Conscientious Objector Işık Acquitted of ‘Alienating People from Military Service’

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Charged with "alienating people from military service" due to his social media posts, conscientious objector Ali Fikri Işık has been acquitted.

Işık faced this charge after having posted on social media "Don't go into the army, but go to disco" and "All deserters are my heroes." Put on trial due to these messages, he had his first hearing on March 8, 2019.

Announcing its verdict on Işık, the İstanbul Anatolian 41st Penal Court of First Instance ruled for his acquittal on the ground that "the action in question does not constitute a crime."

The court has also ruled that the court expenses shall be incurred by the public. Accordingly, Ali Fikri Işık will be paid 2 thousand 725 Turkish Lira (approx. 480 US Dollars) from the Treasury.

'This charge has become history now'

Underlining that the verdict of the court sets a precedent for similar cases, Ali Fikri Işık has stated that the charge of "alienating people from military service" has now become a part of dusty pages of history.

The offense of "alienating people from military service" is governed by the Article 318/1 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK): "Those who try to persuade or instigate people not to enlist armed forces or propagandize with this intention are punished with imprisonment from six months to two years.The punishment to be imposed is increased by one half in case of commission of this offense through press and broadcast organs." (EKN/SD)