Talk:Mehmet Tarhan

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[edit] Comments

Also Turkish military does not see homosexuality as an illness but requires evidence (to avoid everyone simply saying "I'm gay I'm not fit") and medical examination is a standard exercise whenever you are surrendered to military authority. 85.108.76.103 08:25, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

That's the point the objector is making: if being gay is not an illness, why would it require proof and disqualify you from military service? He considered it humiliating.--Adoniscik (talk) 22:07, 29 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Comment

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.

The ethnicity is relevant, because he must be aware that the army takes action against Kurdish separatists. He might not condone their methods, but he might feel some degree of sympathy. I can only speculate, but let's leave that on the talk page.--Adoniscik (talk) 22:07, 29 December 2007 (UTC)