Turkey: Conscientious objector indicted for "alienating the people from the army"

(06.11.2019) Furkan Çelik, member of the Conscientious Objection Association (Vicdani Ret Derneği), have been indicted by the Office of Istanbul Public Prosecutor on charges of "alienating the people from the army". Furkan Çelik was accused in relation to the social media posts on the Twitter account of the association.

The indictment by the Prosecutor’s Office mentions three different Twitter posts, each considered to include "provocative content in favour of avoiding military service". Furkan Çelik who opened the CO Association’s Twitter account in 2013, was held responsible by the Prosecutor’s Office.

Istanbul 16. Penal Court of First Instance admitted the indictment of the Prosecutor’s Office, and Furkan Çelik will be on trial on charges of "alienating the people from the army". The first hearing is going to be held February 6, 2020.

Vicdani Ret Derneği; eMail November 6, 2019

Keywords:    ⇒ Antimilitarism   ⇒ Conscientious Objection   ⇒ Human Rights   ⇒ Prosecution   ⇒ Turkey