9 December: International action day in support of Mehmet Tarhan

Several groups - including War Resisters' International - are calling for an international day of action in support of imprisoned Turkish conscientious objectors Mehmet Tarhan. Connection e.V., initiators of the day of action, writes: "the latest news from Turkey on the situation of Mehmet Tarhan (see http://www.wri-irg.org/co/turkcampaign-en.htm)  show that more international solidarity is necessary.

Besides short-term actions we like to propose a common and international action day: December 9, 2005.

With the action day we want to refer to the Human Rights Day: 10th December. To make possible protest activities in front of Turkish embassies and consulates during their office hours, we decided to choose the Friday before as action day: 9th December.

The Turkish/Kurdish War Resisters' Initiative in Germany (Kürt ve Türk Savas Karsitlari Inisiyatifi) will organize a solidarity action for the total resister and conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan in front of the Turkish consulate general in Frankfurt/M., together with Connection e.V. and the German Peace Society - United War Resisters (DFG-VK).

We would like to encourage you to organize similar actions on the same day: For the immediate release of Mehmet Tarhan and the recognition of the human right of conscientious objection by Turkey.

• Join the action day on 9th December!
• Organize protests in solidarity with Mehmet Tarhan everywhere!
• Freedom for Turkish conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan!
• For the human right of conscientious objection!

Zeynettin Er, Turkish/Kurdish War Resisters' Initiative in Germany

Rudi Friedrich, Connection e.V.

Gernot Lennert, German Peace Society - United War Resisters