Turkish inmates to work as animal sacrificers over Eid

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - Inmates and detainees will take part in this year's Eid al-Adha, or festival of sacrifice, in Turkey as breeders and butchers, a Justice Ministry official said on Friday.

In Ankara, a total of 200 convicts will work in this capacity, in which 190 bovine and 550 ovine will be sacrificed in this year's festival, Fettah Cavus, deputy head of the Department of Workshops Institutions, told Anadolu Agency.

Since the beginning 2018, a total of 8,300 sheep and goats and 8,900 bovine have been bred and 6,300 tons of red meat have been produced, added Cavus, noting that animal sacrifices organized by the department would be held in open prisons across six provinces this year.

A total of 20,000 bovine and 10,000 ovine have been sacrificed in packing plants and slaughterhouses during the same period, he said.

The meat produced by convicts and detainees are sold to the public in outlets run by the department as well as some state institutions and organizations, he added.

Ugur Demirbas, a convict from one of the participating prisons, said he had been working in animal husbandry for two years and has improved his craft in the sector via training provided by the department.

"I have a profession thanks to the training. After my release, I hope to run a profitable business," Demirbas said.

Another inmate, Kadir Karakus, said he had found an opportunity to develop himself in animal husbandry and that he plans to continue with this work after end of his sentence.

The Department of Workshops Institutions of Turkey's Justice Ministry provides on-the-job vocational training to an average 60,000 detainees and convicts in more than 180 lines of business. This program has been ongoing for 18 Eid al-Adha festivals.