Tour dates 13.02-12.03.2025: Conscientious Objection in Turkey
The Civil Death
(12.02.2025) Türkiye does not recognize the human right to conscientious objection to military service. Conscientious objectors experience a lifelong “civil death” in the country. They face persecutions, fines and prison sentences. With their decision, they are clearly opposing militarization in Türkiye and war.
Conscientious objectors and their supporters are active together in the group Vicdani Ret İzleme (Conscientious Objection Watch). We have invited them to visit us and tell us about their work and the situation they live in. There will be thus an opportunity to also hear personal experiences of conscientious objectors. They will talk about their strategies of resistance against conscription and war in Türkiye. They will also speak about their contacts with groups in the Kurdish regions and discuss whether conscientious objection can be a way to end the war in the region. Furthermore they will present the work of Vicdani Ret İzleme and invite you to join them in strengthening the efforts to refuse war and against conscription.
We are excited to meet with them and invite you to join in
Th., 13.2., 20.30 h in Vicenza: @Istituto Saveriani, Via Trento 119
Fr., 14.2., 20.30 h in Torino: @Sala Poli, Centro Studi Sereno Regis, Via Garibaldi 13, aperitif: 19:00
Sa., 15.2., 11 h in Torino: Peace Presence, Piazza Carignano
Wd., 19.2., 12.30 h in Genf: @Human rights cafe, Palais des Nations, 14 Avenue de la Paix
Mo., 24.2., 19 h in Basel: @Buchhandlung Labyrinth, Nadelberg 17
Mo., 24.2., 19 h in Frankfurt/M.: @Medico International, Lindleystr. 15
Tu., 25.2., 19.30 h in Oldenburg: @ALSO Oldenburg, Donnerschweer Str. 55
Th., 27.2., 18 h in 10117 Berlin: @IPB Conference Room, Marienstraße 19-20
Fr., 28.2., 19 h in Karlsruhe: @IBZ – Internationales Begegnungs Zentrum Karlsruhe e.V., EG, Großer Saal, Kaiserallee 12 d
Fr., 28.2., 18.30 h in Wustrow: @Kurve Wustrow, Kirchstr. 14
Th., 6.3., in Wien
Wd., 12.3., in Trier
Our speakers
Merve Arkun is one of the vice presidents of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection and an executive member of War Resisters’ International, will give briefings on the current situation of the right to conscientious objection in Türkiye and examples of the work carried out. She will also share gender perspectives on conscientious objection as a human right.
Hüseyin Civan is a conscientious objector and has been subjected to restrictions on his civil rights and is experiencing „civil death” (a term used by the European Court of Human Rights to describe the situation of conscientious objectors in Türkiye) due to his refusal to serve in the army.
Inan Aru is a conscientious objector and has been tried and imprisoned many times on the same charge due to Türkiye’s failure to recognize the right to conscientious objection.
Hülya Üçpinar is a human rights lawyer from Türkiye, and has a long track record of campaigning for the right to conscientious objection in Türkiye. She is also experienced in applying for this human right within the European and UN system. She is an executive committee member of War Resisters’ International and one of the co-founders of the Nonviolent Education and Research Centre based in İstanbul.
The tour is organised by Connection e.V. and War Resisters‘ International. Locally supported by Gruppe Schweiz ohne Armee (GSoA); International Peace Bureau (IPB); Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft - Vereinigte KriegsdienstgegnerInnen (DFG-VK) Karlsruhe, Berlin and Frankfurt/M.; Ev. Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Kriegsdienstverweigerung und Frieden (EAK); Antimilitaristisches Bündnis Oldenburg; Antimilitaristisches Projekt Oldenburg; attac Regionalgruppe Oldenburg; Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Niedersachsen; Kurve Wustrow; Antimilitaristisches Bündnis Wendland; internationales Begegnungszentrum Karlsruhe; Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker Regionalgruppe Karlsruhe.
Connection e.V.: Veranstaltungsreihe 13.2.-12.3.2025: Kriegsdienstverweigerung in der Türkei. 12. Februar 2025
Keywords: ⇒ Conscientious Objection ⇒ Turkey ⇒ War