Turkey – support the demand for the abolition of Art. 318

We wholeheartedly support your demonstration on 13 May.  Article 318 allows
the Turkish State to jail anyone who discourages people from joining the army,
even if that army is from another country.  We support the abolition of this
Article not only for the sake of people in Turkey but also because we don’t
want such a law to become a model for other countries.

The struggle of Kurdish and Turkish conscientious objectors has greatly
contributed to the anti-war movement internationally and has not always
been sufficiently acknowledged.

Mehmet Tarhan, Osman Murat Ülke, Halil Savda, Mehmet Bal and others
have been the tip of a massive anti-militarist iceberg made up of the hundreds
of thousands who have refused to serve in the Turkish army.  When we campaign
for them (see also the page in Turkish on our website), we always support the
demand for the abolition of Art. 318.

We also understand from your message that, as a result of pressure from
the movement and the European Union the article has been modified, but
this looks cosmetic, because the substance –repression against those who
refuse to kill – remains. We will encourage other organisations internationally
to support your action.

We have publicised your action on our website and in every way we can, and we
will talk about it at the International Day of Action for Bradley Manning on 1 June
at the demonstration at the US embassy in London (see leaflet below).

On 23 February, 70 communities in 19 countries protested Bradley Manning’s
1,000 days without trial, and we hope that 1 June will be an even bigger event.

We hope you will be able to circulate our leaflet and also take part in this
Day of Action.

We support conscientious objectors in Turkey and worldwide.

Refusing to kill is not a crime!

Abolish Art. 318!

Giorgio Riva

Payday men’s network