Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Turkey: Trial of Dr. Serdar Küni, Şırnak 2nd heavy penal court

Statement of International Delegation of Trial Monitors

(25.04.2017) [Cizre, Turkey] Dr. Serdar Küni, a medical doctor working in the Cizre office of Human Rights Foundation Turkey, was convicted of section 220/7 of the Turkish Penal Code, “aiding and abetting terrorist organizations”, on 24 April 2017 during the second hearing of his trial. The court sentenced Dr. Kuni to four years, two months imprisonment, but released him from prison pending his appeal. No written judgment to explain the ruling is yet available.

Our conclusions are that the trial proceedings ignored the most basic of international fair trial standards, and failed to take into account the arbitrary nature of the charges against Dr. Küni. Our principal concerns about the trial process are summarised below.

Turkey: Conviction of good medical practice by the Şırnak Local Court on behalf of Serdar Küni MD is unacceptable!

(25.04.2017) The proceeding has shown us clearly that what’s on trial is in fact, the universal ethical principles related to medical practice. Despite immense difficulties, MD. Serdar Küni has been, for many years and in the witness of many, practicing human rights-based medicine in Cizre district of Şırnak, with a strong commitment to the ethical and scientific references of good medical practice. Since the very first day, we know that the real target of this “trial” is national and international law and conventions, universal ethical principles of good medical practice and mainly human conscience.

Turkey: Jail Term for Conscientious Objector Onur Erden

(23.03.2017) Conscientious objector Onur Erden has been sentenced to 10 months in prison on charge of deserting mandatory military service. Erden will go to prison in case the penalty is approved by the Military Supreme Court.

Turkey: International observers monitored MD Serdar Küni’s Trial

(17.03.2017) Early this week, War Resisters' International joined a group of international organisations to observe the hearing of Serdar Küni, a doctor and veteran human rights defender in Şırnak, Turkey. Dr. Küni has been kept in custody since October 2016, accused of being a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) under Article 314/2 of Turkish Penal Code. His first trial, attended by 70 observers, including six observers from Germany, UK, Sweden, Norway and US. took place on 13^th March, Monday.