Conscientious Objector Goes On Hunger Strike

Mehmet Bal, who refuses completing his military service on the ground of being a conscientious objector, goes on hunger strike to protest the treatment and violence he has been subjected to in the hands of his captors.

İstanbul

The conscientious objector Mehmet Bal, who was arrested by Kağıthane Hasdal Military Court, went on hunger strike, claiming that he was subjected to violence and pressure during the night (June 8) he was detained and turned over to Beşiktaş Gendarmerie Station.

Yesterday at 12.00 the Human Rights Association (İHD) Istanbul Branch and the Antimilitarist Initiative made a press release for Bal, who was transferred to Gümüşsuyu Military Hospital yesterday morning.

“Bal is jailed within the triangle of ‘Military Unit-Court-Prison.’”

In the statement, the İHD İstanbul branch emphasized that “Bal, who announced six years ago that “I will not perform any act that is imposed on me by a person, an institution or a structure, whether military or civil, local or universal, except my own conscience or will, whatever the reasons behind such an act may be” is jailed within the triangle of ‘Military Unit-Court-Prison.’”

The reasons for Bal’s detention were given as not attending his court hearings for the accusations of “constant insistence on disobeying orders” and “desertion”, and the arrest order prepared for all these offenses. On the night he was arrested, he was taken to Gayrettepe Law and Order Directorate, Şişli Etfal Hospital and then to Beşiktaş Gendarmerie Station, where he was subjected to the insults, harassments, bad treatment and violence of the guards.

According to the information Bal gave to his lawyers the next day, his fingerprint was taken forcefully in place of his signature, since he did not sign the papers that were given to him and crossed off the “Communications Private” phrase.

He was not allowed to go to the toilet, kept waiting for hours and not given water.

Around three o’clock in the morning, one of the soldiers entered his cell and threw punches at his head, face and chest.

“Bal must be released”

Declaring that “the conscientious objector Mehmet Bal must be released”, the Antimilitarist Initiative said in its statement that “as defenders of Human Rights, we condemn the violence Bal is subjected to and the damage given to his rights and freedoms with arbitrary measures and bans during his detention, and demand that the responsible parties are punished.” (BÇ/EZÖ/TB)