An analysis of animal rights in Türkiye within the context of animal ethics

The first objective of this study is to examine the ethical implications of the relationship between humans and animals and the moral status of animals throughout history. The second objective of this study is to examine how animal rights are reflected in legislation, practices and policies in Türkiye and which ethical premises or theories of animal ethics they are based on. In this regard, the first part of the study has examined the period from the earliest arguments to the nineteenth century concerning the philosophical and ethical evaluation of animals. In the second part of the study, the philosophical and ethical approaches to animals as well as animal ethics theories from the 18th century to the present have been examined. In the third part of the study, the protection and value of animals in Türkiye throughout history have been analysed from the earliest Turkish tribes to the Ottoman Empire and from the Early Republican Period to the present day. Subsequently, non-governmental organisations and animal advocacy groups pertaining to the protection of animals, animal experimentation, zoos, industrial animal husbandry, companion animals and stray animals are analysed from the perspective of animal ethics. A review of the legislation, policies, and practices in question reveals that, from the Ottoman period to the Early Republican era and continuing into the present day, the ethical perspective on animals has been primarily shaped by animal welfare ethics in conjunction with classical utilitarian ethics. The legislation, policies, and practices in Türkiye that protect animals are characterised by a weak anthropocentric and a weak speciesist perspective. Consequently, the protection of animals is not based on broader moral values and ethical principles that recognise the intrinsic value and interests of the animals themselves. The emergence of legislative measures to protect animals in Türkiye has been primarily influenced by Türkiye's process of aligning with the EU rather than by any direct action by the political authority or as a result of any social movement. The impediment to animal protection in Turkiye is the aforementioned perspective and the existing legislation, in addition to the absence of effective supervision. Keywords: Animal Ethics, Animal Rights, Animal Welfare, Moral Status