Conscientious Objector Süver Remains in Prison

The Izmir Şirinyer Military Court rejected the request for the release of Kurdish conscientious objector İnan Süver. "I am a conscientious objector and I do not want to do even one single day of military service" Süver said. He has been in detention for a month now.

Based on information from the lawyers, the Initiative against War announced that Süver was brought to the military hospital by a decision of the military court.

A probe had been launched regarding Süver under allegations of "desertion". Thereupon, an arrest warrant was issued in his name and he was taken into custody at his home in Bayrampaşa (Istanbul) on 5 August. However, it was said that three judicial decisions had previously been taken against Süver for the same reason. The decisions resulted in a 35-month prison sentence in total.

The court decided to keep Süver in detention in the hearing on Monday (11 October). The case was postponed to 15 November.

Lawyer Erkan: Application to ECHR

Süver was initially taken to the Kasımpaşa (Istanbul) Prison after he had been arrested by the military prosecutor. On 24 August, he was transferred to the Izmir Şirinyer Military Prison and was finally taken to Buca Prison on 8 September.

Davut Erkan, Süver's lawyer in Istanbul, told bianet that he prepares an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) together with Süver's lawyers in Izmir to end the injustice which is going on for ten years already. Erkan said that they are going to present the ECHR decision related to Osman Murat Ülke as a precedent. (EÖ/VK)