Mehmet Bal Is Arrested For Refusing Military Service

Bal, a conscientious objector, is arrested for refusing to return to his unit. He was manhandled in the military detention facility where he spent the night. The Human Rights Association plans to protest the incident.

BIA News Service - İstanbul

10-06-2008

Bawer ÇAKIR

Mehmet Bal, a conscientious objector, who announced his conscientious objection during his nine and a half month long military service, left his unit, and later acquitted of the accusation of “disobeying orders and alienating people from military service”, was arrested by police at Arnavutköy in İstanbul on Sunday (June 8).

He was taken to the 2nd Motorized Military Police Station Company Command.

Lawyer Gülseren Yoleri, the head of the Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul branch met with Bal after he spent the night in the station and determined that he was manhandled and the guards attempted to wake him up by pouring water over him.

Bal, who was arrested before and released so that he could go back to his unit, was arrested again for “insisting on disobeying orders” and sent to Hasdal Military Prison, to be transferred to Adana Military Prison.

The Human Righs Association İstanbul branch will protest Bal’s arrest with a press release today (June 10, Tuesday) at 12.00. (BÇ/EÜ/TB)

Homepage | Return top

| Print

| Send to..

This website is published within the framework of "Journalism for Rights, Rights for Journalists" -dubbed as BİA3 - project implemented by the IPS Communication Foundation with the financial assistance of the European Union (EU) and Swedish International development Agency (SIDA). International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) has also contributed to the website's upgrading costs. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of IPS Communication Foundation and under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the EU and SIDA and IFEX.