Mehmet Bal Is Arrested For Refusing Military Service

Mehmet Bal, a conscientious objector, who announced his conscientious objection during his nine and a half month long military service, left his unit, and later acquitted of the accusation of “disobeying orders and alienating people from military service”, was arrested by police at Arnavutköy in İstanbul on Sunday (June 8).

He was taken to the 2nd Motorized Military Police Station Company Command.

Lawyer Gülseren Yoleri, the head of the Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul branch met with Bal after he spent the night in the station and determined that he was manhandled and the guards attempted to wake him up by pouring water over him.

Bal, who was arrested before and released so that he could go back to his unit, was arrested again for “insisting on disobeying orders” and sent to Hasdal Military Prison, to be transferred to Adana Military Prison.