Conscription in Turkey

Conscription
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In Turkey, compulsory military service applies to all male citizens from twenty to forty one years of age. Those who are engaged in higher education or vocational training programs prior to their military drafting are allowed to delay service until they have completed the programs or reach a certain age. The duration of the basic military service varies. As of July 2003, the reduced durations are as follows: for those without 4 year university degrees fifteen months as privates; for those with 4 year university degrees or higher either twelve months as reserve officers or six months as short-term privates.

For Turkish citizens who have worked outside Turkey for at least three consecutive years, on condition that they pay a certain fee (currently 5,112 EUR), a basic military training option of twenty-one days (previously twenty-eight days) is offered instead of the full-term military service of 15 months.

The Turkish military openly discriminates against homosexuals and bisexuals by barring them from serving in the military. At the same time, Turkey - in violation of its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights - withholds any recognition of conscientious objection to military service. Some objectors must instead identify themselves as “sick” – and are forced to undergo what Human Rights Watch calls "humiliating and degrading" examinations to “prove” their homosexuality.

Women are not conscripted. However, they are permitted to become officers.

Debates about equal service

Yusuf Ziya Özcan, president of YÖK, announced in March 2008 military service duration would be equal for everyone, holding or not holding a degree would not matter.^[1] İlker Başbuğ, then president of Turkish Armed Forces, said that short term military service and reserve officers system would be abandoned.^[2] In this system he proposed, everybody would spend 12 or 15 months in conscription. Instead of reserve officers, officers would be contracted. In October 2010, instead of the system proposed before, shortening the duration of military service is proposed. In this proposition, short-term privates would spend 4 months and other people would spend 9 months in conscription. Conscripted 250000 people would be released early. TSK, refused this system claiming it would create a shortage of soldiers.^[3] However, some people argue conscripts are forced to work for officers' private needs. This includes driving, cooking and serving meals in officers' clubs, teaching to officers' children. Some of the conscripts are made officers' personal assistant. Number of these conscripts are estimated to be 241000.^[4]

Attitude towards conscription, the army and conscripts (draftees)

Voicing opinions against the draft is considered a social stigma in Turkey, and certain provisions in the Turkish Penal Code, such as Article 301, are often used to prosecute those who make voice such opinions. By law, it is a punishable offense to speak publicly against the army or conscription, as it's a crime to "undermine Turkish people's zeal towards military" and a separate crime to "insult the spirit of the Armed Forces".

Most companies require men to have completed their military service before their job candidacies can be accepted,and traditionally families do not consent to their daughters marrying men who have not served their terms. The reason behind this requirement is irregular loss of workforce; the companies are legally bound to discharge draft evaders or face legal consequences, however valuable an asset these people are.

It is common opinion that having completed military service carries a symbolic value to the majority of Turks. It is commonly regarded as a rite of passage to manhood, and most men grow up with the anticipation of serving out their time. On the other hand, it is held to be one of the main reasons behind the brain drain prevalent among the well-educated young professionals.^{[citation needed]}

An argument used for the defense of conscription is that it serves to intermingle otherwise stratified society. It is believed that, going through the same hardships can implement a common ground amongst otherwise diverse groups, and interconnect them.

Conscientious objection

Refusing the obligatory military service due to conscientious objection is illegal in Turkey,^[5] and punishable with imprisonment by law as upon reaching the legal age, a citizen automatically becomes enlisted and subject to military law.^{[citation needed]} Such acts are deemed "insubordination to military officers" and carry up to 2 years of military imprisonment for each offence (in Turkey, civilians can be tried at military courts).^{[citation needed]} Upon release, the offender often receives new call-up papers, and if he refuses, is sent back to serve another sentence.^[6] Notable objectors: Mehmet Tarhan, Osman Murat Ülke.

Further reading

• United Nations HCR report on military service in Turkey
• WRI summary on conscientious objection in Turkey
• Documentation: Conscientious objection in Turkey
• Turkish writer faces jail after incurring wrath of military

References

1. ^ "Military service duration will be equal for everyone". http://www.haberturk.com/gundem/haber/59935-askerlik-herkes-icin-ayni-sure-olacak. Retrieved 6 October 2010. 
2. ^ "Shock to university graduates from Org. Başbuğ". http://www.haberturk.com/gundem/haber/143855-org-basbugdan-universite-mezunlarina-sok. Retrieved 6 October 2010. 
3. ^ "Shortage of soldiers will be avoided with paid conscription option". http://www.aktifhaber.com/asker-acigi-bedelli-ile-doldurulacak-335946h.htm. Retrieved 6 October 2010. 
4. ^ "Why does TSK insist on conscription?". http://www.radikal.com.tr/Default.aspx?aType=RadikalYazarYazisi&ArticleID=1022153&Yazar=ORAL%20%C7ALI%DELAR&Date=05.10.2010&CategoryID=98. Retrieved 6 October 2010. 
5. ^ http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2010/package/tr_rapport_2010_en.pdf
6. ^ Amnesty International - Turkey: Fear for safety/ill treatment/legal concern/Mehmet Bal