Conscientious Objector Tarhan's Tormentors Are Acquitted

The four soldiers who were arrested for attempting to lynch conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan while in the military prison have been acquitted. Tarhan’s lawyer Suna Coşkun told bianet that they were planning to appeal the verdict that acquitted  Ertan Mertoğlu, Hakkı Dinel, Ersoy Özbulduk and Ercan Kızılboğa at the Supreme Court of Appeals. Coşkun says it looks like the evidence against the suspects was not taken into consideration at all and the acquittal was given on the grounds that the elements of the alleged crime had never occured.

The appealing process takes time

Planning to ask for an appeal with hearings, Coşkun points out to the length of the appeal procedure.

She says her petition will go from the high criminal court to the Supreme Court of Appeals and from there to the military court and then to the Military Court of Appeals.

According to her, the verdict does not reflect what occurred and therefore, she believes, the Supreme Court of Appeals will reverse the judgment.

“Mehmet likes the peace”

In the meantime, the theatre group “Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası” (Naked Feet Company) is getting ready to start performing the play titled “Mehmet Likes The Peace”, which is based on the story of the conscientious objector. (BÇ/TB)