Turkish man declares conscientious objection despite disability report

DİYARBAKIR

A man in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır has declared his conscientious objection to obligatory military service, despite already having received a report stating that he is sufficiently disabled to be exempted.

Sergen Sucu announced his decision to become a conscientious objector at a press briefing in the Education and Science Workers’ Union (EĞİTİM-Sen) office in Diyarbakır. 

The report on his disabilities would have been enough to exempt Sucu from military service, but he stressed that he would not be using the report, independent news website Bianet reported on May 19. 

“I refuse to fight and kill for peace or war,” Sucu told journalists.

“I state that humans, who are a handful of soil from nature and a glass of water, do not have in their foundation a culture of fighting, exploitation and property, just like its other animal relatives. War divides people and makes them enemies of each other in our region and across the world,” he said, adding that he has accepts “no authority other than God.” 

“The only way that peace and natural life can win against capital is through conscientious objection,” Sucu also said. 

According to data from the Conscientious Objection Association, Turkey has had a total of 500 conscientious objectors over the years.