TURKEY: Conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan to be tried on 28 April

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Turkish conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan will be tried in the military court of Sivas on 28 April 2005, 9:00am. As reported in an earlier co-alert on 8 April (see http://wri-irg.org/news/htdocs/20050408a.html), Mehmet Tarhan had been arrested on 8 April 2005 early in the morning. He was then brought to a military unit in Tokat, accompanied by military police. Because Mehmet Tarhan is refusing to co-operate in any way, he was then transferred to the military prison in Sivas. Mehmet Tarhan is a gay and anarchist activist. He declared his conscientious objection on 27 October 2001, and continued anti-war activities in public ever since, without going into hiding. Mehmet Tarhan is now being charged with Article 88 Turkish Military Penal Code (TACK), "Insubordination in front of the unit". This charge carries a penalty between 3 months and 5 years imprisonment.

More information and pictures of Mehmet Barhan can be found at http://www.savaskarsitlari.org/mehmettarhan/. Most of the information is in Turkish though.

War Resisters' International calls for a continued campaign of protest letters and email to the Turkish authories, and Turkish embassies abroad. A protest email to the General Staff headquarters can be sent at http://wri-irg.org/co/alerts/20050408a.html . Vigils and demonstrations in front of Turkish consulates and embassies can also be effective. A list of Turkish embassies abroad can be found at http://www.mfa.gov.tr/MFA/Ministry/TurkishRepresentations/searchReprese….

War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of Mehmet Tarhan.

Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International

Archives of co-alert can be found at http://wri-irg.org/news/alerts