TURKEY: UPDATE: Sahin Ozbay released

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Sahin Ozbay (TK14728), who had declared his conscientious objection on 4 October 2004, and had been arrested after the trial conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan (TK14724), has been released. The trial was attended by a group of Turkish supporters and conscientious objectors, and two international observers, who formed an international delegation organised by War Resisters' International. Tina Kemler from Germany and Eldad Zion from Israel reported on the arrest and later on the release of Sahin Ozbay, and are now on the way to Ankara and on to Istanbul. However, Mehmet Tarhan remains in military rison in Sivas at least until the trial on 26 May.

War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan.

War Resisters' International calls for a continued campaign of protest letters and email to the Turkish authories, and Turkish embassies abroad. A protest email to the General Staff headquarters can be sent at http://wri-irg.org/co/alerts/20050408a.html . Vigils and demonstrations in front of Turkish consulates and embassies can also be effective. A list of Turkish embassies abroad can be found at http://www.mfa.gov.tr/MFA/Ministry/TurkishRepresentations/searchReprese….

Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International

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