Twenty two more people declared they were conscientious objectors in Istanbul on the occasion of "1 December World Peace Hostages Day". Speaking at a meeting organised by the Conscientious Objection Association lawyer Davut Erkan emphasised that the campaign calling for the recognition of the right to conscientious objection in Turkey had reached a certain level, adding: "Now is the time for there to be mass declarations of conscientious objection to the authorities." At the meeting held at the İsmail Beşikçi Foundation on the occasion of "1 December World Peace Hostages Day" 22 people declared they were conscientious objectors.

The meeting began with a showing of the documentary "Askersiz Bölge" (Area without military), made by Mirza Aydın. This was followed by a discussion chaired by Ali Fikri Işık, a member of the management committee of the Conscientious Objection Association, involving conscientious objectors Mehmet Tarhan and Halil Savda and Conscientious Objection Association lawyer Davut Erkan. Ali Fikri Işık stressed the importance of the struggle for the recognition of the right to conscientious objection in Turkey, adding: "This stand will encounter many obstacles, but I hope everyone will declare conscientious objection to the tyranny of this army."

‘WE CAN NOW DISCUSS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION OPENLY'

Conscientious Objection Association lawyer Davut Erkan said that as a result of the struggle that has been waged military and other courts realised such a right existed, adding: "we now have powerful arguments and can win acceptance for this right, although different justifications are found for penalties. It is now possible to discuss the right to conscientious objection openly." "In cases where this right is not recognised or the charge is 'Alienating the people from the military' we can go to higher courts to win the case," Erkan continued, highlighting recent judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

“We have also had acquittals here in Turkey. Now is the time to have mass applications for conscientious objection," said Erkan, calling on lawyers to support the work of the Conscientious Objection Association.
Conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan said: "In addition to being a right, conscientious objection is also a field for a freedom struggle," drawing attention to the fact that there had been an increase in conscientious objection since the start of the non-conflict period. Objector Halil Savda recalled that he had been charged with 'alienating the people from the military' and been acquitted, adding: "both this offence and compulsory military service no longer have any validity." Savda said he had been fined for desertion and alienating the people from the military, but that Turkey had been convicted at the ECtHR and ordered to pay a much larger sum in compensation.

Then Enise Şeyda Kapuz, Emre Bayyiğit, Cemile Sarı, Murat Demiroğlu, Ahmet Sait Gündüz and Gökhan Turan declared they were conscientious objectors and 16 others sent messages stating they were also conscientious objectors.In a statement Enise Şeyda Kapuz said, "War is not only in the East or the West, in Palestine or Kurdistan. I have listened to my conscience and I reject war." Murat Demiroğlu said: "As a natural consequence of my existence I reject military service."
Objector Bawer Fırat, who sent a message, said: "As a person I am opposed to killing, weapons and tyranny. I therefore refuse to take orders and training on how to kill, and refuse for historical and family reasons to serve this state and the Kemalist system. "