Torture Allegations by Conscientious Objector Aydemir

Lawyer Halim Yılmaz, pleading the case of conscientious objector Enver Aydemir, told bianet, "Conscientious objector Enver Aydemir was tortured after he was detained and taken to prison. And the torture still continues". As reported by lawyer Yılmaz, Aydemir told him during their latest meeting that Prison Manager Colonel Halil İbrahim Çakır inflicted a bastinado punishment to him and beat the soles of Aydemir's feet himself.

Aydemir's father Ahmet Aydemir had previously talked to bianet and indicated that his son was beaten with a truncheon and that he was left waiting wet and without clothes in a cold room.

As a first step, Yılmaz and the victim's father demand to confirm the torture imposed on Aydemir and to punish the responsible people.

Hunger strike continuing for six days

Aydemir was arrested and put into the Eskişehir Military Prison on 31 July 2007 on the grounds of refusing military service due to religious reasons. He was released on 4 October 2007 by the Eskişehir Military Court upon the condition to be back to his unit unaccompanied within two days. In his following announcement Aydemir repeated his conscientious objection.

Aydemir was arrested in a search by the General Information Survey (GBT) at the Kabataş pier in Istanbul on 24 December pursuant to an arrest warrant. He had been on his way to a workshop called "Not every Turk is born as a soldier" organized by Boğaziçi University. Aydemir was brought to a military court.

Lawyer Davut Erkan visited Aydemir on 26 December. After the meeting Erkan said that Aydemir's left eye was bruised and that he was exhausted.

Aydemir's wife Kader Aydemir and his father Ahmet Aydemir filed a criminal complaint together with lawyer Yılmaz because of the torture and maltreatment Aydemir has been exposed to.

Ahmet Aydemir told bianet yesterday (29 December) that his son was subject to the Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory, one of the most frequently used personality tests in mental health, carried out in the Gülhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) in Istanbul.

According to the outcome of the test, the military psychiatry will decide on the state of Aydemir's mental health.

Aydemir started a hunger strike six days ago to express his protest against the maltreatment and torture imposed on him. His physical health has been deteriorating correspondingly during the last couple of days.

35-year-old Aydemir is married and father of two children.

61 men and 13 women declared conscientious objection in Turkey since 1989. Six of these 74 people were tried because of their objection and were either sent to their units or to prison as a result of their trials. Nine people were brought to military branches by different means. (BÇ/VK)