DIHA 15.05.2010- Human Rights Istanbul Branch (IHD) asked that Conscientious Objection must be recognized as one of citizen rights.
Regarding European Council’s advice, United Nations Civil and Political Rights Act and European Human Rights Act, IHD emphasized that “even though Turkey’s sign under these acts Conscientious Objectors are being faced by forced recruitment, arrests, torture and trial. This must be changed and Conscientious Objection has to be under constitutional guarantee.”
Turkey is a country that signed the acts such as European Council’s decisions, United Nations Civil and Political Rights Act and European Human Rights Act but Conscientious Objection is still forbidden in Turkey. IHD pointed out this controversy between theory and practice in Turkey and government to take the Conscientious Objection under constitutional guarantee.
“Article 72 in the constitution must be changed due to Conscientious Objection has to be under constitutional guarantee. Human must not be used as a war factor. Conscientious Objection is a real contra attack against the state’s armed construction. That is why the states are hard on conscientious objectors. Anyhow, Turkey signed a lot of international agreements which mostly support Conscientious Objections or have some advises about it. But there is no practice related this right in Turkey. Because of this, Turkey needs to take a step in order to make it easy for conscientious objectors. Beginning from article 72 of constitution can make it possible and conscientious objectors would be secure according to this amendment. Being conscientious objectors must be recognized as one of basic human rights and brutal oppressions on them have to be stopped.”
