Freedom of Expression

Pacifists Mehmet Atak, Oğuz Sönmez, Gürşat Özdamar and Serkan Bayram all face prison sentences in a trial at the Beyoğlu 2nd Criminal Court of Peace in Istanbul for supporting conscientious objector Mehmet Bal.

They are on trial under Article 318 of the Turkish Penal Code, accused of "alienating the public against the military".

The rights activists, who face up to two years imprisonment, had protested against the fact that Bal, who had been imprisoned for six months, was rearrested and taken to military prison, where he is said to have been tortured.

The next court hearing will be on 15 July, and defence lawyer and human rights activist Eren Keskin will speak at the hearing.

Members of the Anti-Militarist Initiative gathered at Galatasaray Square in Istanbul on 11 June 2008, protesting against the treatment of Bal with slogans and placards.

Following a press statement, a plain clothes police inspector collected IDs from the protesters. During an ensuing argument the four activists now on trial were taken into custody.

Real crime is the torture

Lawyer Keskin has said in court before that making press statements is not dependant on permission being given, and that shouting slogans is also not illegal.

She added that, during the press statement, she had also been next to Bal, who had been brought in a stretcher with clear effects of torture. The lawyer argued that the real problem was how conscientious objection was being dealt with in Turkey and how the country was resisting any amendments to its legislation despite decrees of the European Court of Human Rights. (EÖ/AG)