Investigation launched against conscientious objection site
An investigation has been launched against the web site www. askeregitmeyin .com (don’t do your military service) on charges of ‘alienating the public from military service’.
Within the scope of the investigation, web site administrator and conscientious objector Lawyer Mehmet Ali Başaran provided a statement at the Bakırköy Public Prosecutor’s Office on April 6. Başaran referred to the crime of ‘alienating the public from military service’ in his testimony. Başaran said the following regarding the investigation to Agos:
“I was summoned to provide testimony as a suspect for purchasing the hosting of the web site www. askeregitmeyin .com. I went to the Bakırköy Court House on April 6, 2015, Monday, to provide a testimony. In my statement, I explained that ‘alienating the public from military service’ was an absurd crime. In fact, such complaints are not often taken seriously anymore, but when it is the Office of the General Staff it is a different story. However, it is only an investigation as of yet, and I do not expect a lawsuit to be filed.”
Lawyer Başaran also told Agos how the web site was founded: “In April 2013, we launched the web site www. askeregitmeyin .com with sentences that completed the template ‘Don’t do your military service because…’. We organised a campaign explaining why we were against compulsory military service. When we reached a 100 sentences, we held a meeting in front of the Çağlayan Court House where we read these sentences. Later, in early 2014, the book titled ‘Don’t do your military service because…’ was published with the support of 381 people, ranging from students to researchers.
Academician Ferhat Kentel, named among the persons who are allegedly facing criminal complaints, in a statement to Agos, explained that he had not received any official notification: “We have a mail group for the web site, and no one there has received any official notification. Everyone in the group continues to support the book, we will see how things progress.”
On the other hand, the Bombalara Karşı Sofralar/Food Against Bombs Initiative will meet at 19.00 in front of Galatasaray High School and read parts from the book in protest of the indictment.
