Kurdish Politician Investigated for Call to Refuse Military Service

The prosecutor of Batman in the pre-dominantly Kurdish region of south-eastern Turkey initiated an investigation into the Peace and Democracy (BDP) group deputy chair, Bengi Yıldız, because he publicly said, "do not send you children to the military service".

The investigation is being carried out under allegations of "alienating the public from military service". Article 318 of the Turkish Criminal Code (TCK) stipulates punishment of between 6 months and two years for "discouraging people from performing military service".

Yıldız made this statement after an attack of the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on a gendarmerie outpost in Şemdinli close to the Iraqi border in south-eastern Turkey on 19 June.

In a press release issued on 20 June in Batman, Yıldız said, "There will be funerals. There will also be funerals for Kurdish children. Do not send your children to the military after this. Our children will die and we will go to prison. Spread this word to everybody".

Right to conscientious objection not recognized

Yıldız emphasized that the right to conscientious objection is recognized by international agreements.

As reported by Hürriyet newspaper, the prosecution is furthermore going to launch an investigation against the Turkish politician under allegations of violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations and "propaganda for an illegal organization".

Turkish courts have previously punished statements on the topic of conscientious objection. People who announce conscientious objection are tried at military courts. Turkey is one of two countries of the European Council that do not recognize the right to conscientious objection. (EÜ/EÖ/VK)