Conscription in Turkey

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: for those without 4-year university degrees twelve 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.

Turkish citizens who reside outside Turkey and have worked for at least three consecutive years have the option to pay a certain fee (currently 6,000 EUR) to be exempt from mandatory military service.^[1] This required a fee of 5,112 EUR and a basic military training of twenty-one days prior to the new law that went into effect on 15 December 2011.

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.^[2] İlker Başbuğ, then president of Turkish Armed Forces, said that short term military service and reserve officers system would be abandoned.^[3] 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.^[4] However, some people argue conscripts are forced to work for officers' private needs. This includes driving, cooking, hairdressing 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 231,000.^[5]

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 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 well-educated young professionals.^{[citation needed]}

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

Conscientious objection

Refusing the obligatory military service due to conscientious objection is illegal in Turkey^[6] and punishable with imprisonment by law. 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.^[7]

Notable objectors: Mehmet Tarhan, Osman Murat Ülke, Andy Marrocco.

References

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