Twenty-three year old Mehmet Ali Avcı announces at the Istanbul Branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD) his conscientious objection to military service. İHD members and Ümit Şahin from the Greens Party support Avcı’s action. 

The number of the conscientious objectors rise to 69 with Avcı’s announcement. According to Turkish Law, military service  is obligatory for all male citizens of 20 years of age, with exceptions and postponements for the sick, disabled and university and post-graduate students. The right to conscientious objection is yet unrecognized and those who escape military service are subject to prison sentences.

According to Avcı, his decision, as a Kurd, is based on his refusal to take part in the army of a state that takes away and even ignores the existence of his social, political, economic rights and his language.

He also refuses to carry arms for the reason that it is the violation of the right to life and does not want to be the guard of the war profiteers.

Avcı invites everyone with a conscience to question this unjust system and to take a stand against Turkish Armed Forces' insistence on perpetuating this system by refusing to do military service and declaring conscientious objection.

İHD: We support Avcı

Supporting Avcı’s conscientious objection, Ümit Şahin of the Greens Party pointed out to the war in Georgia and how important conscientious objection was in this regard, repeating their demand for the removal of article 318 of the Turkish Penal Code, which punishes “alienating people from military service”. 

Supporters

Among those who announced their support for Avcı are: January 19 Collective, Amargi Women Cooperative, Anarchy Collective Ankara, Antimilitaristic Initiative, We Are Not Men Initiative - Bedi, Young Civilians, Rainbow Women’s Association, İHD Istanbul Branch, Kurdish Conscientious Objection Initiative, LambdaIstanbul LGBTT Association, Mesopotamia Culture Center – MKM, Van Women’s Association, The Greens Party, Van Antimilitaristic Initiative.(CU/EZÖ/TB)