# Animal cruelty investigation in Turkey

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/animal-cruelty-investigation-in-turkey
> Updated: 2026-08-28T04:49:00.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Public outrage in Turkey was triggered by a viral video showing a woman crushing a turtle’s shell to win a bet. The footage, which captured the woman celebrating the animal’s death with comments such as “I am very happy, we finally reached victory,” led to calls for prosecution under the country’s Animal Protection Law.

Subsequent investigations identified the woman as 37-year-old Arzu S. in Zonguldak Ereğli. While the footage appeared to be approximately 15 years old, the suspect was taken into custody. The incident has since drawn attention to a broader, organized global trade known as the ‘crush fetish.’ This commercialized network involves closed Telegram groups where users pay via Bitcoin or bank transfers for videos of animals being killed for sexual gratification. Evidence suggests a high demand for such content within Turkey.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-28: Turkey investigates organized animal cruelty trade following viral turtle killing video

A viral video of a woman in Turkey killing a turtle has exposed an organized global trade of animal cruelty videos on Telegram, driven by a ‘crush fetish’ and paid for via Bitcoin or bank transfers.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-investigates-organized-animal-cruelty-trade-following-viral-turtle-killing-video

### 2026-08-24: Turkey animal cruelty video sparks outrage

A woman in Turkey faces intense social media backlash after a video surfaced showing her killing a turtle to win a bet, prompting calls for legal action under animal cruelty laws.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-animal-cruelty-video-sparks-outrage

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Cite as: Animal cruelty investigation in Turkey. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/animal-cruelty-investigation-in-turkey