Cyprus

The trial of Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector Hasan Rahvancıoğlu, who is being prosecuted for refusing to comply with a mobilisation call, was held on November 27 at the military court in Nicosia.

Connection e.V., EBCO, IFOR and WRI strongly condemn the prosecution of conscientious objector Hasan Rahvancıoğlu, whose trial is scheduled for 27 November 2025 before the Security Forces Court in the self-declared state of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This is a clear violation of the fundamental human right to conscientious objection to military service, and we call on the authorities in the "TRNC" to immediately dismiss all charges.

On the occasion of International Conscientious Objection Day, we are sharing the voices of conscientious objectors from around the world — individuals who have taken a stand against war and militarism by refusing to serve in the armed forces.

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejected Turkey’s appeal against the conviction as an outcome of Murat Kanatlı’s complaint, a conscientious objector who refused compulsory military service in Northern Cyprus. The ECHR’s ruling, issued on September 24, upheld the violation of rights verdict in Kanatlı’s case against Turkey. Ankara was ordered to pay the conscientious objector 9,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages and 2,363 euros for trial and other expenses.

EBCO, WRI, IFOR, and Connection e.V. strongly condemn the third (!) imprisonment of Turkish-Cypriot reservist conscientious objector Halil Karapaşaoğlu. We call on the authorities in the "TRNC" to urgently amend the Military Service Act so as to recognise the right of conscientious objection to military service, and to implement the Murat Kanatlı v Türkiye judgement of the European Court of Human Rights.

EBCO, WRI, IFOR, and Connection e.V. welcome the landmark judgement of 12th March by the European Court of Human Rights in the case Kanatlı v Türkiye (application no. 18382/15). Murat Kanatlı is an EBCO Board Member and Co-coordinator of the Initiative for Conscientious Objection in Cyprus. 

On Thursday (1st February), conscientious objector Halil Karapaşoğlu from North Cyprus (self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) was on trial at the Security Forces Court in the northern part of Nicosia for his refusal to respond to the reserve call. Halil's case has been postponed to 14th March, 2024.

EBCO, WRI, IFOR, and Connection e.V. denounce the continuing prosecutions and imprisonments of conscientious objectors in the northern, Turkish-occupied, part of Cyprus (the self-styled “Turkish Republic of North Cyprus”). The right to conscientious objection to military service should be urgently recognised in line with the European and international law and human rights standards.

Conscientious objector Mustafa Hürben from North Cyprus was imprisoned on Tuesday (23rd January) for his refusal to participate in the reserve service.

On 18th January, Thursday, conscientious objector Mustafa Hürben from North Cyprus (self-declared “Turkish Republic of North Cyprus [TRNC]”) will be on trial due to his refusal to participate in the reserve service. 

Conscientious objection organisations from Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus jointly wrote an open letter addressing President Erdoğan of Turkey and Prime Minister Mitsotakis of Greece, advocating for regional peace, demilitarisation, and the full recognition of the right to conscientious objection.

Another young man in the self-proclaimed state of Northern Cyprus faces a prison sentence due to his refusal to perform compulsory military service.