"İttapars", Trolls, and Kanzis: Ethical and Political Tensions in Turkey Through the Marginalization of Stray Dogs and the Manifestation of Social Polarization

In the summer of 2024, the issue of forcibly removing stray dogs from the streets in Turkey sparked widespread public debate and intensified political polarization. This article will examine the response to the decision to collect stray dogs and place them in shelters among different political factions of society and the social anger it has generated. This social anger has turned into a political debate between those who support the decision to collect stray dogs and those who believe this decision is wrong, with the suffering of stray dogs and wild animals being overlooked. The article addresses the decision to round up stray dogs as a situation that has brought to light social anger stemming from polarization within society, and has even led to the emergence of new practices of stigmatization within the social sphere. The article will examine these stigmatization practices and explore the symptoms of social anger through examples from local and foreign media. The debate surrounding stray dogs reflects deeper political, social, and ethical tensions in Turkey and reveals how animal liberation issues intersect with broader political and social dynamics.