Erçep v. Turkey, application no. 43965/04 (22 November 2011)

The absence of an alternative to military service in Turkey is in breach of the right to conscientious objection.

In today’s Chamber judgment in the case Erçep v. Turkey (application no. 43965/04), which is not final, the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been:

A violation of Article 9 (right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights and,
A violation of Article 6 (right to a fair trial) of the Convention. The case concerned the refusal by the applicant, a Jehovah’s Witness and conscientious objector, to perform military service for reasons of conscience.

Press Release by the Registrar of the Court | download pdf |
Chamber II Judgment | download pdf |