Primeminister Erbakan
Basbakanligi Konulu
Ankara
Tyrkey
Regarding the charges on Osman Murat Ülke.
Dear Sir,
I am very concerned about the case of the chairman of Izmir Savas Karsitlari
Dernegi, Osman Murat Ülke, who was arrested on October 7th 1996 in Izmir.
After the trail on th 19th of November he was sent to the Bilecik camp and there
he was imprisoned because of "disobedience". On January 28th Osman was
sentenced to 6 months of prison for alienting the people from the military, and
was sent to Bilecik again. He was not allowed to be present at the trail
against him on disobedience on January 30.
Osman Murat Ülke is not a criminal. His only "crime" is that he does not
want to be a soldier. Something that is perfectly legal in other countries. In
Denmark the state recognized 771 conscientious objectors in 1995 and allowed
them to do civillian service instead of serving in the army.
The prosecution of a conscientious objector violates the freedom of
thought and expression.
The human rights commision of the United Nations has recognized conscientious
objection as a human right on March 8th, 1995 in Geneva.
Therefore I urge you to give up the charges on Osman Murat Ülke
immediately.
Yours sincerely
(Underskrift, navn og adresse)
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