Campaign for Conscientious Objector Ulke

An international signature campaign against the demanded prison sentence for conscientious objector Osman Murat Ülke has begun.

International support

The German Peace Organisation - Union of Pacifists, the Global Women's Movement, the Greek Association of Conscientious Objectors, the Payday Men's Network and the International Pacifists have announced that Ülke is being threatened with 17 months imprisonment and have started a signature campaign on the Internet.

The campaigners say that "Refusing to kill is not a crime" and call for an end of the persecution of conscientious objectors. They also reminded readers that Tureky had promised the European Council to prepare a new legislation that would prevent conscientious objectors being punished repeatedly; but has not kept the promise.

Tried for conscientious objection

On 1 September 1995, Ülke had burnt his summons to do military service, saying "I am not a soldier and will never be one. I will never do military service." He was arrested five times between 1996 and 1999 for refusing to go to the army.

"Civil death"

On 9 March 1999, he was released from military prison in order to surrender to his unit. He went home. According to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), he has since then been sentenced to "civil death".

No legal changes yet

On 13-14 February 2007, the European Committee of the Council of Ministers expressed its sorrow at the fact that although the ECHR had found Turkish institutions guilty of violations, no preventative measures were being taken.

On 6 June 2007, Turkish institutions told the European Council that a legal proposal which would prevent the repeated punishment of conscientious objectors was under way. (AÖ/AG)