TURKEY: Conscientious objector arrested

On April 8, Mehmet Tarhan was arrested for "insubordination" after failing to serve his compulsory military service. Tarhan had declared himself a conscientious objector in 2001, but such status is not recognised under Turkish law. Tarhan fears he may be sent to a Kurdish region and asked to shoot at civilians. He also opposed the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan. As he is an openly gay man, he has been transferred to a military hospital for "tests" to determine his homosexuality, which is grounds for a disability discharge under Turkish law. Tarhan does not wish such a discharge, and fears that the "examination" may be a cover for sexual violence against him, as "virginity testing" often is against Kurdish women. Lat year, another conscientious objector forced to serve in the army, after six months' imprisonment, was killed within a few months of his service.

From Green Left Weekly, June 8, 2005.

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From GLW issue 629