Movement Lifeline of the Turkish Conscientious Objectors' Movement

Back to:Mehmet loves Bariş* Documentation: Conscientious objection in Turkey

• 1989: first public declaration of conscientious objection to military service (Tayfun)
• 1990: the second public declaration of a conscientious objector (Vedat) is linked to a campaign against conscription, which is covered by Günes and Sokak newspapers.
• early 1990: Turkish intellectuals come out in support of this campaign, Tayfun and Vedat are sentenced by the State Security Court on the basis of § 155
• 1992: the International Conscientious Objectors' Meeting (ICOM) decides to hold its next meeting in Turkey
• December 1992: Savas Karsitlari Dernegi (SKD - War Resisters ' Association) is founded in Izmir
• January 16,1993: 6 men announce their conscientious objection, SKD holds a press conference in this context
• July 10-17, 1993: ICOM meets in Turkey
• 1993: Salih Askeroglu from Cyprus announces his conscientious objection
• November 8, 1993: SKD is disbanded by the governor of Izmir
• autumn 1993: SKD Istanbul is founded
• December 1993: Aytek Özel, chairman of SKD Izmir, is arrested. He is prosecuted on the basis of §155 because of a TV interview. Aytek spends two months in Ankara military prison.
• February 1994: Izmir Savas Karsitlari Dernegi (ISKD) is founded
• 1994: campaign against military jurisdiction
• 1994: DEP tables a bill on conscientious objection 1994: SHP tables a bill to the effect that civilians may not be tried at military courts
• May 17, 1994: on the occasion of the International Day of Conscientious Objection, SKD Istanbul holds a press conference in Istanbul. 17 people and 3 German observers get arrested. 4 Turks remain in detention and are tried at Ankara military court on the basis of §155. Initially the Germans are not allowed to leave the country, however after a trial in early July they are forced to leave. SKD Istanbul is banned.
• August 29, 1995: Ruling of Ankara military court on the events of May 17: Osman Murat Ülke (Ossi) is acquitted, but at the same time conscripted into military service.
• September 1, 1995: press conference and burning of conscription card by Ossi in Izmir
• April 1996: first non-violent action training in Foca
• October 3-6, 1996: series of seminars on anti-militarism held in Izmir
• October 7, 1996: Ossi is arrested and taken to Mamak October 1996: Ossi goes on a hunger strike against poor prison conditions autumn 1996: foundation of solidarity committees for Ossi in Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya and Ankara
• November 1996: ISKD is again closed down by the governor of Izmir November 1996: first court proceedings against Ossi at Ankara military court. Ossi is represented by many lawyers. The trial is widely covered by the media until finally an enlarged general staff imposes press censorship. Protest faxes are organized to be sent to the commander in Bilecik (Ossi's unit) and the military court in Eskisehir.
• December 27, 1996: trial at Eskisehir military court for renewed disobedience
• March 6, 1997: court proceedings at Eskisehir military court: Ossi is sentenced to 5 months in prison
• April 1, 1997: trial against ISKD and IHD (Human Rights Association) in Ankara on the basis of §155
• May 29, 1997: trial in Eskisehir, Ossi is subsequently released October 9, 1997: trial in Eskisehir: Ossi is arrested again and sentenced to 10 months in prison on October 23, 1997 early 1998: decision by the Enlarged General Staff that conscientious objection is not punishable, whereas incitement thereto is.
• March 9, 1999: Ossi is released from prison

Source: A Movement Action Plan for Turkey? Documentation of a seminar in Sigacik from 4-8 April 1998, http://people.freenet.de/ask/map_turkey.html