Turkey has announced the implementation of controversial law to remove stray dogs after the death of a two -year -old girl

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Ferlika has pledged today to fully implement the controversial law to remove millions of stray dogs from the streets after the death of a two -year -old girl.

The law, which the animal protection groups called « Massacre Law », was adopted by parliament last summer, but municipal authorities only partially applied it, and in some cases I do not apply at all.

Two -year -old girl early El Selchi died after being attacked by a pack of wandering dogs in the city of Konya on central Turkey on Friday. Her death sparked major protests over the danger represented by stray dogs walking the streets and rural areas of Turkey, whose number, according to the government, is about four million.

After her death, a criminal investigation was launched, and municipal workers began to catch the dogs.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that the government was « taking decisive steps to ensure law enforcement. »

When the law was passed, the main opposition party announced that municipalities in power would not implement it.

The law also provides for penalties for mayors who do not enforce its provisions.