| War Resisters' International

01 Feb 2006

European Court of Human Rights rules in case of Turkish conscientious objector

On 24 January 2006, the European Court of Human Rights finally released the judgement in the case of Turkish conscientious objector Osman Murat Ülke. In short: Osman Murat Ülke complained that he had been prosecuted and convicted on account of his convictions as a pacifist and conscientious objector.

01 Jan 2006

For there was no shelter under which I could hide...

Interview with Mehmet Tarhan for the Spanish newspaper Diagonal, January 2006

As you know, it took a long time for your questions to reach me. It took me quite some time to pick up the pen and answer your questions too. For unpleasant things happened. And I was afraid my answers would be unlike me when my thoughts and emotions were in such turmoil.

01 Dec 2005

9 December: International action day in support of Mehmet Tarhan

Several groups - including War Resisters' International - are calling for an international day of action in support of imprisoned Turkish conscientious objectors Mehmet Tarhan.

01 Nov 2005

Turkey: Conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan on hunger strike for more than 32 days

Turkish conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan is fast approaching the completion of the fifth week of his hunger strike (see CO-Update No 14, October 2005). Mehmet Tarhan began this second hunger strike after a new incident of maltreatment and abuse.

01 Oct 2005

Turkey: Mehmet Tarhan again on hunger strike

Turkish conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan was battered as his hair was violently cut by military prison authorities in Sivas. In response, Mehmet started an indefinite hunger strike, demanding an examination by civilian doctors, a report from a forensic medical facility documenting the torture and legal action against the perpetrators. On 30 September, at about 3pm, Mehmet Tarhan was told by non-commissioned military prison officer Hilmi Savluk, who was accompanied by 3-4 guards, that they were to cut Mehmet's hair.

19 Aug 2005

Press Release: War Resisters' International submits the case of Turkish conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan to the United Nations' Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

War Resisters' International submitted the case of gay Turkish conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan, sentenced on 10 August to four years imprisonment on two charges of insubordination, to the United Nations' Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Tarhan, who had been arrested in Izmir on 8 April, declared his conscientious objection on 27 October 2001. After his arrest, he was transferred to a military unit in Tokat, where he was given a military order, which he refused. He was charged with insubordination, and imprisoned in the Military Prison in Sivas.

02 Jul 2005

WRI Council Statement on Turkish Conscientious Objector Mehmet Tarhan

The council meeting of War Resisters' International in Seoul, Korea 30 June - 2 July 2005 demands the immediate release of conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan and the full recognition of his right to consceintious objection. Mehmet Tarhan is a well known activist on issues of antimilitarism and gay rights in Turkey. He was arrested on April 8th, 2005, on the grounds he was a "roll call deserter".