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Actually, the fact that Mehmet Tarhan is of Kurdish origin has nothing to do with his predicament with The Powers That Be. That there is a Kurdish issue in Turkey is not in question here; it is simply that it is unrelated to this particular issue, hence serves to cloud it. Basically his racial or cultural background does not matter when it comes to serving or refusing to serve in the armed forces. The fact that he is gay is important: he has an easy way out of compulsory service, but refuses it because of his principles - this important "detail" serves to underline his honesty in his beliefs. There have been other conscientious objectors who have been tried and punished before him, but none have had the option to wriggle out of them. I am no conscientious objector myself, but I respect and support Mehmet Tarhan.