Action in IstanbulOn 30 October a group of Turkish antimilitarists gathered at the front door of the Israeli Consulate of Istanbul and declared their support for two Israeli conscientious objectors, Efi Brenner and Or Ben-David, who had been arrested last week for objecting to the war politics of the Israeli governments against the Palestinian people.

Edited by Özgür Heval Çınar and Coşkun Üsterci, Zed Books, 9 April 2009, ISBN: 978-1-84813-278-8 (pb). £19.99

Mehmet Ali AvcıTwenty-three year old Mehmet Ali Avcı announced his conscientious objection on 15 August 2008 at the Istanbul Branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD), reported Bianet on 15 August 2008. He is supported by İHD members and Ümit Şahin from the Turkish Green Party.

The deprivation of liberty of Mr. Halil Savda during the periods between 16 and 28 December 2004, between 7 December 2006 and 2 February 2007, as well as between 5 February and 28 July 2007 was arbitrary. His deprivation of liberty since 27 March 2008 is also arbitrary, being in contravention of articles 9 and 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of articles 9 and 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights from which the Republic of Turkey is a State
Party, falling under category II of the categories applicable to the consideration of cases submitted to the Working Group. In addition, it also falls under category III of the categories applied by the Working Group, as far as Mr. Savda would have to serve his prison term following his conviction by judgement No. 2007/742-396.