4 year sentence given to Tarhan

greece / turkey / cyprus | imperialism / war | news report Saturday November 05, 2005 04:10 by War Resisters Association

By the Military Court of Appeal

Conscientous/Total Objector Mehmet Tarhan’s Demands Granted. Tarhan ended hunger strike on day 34 (in 3 Noevmber 2005).

Conscientous/total objector Mehmet Tarhan, currently held at Sivas Military Prison, ended the hunger strike he had started on September 30, on its 34th day, on November 2, 2005. Having been subject to unjust and arbitrary practices in prison, Tarhan had gone on a hunger strike on September 30, 2005 after his hair and beard wereforcefully and violently shaven. Tarhan’s demands (with the exception of a civilian doctor’s examination) were met after 34 days.

Tarhan’s lawyers announced his demands as follows:

«Protesting the unfair and inhumane treatment he received, legal action against the perpetrators, civilian doctor’s examination, having the same rights as all the other prisoners»...

Tarhan who has been in Sivas Military Prison for 7 months, had previously gone on another 28-day hunger strike with similar demands.

Military Court of Appeal, overruled the 4year

The verdict that sentenced Tarhan to 4 years, was overruled on the grounds of procedure, according to the information we have at this moment (but there can be other reasons for the overrulement). It is expected that Tarhan will be tried again by the Sivas Military Court on the charges of «insistent insubordination before the unit with the intent of evading military service altogether»

for more information http://www.wri-irg.org/co/turkcampaign-en.htm

* Mehmet Tarhan is an anarchist, gay activist conscientous/total objector who is imprisoned since April 2005 related with his rejection of compulsory military service. His struggle is supported by anarchist, anti-authoritarian and anti-militarist groups in Turkey.