Dear all, greetings from Istanbul...
I am writing to request your support for a dearest friend, Mehmet bal, who is a conscientious objector in turkey. mehmet had declared his refusal to serve for the turkish military in 2002. he�was consequently sent to the Adana Military Prison where he was on hunger strike for 33 days due to the violence inflicted on him at this institution.
Last week, in the afternoon of Sunday June 8, 2008, on account of his conscientious objection, mehmet was once again taken into custody by two undercover policemen by his apartment in istanbul. the next day, he was sent to the Hasdal Military Prison, where he was subjected to a lynching attempt by 5 or 6 soldier-prisoners under the supervision and provocation of the prison administration.
On Friday, June 11, 2008, mehmet was transferred to the Adana Military Prison where he awaits another military trial to take place on Friday June 20, 2008. as his friends concerned for Mehmet’s well being and the istanbul "anti-militarist initiative," we have initiated a fax campaign addressed to the turkish ministry of defense, the presidency, the human rights commission of the parliament of turkey and the Adana Military Prison administration. you can find the text of this fax, as well as the brief reports of mehmet’s volunteer lawyers (rush translation) attached. they provide details concerning his situation and the terrible treatment mehmet was subjected to.
For those who are versed in the tradition of conscientious objection, mehmet is a "total objector." currently, there are numerous actions taking place across europe—on the internet and on the streets, even in the parliaments of turkey and the netherlands—in solidarity with him. besides sending the attached fax personally, you could add your name to the fax text by sending an email to�mehmetbalaozgurluk at gmail.com
Whatever you may be able to do—faxing; organizing actions at the embassies and consulates of turkey; signing an internet petition initiated in barcelona dear all, greetings from istanbul...
I am writing to request your support for a dearest friend, mehmet bal, who is a conscientious objector in turkey. mehmet had declared his refusal to serve for the turkish military in 2002. he�was consequently sent to the Adana Military Prison where he was on hunger strike for 33 days due to the violence inflicted on him at this institution.ï
Last week, in the afternoon of Sunday June 8, 2008, on account of his conscientious objection, mehmet was once again taken into custody by two undercover policemen by his apartment in istanbul. the next day, he was sent to the Hasdal Military Prison, where he was subjected to a lynching attempt by 5 or 6 soldier-prisoners under the supervision and provocation of the prison administration.
On Friday, June 11, 2008, Mehmet was transferred to the Adana Military Prison where he awaits another military trial to take place on Friday June 20, 2008. as his friends concerned for mehmet’s well being and the istanbul "anti-militarist initiative," we have initiated a fax campaign addressed to the turkish ministry of defense, the presidency, the human rights commission of the parliament of turkey and the Adana Military Prison administration. you can find the text of this fax, as well as the brief reports of mehmet’s volunteer lawyers (rush translation) attached. they provide details concerning his situation and the terrible treatment mehmet was subjected to.
For those who are versed in the tradition of conscientious objection, Mehmet is a "total objector." currently, there are numerous actions taking place across europe—on the internet and on the streets, even in the parliaments of turkey and the netherlands—in solidarity with him. besides sending the attached fax personally, you could add your name to the fax text by sending an email to mehmetbalaozgurluk at gmail.com
Whatever you may be able to do—faxing; organizing actions at the embassies and consulates of turkey; signing an internet petition initiated in Barcelona http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/freemehmet/index.html
dr. ayça çubukçu
postdoctoral fellow
committee on global thought
columbia university
new york, new york