the news from Turkey are not good and your help is urgently needed to send letters of protest to the Turkish authorities in Ankara and in your own country.
The four Turkish conscientious objectors, who were charged with "alienating the people from the military" for having publicly declared their conscientious objection and presented a petition against conscription at a press conference, held in May 1994 in Ankara, have be sentenced to the following:
Arif and Gokhan were not attending the trial and were sentenced in absentia. Mehmet attended the first part of the trial, but left just before the sentences were read. He is currently in hiding from the military police who want him to report to the recruitment office to do his military service.
Osman Murat Ulke, who attended the trial, was not given a sentence. However, he was seized by the military police immediately after the other sentences were read and lead to the military recruitment office. He was released several hours later, but ordered to present himself to the barracks on Thursday 31 August, by 5:00pm.
A statement by WRI has been sent to the Turkish authorities and a copy is enclosed following this message.
London, 29 August 1995
Dear Minister of Justice,
War Resisters' International and its affiliates in over 30 countries around the world wish to express their strong concern about the sentences passed this morning by a military court in Ankara against the three Turkish conscientious objectors Arif Hikmet Iyidogan, Sefa Mehmet Fersal, and Gkhan Demirkiran. We are also deeply concerned about the situation of the fourth defendant, Osman Murat lke, who received no sentence, but has been ordered to report to the military authorities on Thursday 31 August in order to start his compulsory service.
War Resisters' International and its affiliates, who work for the recognition of the right to conscientious objection and the abolition of all armies worldwide, consider these actions to be in breach of the freedom of expression guaranteed by articles 24 and 25 of the Turkish Constitution. We furthermore vigorously object to the practice of putting civilians on trial before a military court.
War Resisters' International sees the freedom of conscience and conscientious objection as fundamental human rights. It is completely unacceptable that people be deprived of their freedom for exercising these rights.
We therefore call upon the Turkish authorities to immediately suspend the sentences passed upon Arif Hikmet Iyidogan, Sefa Mehmet Fersal, and Gkhan Demirkan, and cease attempts to forcibly enrol Osman Murat lke into the army.
We also request from the Turkish authorities that they end their cruel repression against war resisters in their country, recognise the right to conscientious objection and respect their citizens' right to express their opinions freely.
War Resisters' International.
Basbakani Tansu Ciller
Basbakanligi Konulu
Ankara
Turkey
fax: +90 312 4170476
Thank you in advance for your help.
The defendants were charged with "alienating the people from the military" ~ according to article 155 of the Turkish penal code and article 55 of the military penal code ~ for having publicly declared their conscientious objection and presented a petition against conscription at a press conference held in May 1994 in Ankara. Since that date they have been detained on several occasions and their trial has been postponed twice.
Arif Hikmet Iyidogan, former Chair of the Organisation of War Resisters in Istanbul (SKD-Istanbul) was sentenced to 6 months in prison and a fine of 780,000 Turkish Lira; Gökhan Demirkiran to 4 months and a TL 520,000 fine; and Sefa Mehmet Fersal to 2 months and a TL260,000 fine. Osman Murat Ülke, Chair of SKD Izmir, did not receive any sentence, but was given two days to report for his military service. Given his declared conscientious objection, it is to be feared that Osman Murat Ülke would suffer a particularly harsh treatment at the hands of military officers and fellow soldiers during his service.
War Resisters' International and its affiliates, who work for the recognition of the right to conscientious objection and the abolition of all armies worldwide, consider these actions to be in breach of the freedom of expression guaranteed by articles 24 and 25 of the Turkish Constitution.
In addition, by refusing to recognise the right to conscientious objection, Turkey openly contravenes several resolutions passed by the United Nations General Assembly, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.
Finally, War Resisters' International vigorously objects to the practice of putting civilians on trial before a military court.
Numerous pacifist organisations, several members of the European Parliament, and the particpants in the European Conscientious Objectors' Meeting, currently being held on Ikaria (Greece) from 27 August until 3 September, have already rallied to express their support for the four Turkish war resisters.
War Resisters' International sees freedom of conscience and conscientious objection as fundamental human rights. It is completely unacceptable that people be deprived of their freedom for exercising these rights.
We therefore call upon the Turkish authorities to immediately suspend the sentences passed upon Arif Hikmet Iyidogan, Sefa Mehmet Fersal, and Gökhan Demirkan, and to cease attempts to forcibly enrol Osman Murat Ülke into the army.
We also request from the Turkish authorities that they end their cruel repression against war resisters in their country, recognise the right to conscientious objection and respect their citizens' right to express their opinions freely.
Dear friends,
we have received news that Sefa Mehmet Fersal was arrested yesterday in Eskisehir and is expected to be transferred to Ankara. He had been in hiding since he left the trial hearing room during break time last Tuesday, just before he was sentenced to 2 months in prison and a 260,000 Turkish Lira fine.
Osman Murat Ulke, who attended the trial hearing in its entirety, was acquitted on Tuesday, but seized by the military police and forced to register with the military enrollment office. He was set free after a few hours and ordered to report to the barracks by 5:00 pm on Thursday (today).
Osman has decided not to report to the military authorities and to hold a press conference tomorrow morning, where he will reaffirm his conscientious objection. Andreas Speck and Odette Grille (from the international observers team) will be present.
IMPORTANT: They would like you to be on alert and ready to react immediately in case of arrests.
Please note that tomorrow the delegation office in Germany will be the DFG-VK NRW, Dortmund (NOT the Graswurzelgruppe Oldenburg). Phone: +49 231 818 032, Fax: +49 231 818 031