Ankara Puppy Killer Sentence Reduced – Public Request for Review

Subject: Request for Review in Aggravated Animal Cruelty Case

We, the undersigned, submit this collective representation following the reduction of the prison sentence in a case involving the torture and killing of 26 puppies in Ankara.

This decision has caused serious public concern both within Turkey and internationally. Extreme acts of cruelty toward defenceless animals are not viewed by the public as minor offences, but as grave conduct requiring clear deterrence and firm legal consequence. When the outcome of such a case results in a substantially reduced custodial penalty, people are left questioning how protection laws are being applied and what safeguards exist against recurrence.

We fully respect the independence of the judiciary. However, respect for the justice system is strengthened by transparency, particularly where a decision appears difficult for the public to reconcile with the severity of the offence.

We therefore request clear clarification regarding:

• The legal reasoning underlying the sentence reduction • Whether further review or appeal mechanisms remain available • How deterrence is evaluated in aggravated cruelty cases and how future risk is considered

Providing clarity in this matter would help the public understand how the legal framework & the decision made in this case is intended to prevent similar acts from occurring again.

We thank you for your sensitivity.

Respectfully,

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Why this review request exists

In 2025 Muhammet Mustafa Duman, a medical doctor in Ankara was convicted in a case involving the torture and killing of 26 puppies.
The court originally imposed a custodial prison sentence of 9 years + reflecting the seriousness of the offence.

A later ruling reduced that sentence to a significantly shorter term of 4 years 4 months

This change has led to widespread public concern. The issue is not only what happened, but what the outcome means going forward.

Why the reduction matters

Severe and deliberate cruelty toward animals is treated in criminology and law as a serious offence because punishment serves two purposes:

• to respond to harm already done
• to prevent similar harm happening again

When a sentence in an extreme cruelty case is substantially reduced, people naturally question whether the preventive purpose of the law has been fulfilled and whether the consequences are strong enough to deter repetition.

What we are asking

We are seeking clear answers, including:

• Why the sentence was reduced
• How the risk of future harm was evaluated
• Whether legal review mechanisms will be applied

What signing does

Signing adds your name to a single collective submission sent to the relevant authorities requesting explanation and review through lawful processes.

The goal is transparency and reassurance that serious cruelty cases are handled in a way that meaningfully prevents future harm.

You can read about the Ankara Puppy Killer here