The right to conscientious objection to military service in Turkey

8.9.2021

Question for written answer  E-004123/2021/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 138
Dietmar Köster (S&D)

Turkey maintains a system of obligatory military service, where all male citizens become liable for service at the age of 20. The length of military service is six months for cadets and 12 months for reserve officers and officers. According to Turkish law, all men can be required to serve in the military until they turn 41, but in practice, there is no age limit to when they could be called up.

Turkey is the only Member State of the Council of Europe that has not recognised the right to conscientious objection to military service. Conscientious objectors face persecution, a vicious circle of arrest, criminal proceedings and re-enlistment, and in particular civil death.

• 1.Does the Commission engage in a regular dialogue with the Turkish government about introducing the right to conscientious objection?
• 2.Has the Commission been provided with statistics about the number of conscientious objectors and draft evaders by the Turkish government?
• 3.How does the Commission plan to convince the Turkish government to guarantee the right to conscientious objection, and what kind of support could the Commission provide to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to persuade the Turkish government to implement the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the recommendations and resolutions of the Committee of Ministers?