Animal rights activist on hunger strike in Turkey

By Yalcin Celen</p> <p>BARTIN (AA) – An animal lover in Turkey's Bartin province has been on a hunger strike for four days in response to violence against stray animals.</p> <p>Animal rights activist Sevim Arkan launched a hunger strike for animal rights at a garbage dump in the resort town of Inkumu.</p> <p>&quot;I am on strike not to die, but to keep alive,&quot; Arkan announced earlier on her social media account.</p> <p>She told reporters that she and other activists had gone on a hunger strike last year as well in order to respond to violence against stray animals and to contribute toward the enactment of laws on animal rights and protection.</p> <p>&quot;We wanted the violence against animals to be punished by law, but the promises given last year unfortunately have not been kept,&quot; Arkan said, adding that this time, she will &quot;go to any lengths&quot;.</p> <p>Saying that violence against animals had increased in recent days, Arkan stressed that a penalty alone is not sufficient and called for such people to be imprisoned. </p> <p>Arkan also said there are still many distressed animals on the streets and called on local municipalities to support them on this issue.</p> <p>Noting that she takes care of 400 animals, Arkan added that volunteers and associations should together discuss this law.

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