PRESS RELEASE
Arrest and intimidation of Turkish conscientious objectors
16 April 2008
The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) held its annual meeting in Athens on 12 April with representatives of 14 European countries: Turkey, Cyprus, Russia, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, Macedonia.
The assembly protested against the arrest of the Turkish conscientious objector Halil Savda in Istanbul on 27 March during a solidarity meeting for the imprisoned objector Ismail Saygi.
“We expect a respectful treatment of the young Turkish human rights defender and the respect of his conscientious conviction which forbids his participation in military service”, explained EBCO’s President Gerd GREUNE. Halil Savda already spent several months in military prison, and has been sentenced repeatedly on charges of “persistent disobedience” or “desertion”.
Furthermore the assembly expressed its outrage about reports that the young conscript Ismail Saygi has been badly treated and beaten while detained in his military unit and was so much intimidated that he withdrew his declaration as conscientious objector. “The Turkish authorities and international bodies like the Council of Europe and NATO should investigate these cases”, said EBCO’s President. It is not acceptable that a 19 year old youngster is arrested and forced to give up his right to the freedom of conscience by military force.
European Bureau for Conscientious Objection
61, rue Henri Stacquet, 1030 Bruxelles, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 215 7908 / Fax: +32 2 245 6297
E-mail: ebco@ebco-beoc.org / Website: https://www.ebco-beoc.org