Northern Cyprus: Halil Karapaşaoğlu‘s jailing condemned

(15.01.2019) In 2013, Turkish Cypriot Halil Karapaşaoğlu announced that he was a conscientious objector and refused to report for reserve army duty in the Turkish army in the occupied part of Cyprus.

Karapaşaoğlu had previously completed his military term and once served as an army reserve. But between 2014 – 2017, he refused to serve as a reservist. His trial before a ‘military court’ has now resulted in his conviction on 3rd January 2019 with a fine of 2000 Turkish liras.

He had already filed an appeal against the decision taken by the ‘military court’ in the occupied northern part of Cyprus. Today, however, he was arrested after he refused to pay the fine. He will now serve a 20-day sentence in prison.

GUE/NGL deplores Halil Karapaşaoğlu’s imprisonment and hereby declares our support and solidarity with him as well as all other conscientious objectors who oppose militarisation, and all those who strive to enforce non-violent means of thinking.

GUE/NGL: Halil Karapaşaoğlu‘s jailing in northern Cyprus condemned. January 15, 2019.

Keywords:    ⇒ Conscientious Objection   ⇒ Cyprus   ⇒ Halil Karapasaoglu   ⇒ Prosecution