The trial began early in the morning, and Mehmet Tarhan clearly showed signs of physical abuse - he had bruises all over his body, and could not walk well because of the ongoing abuse (see  http://wri-irg.org/news/htdocs/20050524a.html). Mehmet Tarhan's lawyer asked for Mehmet Tarhan to be acquitted, but the judge adjourned the trial to 9 June. Presently, War Resisters' International is again considering an international delegation for the trial. After the trial, the police arrested three conscientious objectors: Erdem Yalcinkaya (TK14738) declared his conscientious objection together with Mehmet Tarhan on 27 October 2001, Mustafa Seyhoglu (TK14739) declared his conscientious objection on 24 January 2003, and Ersan Ugur Gor (TK14740) declared his conscientious objection on 15 May 2004, during the militurizm festival in Istanbul. They are presently held at the police station in Sivas, and it is feared that they will be brought to the recruitment office, and from there to their military units, and to military prison. Other activists tried to block the police, to prevent the police from pushing the arrested conscientious objectors into the police van. The police violently broke up the nonviolent blockade, and arrested ten antimilitarists under charges of "assaulting the police". These 10 antimilitarists are presently also held at Sivas Police station.

War Resisters' International is very concerned about the recent developments in Turkey. War Resisters' International calls for urgent protest faxes and emails to: General Staff of the Turkish Military: Fax +90-312-4250813 Presidency of the Turkish Republic: Fax +90-312-4271330, email  cumhurbaskanligi@tccb.gov.tr Sivas Military Prison: Fax +90-346-2253915 A protest email to the Turkish President Ahmet Nezdet Secer can be sent at  http://wri-irg.org/co/alerts/20050526a.html .

War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of all arrested conscientious objectors and antimilitarists.

Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International