First Muslim objector unites people

Tuesday, 12 January 2010 06:49

Enver Aydemir, the 87th conscientious objector to military service in Turkey and the first known to refuse to take up arms due to his Islamic beliefs, has been arrested again.

Aydemir, 33, is refusing to wear a Turkish military uniform, saying he does not want to serve a secular army.

Dubbed a “Muslim objector” instead of a “conscientious objector” by some of the press, Aydemir is under arrest at Eskişehir Military Prison. His lawyer, İnan Ersoy, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that Aydemir refuses to be called a conscientious objector because he objects to military service on religious grounds.

Aydemir’s case has united people who are against Turkey’s mandatory military service for different reasons.

Most other conscientious objectors and their supporters are from the political left, and some are even atheists. However, they do not distance themselves from Aydemir or his sympathizers, nor do the Muslims refuse their collaboration. The Facebook group founded to support him has drawn more than 3,000 members, who all seem to at least agree that they are anti-war.