OPEN LETTER for the release of Turkish Cypriot activist Halil Karapasaoglu

To:   President of the Republic of Turkey
Mr. Abdullah Gül
Fax: +90-312-427.13.30
E-mail: cumhurbaskanligi@tccb.gov.tr

Cc:   Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey
Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Fax: +90-312-417.04.76
E-mail: receptayyip.erdogan@basbakanlik.gov.tr

EBCO's campaign to end military courts judging civilians

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection denounces the continuing trials of civilians and conscientious objectors before military courts. Recent cases in Egypt, Greece and Turkey have demonstrated that military courts do not respect the rule of law nor international conventions on human rights. EBCO invites human rights organisations to join an international campaign to stop military courts judging civilians.

No more military courts for conscientious objectors

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection welcomes the recent landmark decision on the case of the Turkish-Cypriot conscientious objector Murat Kanatli. On December 8 the Military Court in Lefkosa (“northern” Nicosia, Cyprus) accepted the demand of Murat Kanatli to refer his case to the Constitutional Court on the basis of the freedom of thought and expression.

Turkey, Cyprus and Greece must drop the charges against conscientious objectors Halil Savda, Murat Kanatli and Gerasimos Koroneos respectively

Brussels, 7 December 2011

On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2011, the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection calls for solidarity with Turkish conscientious objector Halil Savda, Turkish-Cypriot conscientious objector Murat Kanatli and Greek conscientious objector Gerasimos Koroneos and demands the immediate and unconditional end of their persecution.

EBCO visits Cyprus for the court hearing of C.O. Murat Kanatli

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection calls for the immediate and unconditional end of the persecution of Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector Murat Kanatli, whose court hearing will take place tomorrow at the military court in Nicosia (northern part), Cyprus. Claude Verrel, French Board Member of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection, will be present at the military court to defend Murat Kanatli, call for the end of his persecution and express the international solidarity with him.

About EBCO

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) was founded in 1979 as an umbrella organisation for national associations of conscientious objectors, with the aim of promoting collective campaigns for the release of the imprisoned conscientious objectors and lobbying the European governments and institutions for the full recognition of the right to conscientious objection to military service.

EBCO promotes:

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