Source: https://en.connection-ev.org/article-2055
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 09:39:52+00:00

Document:
(03.12.2014) Turkey is the last country in the Council of Europe area to recognize conscientious objection to military service. Conscientious objectors face the possibility of a life-long cycle of prosecutions and imprisonment, and a situation of “civil death” which excludes them from the normal social, cultural and economic life.
Nevertheless no legislative steps have followed. The Bill introduced in 2011 by opposition Peace and Democracy Party MP Sebahat Tuncel has disappeared without trace7; the official responses by the Ministries of Defence and Justice to a further proposal by Tuncel on 21 May 2012 linked the recognition of conscientious objection to the establishment of a professional army, and stated that this was not on the agenda.8 Parliamentary questions by MPs Adil Kurt (2013)9, Husamettin Zenderlioğlu (two in 2013)10, Mülkiye Birtane (2012 and two in 2013)11 and Umut Oran (2012)12 received either no response at all, or an answer which did not address the legislative amendments on conscientious objection or the situation of objectors.
As there are no provisions for conscientious objection, objectors remain subject to the Law on Military Service, Article 3 of which divides military service into draft period, active service and the reserve. The draft period starts from the beginning of military [eligibility] age and continues until the time of entry into a unit; the normal duration of active military service is twelve months, and is followed by reserve service until the age of 41. However, there is no definition of the age of eligibility for active military service, and in practice no upper age limit on the when one may begin or complete the requirement.
Thus Vedat Zencir, who in 1989 had been one the first two declared conscientious objectors in Turkey, was on 22 October 2014 at the age of 51 apprehended by the police and brought to the local Conscription Office, where he was instructed to report to his military unit within three days. Likewise, Ali Fikri ISIK, who declared himself a conscientious objector when arrested in 2012 on desertion charges, served six months in prison during 2012 and 2013 following four separate convictions for desertion, as each time on release he was ordered to report to his military unit, but each time did not. Ultimately Edirne Military Court accepted a medical report that he is unfit for the military service, but the penalty imposed on that occasion with regard to his previous desertion – a fine of 15,000 Turkish Lira fine or otherwise 25 months imprisonment will still be imposed.
Objectors are criminalized as “evaders”, or as “deserters” if they have ever been nominally incorporated in the army.
According to Article 47 of the Law on Military Service, evaders identified by the Ministry of Defense and recruiting offices are notified to the Ministry of Interior and the highest civilian authority of the district respectively. When an evader is apprehended by the police or the gendarmerie he must be sent to the nearest recruiting office within 24 hours. There is no domestic remedy to challenge this procedure.
Evaders are penalized by administrative fines in accordance with art. 89 of the Law on Military Service; the amount varies in relation with the duration of the evasion.17 If an evader still does not report for military service, he is prosecuted in accordance with art.89 and tried by Peace Courts in accordance with art.63 of the Military Penal Code, the sentence. A delay of more than four months in reporting for military service results in a sentence of between four and twelve months imprisonment; if the delay is more than a year the sentence can range from six months to 36 months. Unless the person decides or is forced to serve arrest warrants continue to be issued and he will be prosecuted each time he is arrested.
Many simple “evaders” proceed to perform military service once apprehended, but conscientious objectors persist in their refusal, and thus face vicious circles of arrests, prosecutions, criminal cases and imprisonment.
As soon as a person arrives at a military unit, whether by consent or forcedly, he acquires the status of a soldier, and becomes subject to military laws, military charges and punishments. If he leaves the unit without permission he is defined as a deserter and subjected to imprisonment between one to three years in accordance with the art.66 of the Military Penal Code. The same applies to those who do not return their units after a short period of legal leave or after a release from the prison.
A conscientious objector who has been forcibly recruited, or who developed objections after recruitment, may refuse to co-operate with the military authorities and will then face imprisonment of between three months and a year on charges of disobeying orders. Under certain conditions this imprisonment could be increased to five years.
