content tagged with military

Turkey spent 135 million dollars in a year for military activities abroad

Turkey spent 135 million dollars in a year for military activities abroad

According to the 2021 Activity Report of the Ministry of Defense, Turkey spent 70 billion Turkish lira (1 US dollar = 14.93 lira) on "National Defense and Security", and 200 million on the walls built on the borders with Iran and Syria.

The appetite for armament

The appetite for armament

Do we have to buy so many weapons? What are we giving up to buy so many weapons? Is it possible to both fill the country with this many weapons and to combat poverty?

12 October 2021 Bülent Danışoğlu

Reports: Turkey wants to buy more F-16s, update kits

Reports: Turkey wants to buy more F-16s, update kits

Being excluded from the F-35 fighter jet program, Ankara now seeks to buy more F-16s, according to reports.

Erdoğan: Turkey aims to overcome 'covert embargoes' by focusing on defense industry

Erdoğan: Turkey aims to overcome 'covert embargoes' by focusing on defense industry

The president has described the philosophy of Turkey's defense industry as "If you want peace, prepare for war."

‘Isolation Conditions Must be Ensured in Barracks, Controlled Discharge is Necessary’

INDUCTION AND DISCHARGE POSTPONEMENT PLAN

‘Isolation Conditions Must be Ensured in Barracks, Controlled Discharge is Necessary’

Retired military judge Kardaş and Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Secretary General Yılmaz have spoken to bianet about the plans to postpone induction and discharge in mandatory military service for a month over Covid-19 outbreak.

16 April 2020 Hikmet Adal

Conscientious Objector Jailed

Conscientious Objector Jailed

A military court ordered the imprisonment of contributing writer Ali Fikri Işık (56), who declared his conscientious objection decades ago.

28 February 2013 Ekin Karaca

ECHR Finds Turkey Guilty For Abusing Right to Life

ECHR Finds Turkey Guilty For Abusing Right to Life

ECHR found Turkey guilty in the case of Lütfi Volkan Akıncı who was "reported to have committed suicide" during his compulsory military service in 2002.

12 December 2012 Çiçek Tahaoğlu,Ayça Söylemez

Questions Linger in the Air Following Deadly Munitions Blast in Afyon

Questions Linger in the Air Following Deadly Munitions Blast in Afyon

Two consecutive blasts that killed 25 troops and injured four more at a barracks in the western province of Afyon on Wednesday evening triggered a flurry of questions with regards to the cause of the incident. The General Staff consequently issued a statement which criticized the press for its coverage of the blast but failed to yield any answers.

11 September 2012 Çiçek Tahaoğlu

Scores of Militants, Troops Die in Clashes in Hakkari

MILITARY OPERATIONS IN FULL SWING

Scores of Militants, Troops Die in Clashes in Hakkari

Two specialist sergeants died and one soldier was injured after members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) detonated a roadside bomb in the southeastern province of Hakkari. Another troop and 15 PKK militants also lost their lives during a military operation in the area.

ECHR Convicts Turkey On Rights Abuse In Military

ECHR Convicts Turkey On Rights Abuse In Military

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) sentenced Turkey to pay a fine in the amount of 17,500 euros on the charge of violating the rights of freedom and security in the case of four specialists sergeants who were placed under chamber arrest.

Instalment Sentence for Broken Bone

VIOLENCE IN THE ARMY

Instalment Sentence for Broken Bone

The court found Sergeant Ersoy guilty of having beaten Private Abravcı who suffered a broken hip bone. However, Ersoy received a monetary fine to be paid in instalments since it was not confirmed whether the fracture was caused by the beating.

5 January 2012 Ekin Karaca

EMASYA Protocol Abrogated

MILITARY-CIVILIAN RELATIONS

EMASYA Protocol Abrogated

The EMASYA protocol, which enabled soldiers to intervene directly in civilian incidents, has been lifted. Interior Minister Atalay forwarded the decision to the governorships, saying: "The existing legislation is sufficient, the law gives the authority to the governors".

8 February 2010 Tolga Korkut

Human Rights Watch: New Constitution As a Priority for Turkey

HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

Human Rights Watch: New Constitution As a Priority for Turkey

Human Rights Watch has issued the World Report 2010. The organization says that obstacles to change in Turkey remain clear, e.g. the constitution that disregards human rights or the struggle to assert civilian control over the military.

26 January 2010 Tolga Korkut

"Nobody Wears down the Military, the Military Frays Itself"

MILITARY AND POLITICS

"Nobody Wears down the Military, the Military Frays Itself"

At the symposium "The Military's Political Role in Turkey" participants criticized the lack of monitoring for the military's spending and demanded to question the "trust in the military". They also emphasized the importance of freedom of expression and called for more transparency.

24 November 2009 Tolga Korkut

"Allegations of Plan Legitimise Gülen Movement"

Ertuğrul Kürkçü on the Alleged Plan against AKP and Gülen

"Allegations of Plan Legitimise Gülen Movement"

Speaking to the Birgün newspaper, bianet coordinator Kürkçü discussed the alleged military plan.

Conscientious Objector Özkan Faces Court

Doğan Özkan read a press briefing of the Human Rights Association in front of Selimiye Barracks in Üsküdar in 2004. Now he is facing court for discouraging people from doing military service.

5 February 2009 Bawer Çakır

Conscientious Objector Bal’s Case Postponed To February 3

The third hearing for the trial of the four people who wounded and tried to kill conscientious objector Mehmet Bal was held. One of the accused was at the hearing. The other four will be listened at the next hearing.

30 December 2008

Military Hypocrisy in Mothertongue Education Debate

General Basbug opposes education in their mothertongue for "some ethnic groups", but many military and other schools encourage education in a foreign language medium.

26 September 2007 Gökçe Gündüç

Lawyers Protest Semdinli Court Transfer

Lawyers Protest Semdinli Court Transfer

Jurists doubt military court will guarantee a fair trial. Human Rights Law specialist Terzi: The soldiers need to be tried in a civil court.

19 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

Semdinli Trial in Military Court

Semdinli Trial in Military Court

The Van 3rd Penal Court decreed that it was not responsible for the Semdinli trial; the case has been sent to military court.

17 September 2007 Tolga Korkut