Gaziantep court declares pitbulls 'weapons' in child attack case

In a decision by the 27th Asliye Ceza Mahkemesi in Gaziantep, the court ruled that two pitbulls—named "Asil" (black) and "Zomo" (yellow)—that attacked 4‑year‑old Asiye Ateş on 22 December 2021 were to be considered "silah" (weapons) under Turkish Penal Code article 6. The owners, identified as Mustafa Y., Mustafa E. and Süheyla K., were held liable for intentional injury with a weapon and received increased sentences, with no mitigation for lack of remorse. The judgment noted that the dogs had been allowed to roam without muzzles or leashes in a children's area, violating safety rules, and that security‑camera footage of the attack had been deleted by the site manager Mustafa E., an act judged as evidence tampering. The pitbulls were seized and placed in the Gaziantep municipal animal shelter. Subsequent appeals led to some defendants being re‑detained by the 10th Heavy Penal Court.

The ruling sets a precedent for classifying dangerous dogs as weapons in Turkey, emphasizing strict liability for owners who breach public safety regulations.