In either case the cycle of prosecution and imprisonment may potentially continue for life unless the person finishes his military service. It should be noted that any period spent in prison is not included in the period of military service.
Three of the five objectors concerned in the judgments by the European Court of Human Rights have subsequently been found by the military authorities to suffer from “a psycho-social disorder rendering them permanently unfit for military service”. Two others, Osman Murat Ülke who was described by the ECtHR in 2006 as living under a state of “civil death” which constituted cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights20 and Mehmet Tarhan, in whose case the ECtHR in 2012 found a similar violation (along with violations of Article 6 – Fair Trial and Article 9 – Freedom of Religion or Belief) remain subject to the requirement to perform their military service, are formally classified as deserters, and thus the situation of “civil death” continues; they must avoid any dealings with the police or public authorities, which might automatically trigger fresh prosecutions.
During the last three months of 2013, 4,920 evaders were detained as a result of regular ID checks under the General Database system.22 This system also enables evaders including conscientious objectors to be immediately identified while carrying out transactions at banks, airports, health institutions, etc.
Ercan Aktaş, one of the founders of the Association for Conscientious Objection was first apprehended in a hotel in Urfa on 20 August 2014 and released after signing arrest warrant. Secondly he was also apprehended in a hotel in Ankara and same procedure repeated. Last time while he was in the Passport Department of Besiktas Police Quarters he was subjected to the same procedure.
In all the above cases separate charges will be brought as a result of each apprehension. Vedat Zencir, mentioned above with regard to age, also awaits charges as a result of two arrests in 2014.
Fines have been already been imposed on other objectors: Muslum Kılıc was fined 10.696 Turkish Liras on 23 September 201326, Gunce Ozberk 12.325 Turkish Liras on 4 September 201427 and Devrim Yucel 13.542 Turkish Liras on 24.04.201428.
The ever-present danger of arrests, fines and potential imprisonment, together with the pattern of repeated prosecutions for the same “offence” is what creates the situation described by the ECtHR in the Ulke case as “civil death”. Conscientious objectors are forced or intimidated into withdrawal from social, political and economical lives. The COs do not have the possibility to enjoy their economical freedoms on an equal basis with other citizens.
Art. 93 of the Military Law dictates that “who intentionally employs draft evaders and deserters in the public or private sector is to be punished according to Military Penal Code”.
Art. 48/5 of the Law of Public Servants and many other laws feature parallel regulations, aiming to exclude draft evaders and deserters from work life.
As a result of the regulations in different laws in addition to the abovementioned ones the COs have to work illegally and under degrading conditions.
Another result is the impossibility to join the social security system. The COs have no possibility to resume their registration in the social security system and they are not covered against possible health situations and can’t even imagine to retire one day. Therefore they do not have access to public service on an equal basis with other citizens.
What action is the State under Review taking in order to implement the concluding observations and views of the Human Rights Committee and the verdicts of the European Court of Human Rights with regard to conscientious objection to military service?
That the State under Review adopt without delay legislation making provision for conscientious objectors to military service.
That the State under Review cease forthwith the practice of repeated prosecution and punishment of persons who have refused on grounds of conscience to perform military service.
That the State under Review progressively repeal all the legislative provisions which discriminate in civilian life against those who have not completed military service.
For enquiries please contact Ms. Hülya Üçpinar or Mr. Davut Erkan.
3 Draft report on follow-up to the concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee (document ref. CCPR/C/112/2/22), October 2014, p18.
6 Ucpinar, H. Execution of the Judgment Ulke v. Turkey: Monitoring report «The right to conscientious objection », IHOP (Insan Haklari Ortak Platformu – Human Rights Joint Platform, Istanbul, April 2013.
14 Response of the Ministry of Defence, ref.no. 46987865-5010-1463-14/ASAL D.Er İşl.Ş.Özl.İşl.Ks.
18 Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, document reference DH-DD(2013)185, distributed 22nd February 2013.
19 General Comment 32, para 55.

References: art. 89
 art.89
 art.63
 art.66

Art. 93

Art. 48
 v.