National Defense Minister Ismet Yılmaz said at least 1036 committed suicide during compulsory drafting since 2002 - the beginning year of AKP rule in Turkey.
Responding to an official inquiry by CHP deputy Mahmut Tanal, Yılmaz announced the distribution of suicidal soldiers according to years as follows:
“157 in 2002, 95 in 2003, 87 in 2004, 99 in 2005, 85 in 2006, 88 in 2007, 83 in 2008, 75 in 2009, 80 in 2010, 65 in 2011, 69 in 2012 and 52 in 2013 (until October 30).
Yılmaz said that those who left their lives during training, operation or tracking were buried in “martyr cemeteries” according to ministry regulation.
He also added that religious affiliation did not influence the “martyr criteria” and families of deceased soldiers receive financial support from Turkish Armed Forces Mehmetçik Foundation.
In his official inquiry, Tanal asked the following questions:
* What is the distribution of Turkish Military Forces staff on compulsory drafting who committed suicide between 2002 and now?
* How many of these soldiers have been considered as martyr?
* What are the criteria for a soldier to be considered as martyr? Who is considered so and who is not? How do you make the distinction? Does the religious affiliation of individual influence these criteria? If so, isn’t this considered as discrimination?
* What kind of rights or privilidges do families receive when their sons commit suicide? (EKN/BM)
