AKP deputy says animal abuse remarks ‘distorted’

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

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A ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy, who was harshly criticized for remarks about “giving another chance” to jailed animal abusers, said on his official Twitter account that his statements had been “distorted.”
“I never supported the idea that ‘rapists should own animals,’” said AKP Manisa deputy Selçuk Özdağ, claiming that the media had incorrectly reported that he called six-month jail terms for those who sexually abused animals “too much.”

Özdağ said those who want to pursue “objective journalism” can research what he originally said from parliamentary reports.  

He also repeated and defended his suggestion that it is “not right to ban people who are convicted of sexually abusing animals from owning [animals] without giving them another chance.”

“Upon this [amendment suggestions], I took the floor of parliament and – considering the fact that citizens who live in villages and raise livestock will always need animals - said I support punishment of these people but their right to own animals should not be blocked,” said Özdağ.   

He had made his remark during a parliamentary discussion on a new draft item seeking to prevent people convicted of sexually abusing animals from owning them again.