Journalist Ozbaris Faces 21 Years in Jail

Following last week's trial of writer Perihan Magden for defending conscientious objection, the issue of anti-militarism and laws stays on Turkey's agenda with a seventh court case launched against journalist Birgul Ozbaris, charged once again with discouraging the people from military service.

Ozbaris, a reporter for the pro-Kurdish daily "Ulkede Ozgur Gundem" (Free Agenda in the Country) newspaper, was recently charged under article 318/2 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) for an April 24, 2006 article in the newspaper titled "Don't draw guns on your brothers" and for an April 9, 2006 article titled "Conscientious Objector Sayda: Don't do military service".

Arguing that the court cases against her ban the freedom of thought, Ozbaris says "being against militarism is being against war. Other than that, I'm a journalist and I have the freedom to write my views on this issue and prepare stories on it".

Since last year a total of seven cases have been opened against Ozbaris under article 318/2 with 21 years imprisonment demanded for her. The interview she conducted with conscientious objector Halil Sayda is subject to two separate cases, one launched by the Prosecutor's Office of the Beyoglu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance and the other launched on a criminal complaint by the Chief of General Staff Office.

The journalist is also on trial for a May 15, 2005 dated series in the newspaper titled "Neither military service, nor war" and an article titled "If Turkey played its role" under the same article.

Cases have also been launched against her articles "Anti-war meeting" published on September 24, 2005, "A message to Europe from objectors" published on October 19 and her news report the same day under the title "Conscientious objectors want compulsory military service discussed in the EU accession talks".

According to article 318 of the TCK, anyone found guilty of committing, inciting or encouraging acts that discourage people from military service can be punished from six to 24 months imprisonment and if the offence is committed through the media pr press, the penalty is increased by half. (EO/II/YE)