Refusing to kill is not a crime

Stop persecuting conscientious objectors and refusers

International Day of Action, Tuesday 5 June 2007

Noon – 1pm Armed Forces Recruitment Center
 Broad & Cherry Sts., Philadelphia
with participation by AFSC Youth & Militarism, Brandywine Peace Community, Gold Star Families Speak Out

Other actions in Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Turkey, US . . .

Soldiers – women and men – who refuse to kill, maim, rape and torture are being jailed, assaulted and forced underground.  Whether you refuse to be conscripted or go to war as part of a professional army, you have the right and the duty to obey your conscience rather than military orders. With supporters and campaigns, so often organised by women, more and more of us are determined not to be commanded into killing.

 

Since 1995, Osman Murat Ülke has been repeatedly convicted and jailed (for a total of 701 days) for refusing to be conscripted into the Turkish army. In January 2006, the European Court of Human Rights found Turkey guilty of condemning him to a “civil death”.  They awarded Mr Ülke 10,000 euros damages and urged Turkey to introduce legislation recognising conscientious objection. Turkey has changed nothing. On 5 June, the Council of Europe* will discuss how to bring it into compliance. Mr Ülke is not the only one facing such persecution. We demand the severest sanctions against Turkey and all States that persecute refuseniks and conscientious objectors.

Osman Murat Ülke

Halil Savda
Turkey

Hadas Amit 

Israel

Lazaros Petromelidis

Greece

Ehren Watada
USA

Agustín Aguayo
USA

Mehmet Tarhan
Turkey

Jailed repeatedly since 1993. Now in detention for another 21 months.


Convicted five times for a total

of 73 days – expecting a sixth sentence.

Under constant threat of arrest especially when called up every two years.

Court-martial ended in a mistrial. Threat of a new trial in July.

Jailed 8 months – is “property of the army” & under threat of further arrest.

Jailed & tortured for 11 months. Now a “deserter” under threat of arrest.

We call especially on anti-war organisations to recognise the contribution of COs and other refusers to the anti-war movement and to organise or join actions on or around the 5th of June 2007 to demand recognition of their right to refuse to kill and to CO status, and an end to their persecution.

*       Join our action or organise your own.

*       Write to your country representatives on the Council of Europe –  The current chair of the Ministers of the Council of Europe is Vuk Jeremić of Serbia (email msp@smip.sv.gov.yu).  The US observer at the Council is Ambassador to France Craig Roberts Stapleton (Fax: +33 1 42 66 97 83).  The Canada observer is Ambassador to Belgium Laurette Glasgow (Email  bru.commerce@international.gc.ca  Fax: +32 2 741 0643).  Please cc Payday, we’ll forward to MEPs. See model letter.

 

*The Council of Europe aims to establish common principles based on the European Convention on Human Rights (see CoE Statute, Article 1). It has 47 member countries, including Turkey. The US and Canada are observers at the Council.

International Day of Action called by

Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors  www.antirrisies.gr  greekco@hotmail.com

Conscientious Objection Platform (Turkey) www.savaskarsitlari.org   vicdaniredplatformu@gmail.com
Global Women’s Strike  www.globalwomenstrike.net   womenstrike8m@server101.com
Payday men’s network (UK and US) www.refusingtokill.net   payday@paydaynet.org 

For information, call +44 (0)20 7209 4751

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