PRIDE IN REFUSING TO KILL
Mehmet Tarhan is free!
Mehmet Tarhan, gay Kurdish conscientious objector, has been released from
military prison. The highest military court of appeal in Turkey (the Military
Court of Cassation) ruled that he had been punished enough for his “crime”.
His crime was refusing to kill.
Mr Tarhan had been in prison since 9 April 2005: serving a sentence of four
years. The Turkish army tried to break his resistance with abuse and torture,
he was often put in solitary confinement and twice went on hunger strike to
win equal treatment with other prisoners.
After the court’s judgement, Mehmet Tarhan was taken to the recruitment office
where he was ordered to present himself to his military unit. He refused to
obey and instead went home to his family.
“It’s important to be able to touch each other and maintain communication.
There has been much strain on me throughout this ordeal, but if we can
maintain this solidarity we can gain the strength to continue the struggle and
put pressure on public opinion.” Mehmet Tarhan
His release is a victory first of all for his determination to refuse the
army’s “offer” of avoiding the draft by allowing himself to be classified as
“ill” because he is gay. He refused to submit to an anal examination, the
equivalent of the notorious “virginity test”, used for decades by the Turkish
police and army as a pretext to perpetrate rape and other sexual violence
against women, Kurdish and also Turkish.
“In fact, all women in Turkey are persecuted, even in high schools, where the
head is entitled by law to carry out virginity checks. The Court of Cassation
has now ruled that forced physical examination is a violation of human rights
and the integrity of the person. It is ironic that the ruling has come in
relation to a man rather than a woman -- such is the patriarchal structure of
our society -- but it is a big victory for women too. Women’s struggle against
virginity checks contributed to victory in my case, and now there is a
precedent which can be referred to by women.” Mehmet Tarhan
Mehmet’s release was also won by his mother and sister who have been working
non-stop for this day despite ill health and financial deprivation from the
loss of two wages, Mehmet’s and Mehmet’s brother Yusuf’s, who was drafted into
the army at the same time.
“The morning after Mehmet’s release, when I woke up I had to check he was
really there. Of course there is still a risk that he could be sent back to
prison, but today we went for a stroll by the sea and it’s just great to see
him.” Emine Tarhan, Mehmet’s sister.
“I couldn’t sleep for many nights, but now happiness is mixed with all sorts
of emotions. I take 15 tablets a day and that’s what keeps me going, without
them I couldn’t stand up, but of course I can stand up today.” Hatice Tarhan,
Mehmet’s mother.
Mehmet Tarhan’s release is a victory for the 350-500,000 draft evaders
throughout Turkey and for prisoners in military jails and their families –
many of whom have indicated their support for him.
His resistance has also inspired Payday and other organizations to pull
together an unprecedented network -- anti-war activists, refuseniks,
anti-militarists, anarchists, women’s, lesbian and gay and human rights
campaigners in at least 13 countries. International protests alerted a number
of MEPs to raise Mehmet Tarhan’s case in the European Parliament and in turn
warned the Turkish authorities that their repressive actions would continue to
cause them trouble. A motion was also circulated in the Scottish Parliament in
Mehmet Tarhan’s support.
The army could again try to force Mehmet Tarhan to serve. However, a recent
victory at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) won by another
conscientious objector, Osman Murat Űlke, declared Turkey guilty of inflicting
“degrading treatment” for using the threat of, and actual, repeated
imprisonment. The ECHR described the “clandestine life” that a conscientious
objector was compelled to adopt in Turkey as “civil death”.
International vigilance must prevent any further persecution of Mr Tarhan, Mr
Űlke, and the other 80 men who have declared themselves conscientious
objectors.
Turkey is one of almost 100 countries which imposes conscription and one of
the 70 which does not recognize conscientious objection. Turkey must be forced
to adhere to the EHCR’s guidance and other international rulings, recognising
the right to conscientious objection; and must abolish from its military
regulations the definition of homosexuality as an illness
www.refusingtokill.net
April 2006
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