meaning few convicted of animal abuse would actually face jail time.

This article is available in French on Middle East Eye French edition.