CYPRUS: Conscientious objector faces jail in north for refusing military duty

A Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector and peace activist, Halil Karapasaoglu refuses to pay a fine of 2000 TL (EUR 360) by a military court in the north and given 10 days to pay or spend three weeks in prison.

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The conscientious objector had refused to serve in the Turkish army as a reservist from 2014-2017.

Upon appearing at the military court on Thursday, Karapasaoglu, 33, was informed that the charge for failing to respond to a call to join reservists in 2018 was also added.

Afterwards, Karapasaoglu addressed reporters and tens of peace activists who rallied in his support from both sides of the island.

“I am not going to pay the fine. I object. I will return in 10 days to spend 20 days in prison” said Karapasaoglu.

His defence told the court that as a pacifist he is against war and violence and that his antimilitarist ideas are in conflict with the notion of army service.

Present at the trial were conscientious objectors Murat Kanatli and Haluk Tufanli, also prosecuted for the same reason, and Derek Brett, representative of the European Bureau of Conscientious Objection.

Brett said that the court's ruling was in contravention of decisions of the International Human Rights Court.

“They are prosecuting me because I refuse to hold a gun, I refuse to fire a bullet at my (Greek Cypriot) friend Antonis. They say they will send me to prison for 20 days. This is unacceptable, it is an inhumane practice,” said Karapasaoglu.

Meanwhile, Ali Kismir and Serkan Soyalan, the President and General Secretary of BASIN-SEN, the union of Media workers in the north, announced that they too, will reject any calls to execute reservist duties.

“We see Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots as one people and as such we refuse to hold a gun against our own people,” said Kismir.