Summary concerning Halil’s recent situation by his lawyer, Suna Coskun (30.07.07):
“Halil Savda was imprisoned when he participated in his trial session on 7.12.2006. The allegation in his continuing trial was based on ‘continuous disobedience’. While this trial was continuing a new trial was opened based on the allegation of ‘desertion’. The trials were merged and Savda was released, only to be accompanied to the barracks. He repeated his objection, was arrested and sent back to the Military Court, leading to a further trial based on ‘continuous disobedience’.
He was sentenced to six months in prison in the second trial, of which he was imprisoned. The first (merged) trial resulted in a prison sentence of 15,5 months. Both sentences were declared in close succession and appealed against at the Military Supreme Court. The Military Supreme Court decided to decide first on the case, of which Halil was still imprisoned. The sentence was approved and Halil was released from prison on 28 July 2007, the day he fulfilled the six months sentence. He would have been released earlier, if the prison authorities wouldn’t have prevented a conditional release by penalizing him with isolation sentences.
In the current situation the Military Supreme Court still has to decide on the 15,5 months sentence of the merged trial. Halil is not obliged to serve that sentence, as long as it is not approved. On the other hand, he is now a deserter, putting him de facto (back) in the same ‘civil death’ situation as Osman Murat άlke, Mehmet Tarhan and Mehmet Bal.”
Halil made a press statement at the Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul branch today (30.07.07). He was supported during the press conference by lawyer Eren Keskin and conscientious objector Ersan Ugur Gor.
Eren Keskin spoke on behalf of IHD and underlined that the movement for conscientious objection is an important part of the struggle against militarism, that IHD is supporting this movement and will continue to do so.
Halil Savda spoke about the continuous respression and torture he suffered, aiming to change his mind and break his will. He described the process as “trampling on the principles of law”.
He explained that he was sentenced to a total of 21,5 months, of which he spent 2 months in an isolation cell, leading to an arbitrarily delayed release.
He stated that he is expected to show up in the barracks within 48 hours. He intends to continue a “normal” life and certainly won’t go to the barracks by himself.
Ersan Ugur Gφr announced that he is happy to see Halil free and that the struggle will continue.