1. Taktik Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanll:l Askeri Cezaevi Eskifehir
15th of MAY - INTERNATIONAL CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS' DAY
On the 15th of May, Zmir War Resisters' Association (ISKD) and Solidarity Committee with Osman Murat Ulke in Istanbul will be involved in several activities. On the 9th of December 1997, Military Court of General Staff accepted that "asking for the recognition of the right of conscientious objection" is not a violation of Article 155 ("alienating people from military") and is not a crime at all. The court declared that the right of conscientious objection is adviced in the European Convention of Human Rights which is also signed by Turkey. But, they also mention that the Convention leaves the member states free to legislate the right or not. Therefore, the court claims that "asking for the recognition of the right" is not a crime, but "calling people to use the right" is. On the 15th of May activities we will criticize this point of view that seperates the right from its using. We will also call people to go into action on the ground of asking the recognition of the right. We hope that the decision of the court, might encourage some circles those seem sensitive to the CO struggle but do not speak so much because of legal concerns.
ISKD Communication Group
Tel: 0 - 232 - 464 24 92
Fax: 0 - 232 - 464 08 42
e-mail: [email protected]