COLD TURKEY

Nineteen Turkish anti-militarist activists will be put on trial on February 15th for “alienating people from military service” and “praising a crime and criminals”. The case originates from a solidarity demo held for Enver Aydemir, a conscientious objector held in prison since
December 24th.

The thirty members of the mostly anarchist anti-militarist group The Freedom Initiative for Anti-Militarist Prisoners were trying to make a public statement about Enver’s imprisonment. But the moment they began to read their statements they were surrounded by 100 riot police. After taking a bit of a kicking, twenty three of them were nicked. Twenty two of them were later released but one man, Volkan Sevinç, has been remanded, allegedly for possession of a pen-knife.

They were held in custody for 24 hours without sleep before being dragged before the courts and charged. National Service is compulsory in Turkey for all men and the state does not recognise any right to conscientious objection.

War Resisters International are urging people to fax Military Prosecutor of Bilecik, who is in charge of Enver Aydemir’s case. The fax number is +90-222-2375928

*see www.wri-irg.org/node/9483

www.ahaligazetesi.org/makale/the-trial-of-the-19-anti-militarists-for-alienating-people-from-military-service-will-be-held-on-february-15th/