Subject: Request to ensure the safety of conscientious objector Mehmet Bal, who is subjected to violence and intense threats in Hasdal Military Prison and request to institute the necessary investigation to determine and punish the perpetrators.

We, the lawyers of the Human Rights Association, who were appointed as the lawyers of conscientious objector Mehmet Bal within the frame of the task and program to struggle against rights violations, had the possibility to meet our client on 10 June 2008 at 3 PM in Gümüşsuyu Military Hospital. Bal was imprisoned on 8 June 2008 at 8.30 PM on the grounds of being a deserter.

We determined in our meeting with Mehmet Bal, that he was subjected to intense torture and beaten within the approximately 24 hours he spent in Hasdal Military Hospital.

Mehmet Bal was first subjected to intense beatings in the Beşiktaş Gendarmerie Station, were he was held after detained until the morning of 9 June, Monday. We already informed the public about this situation in our press conference held at our association this morning.

....---->doc1841|center>