Turkey’s Vegan Association files criminal complaint against dietitian Canan Karatay

ISTANBUL

The Vegan Association of Turkey has filed a criminal complaint against the prominent cardiology specialist Canan Karatay after she said “to be a vegan means having a brain filled with grains.”

Upon the criminal complaint of the association’s president, Ebru Arıman, an investigation has been launched into Karatay on charges she “provoked society to hostility” as well as “committed indignity.”

“Grain is animal feed. Our bodies are not programmed to use grain. If we eat grains, we become grain-brained,” Karatay had said on a television program.

Karatay had also said “being vegan is being a missionary” on another television program she had attended.

The Vegan Association of Turkey accuses Karatay of portraying vegans as “exploiters of religion.” The criminal complaint asserts that Karatay uses veganism to make the headlines.

Karatay had also used the expression “veganism is a disease” that induced controversy within the public opinion.

Karatay was suspended from her medical duties for 15 days after complaints from the Turkish Gynecology and Obstetrics Foundation (TJOD) regarding controversial remarks on blood sugar tests which were deemed incorrect by the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) in July this year.