Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Turkey: The Current Situation Regarding Conscientious Objectors

Statement to the UN Human Rights Committee

(15.10.2012) Conscientious objection (CO) hasn't been accepted as a human right in Turkey. Conscientious objection is neither regulated as a right nor as an offence. This amounts to a legal ambiguity and conscientious objectors (COs) are charged with offences regulated in the Military Criminal Code, which do not correspond with their actions. Furthermore a vicious circle of being arrested, being sent to prison and released is still in force, with CO Inan SUVER as the latest example.

ECHR to Turkey: Judgment to Conscientious Objector Mehmet Tarhan

(17.07.2012) The applicant, Mehmet Tarhan, is a Turkish national who was born in 1977 and lives in Sivas (Turkey). The case concerns his refusal to do military service because of his pacifist beliefs. Having refused to wear a uniform, he was held in custody in the military prison, where he was subjected to disciplinary penalties for refusing to have his hair and beard cut, which was ultimately carried out forcefully by seven soldiers. Criminal proceedings were brought against him. Since his desertion in March 2006, the police have been looking for him; he faces fresh criminal proceedings and custody.

European Court for Human Rights found violation of Article 3 and violation of Article 9.

Conscientious objection to military service

Resolution 20/2 of UN Human Rights Council, July 5, 2012

(05.07.2012) The Human Rights Council, Bearing in mind that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,

Reaffirming that it is recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person, as well as the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the right not to be discriminated against, ...

ECHR to Turkey: Refusal to grant conscientious objector status is not necessary in a democratic society

(12.06.2012) In today’s Chamber judgment in the case Savda v. Turkey (application no. 42730/05), the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been:

- violations of Article 3 (prohibition of degrading treatment) and 9 (right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights; and

- a violation of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention on account of the lack of independence and impartiality of the military court.