In 2018, Kamil Murat Demir, who declared his conscientious objection, was sentenced to 16 months in prison by the Tunceli 1st Criminal Court on the grounds that he was a “draft dodger.” The court did not reduce or suspend the sentence on the grounds that Demir had a “criminal personality” and a “criminal record.” With the 21-month prison sentence handed down to Demir in October for the same offense, his total sentence rose to 37 months. The ruling stated that his declaration of conscientious objection was not accepted as a legal excuse and that Demir would be subject to the enforcement regime specific to repeat offenders because he had not completed the procedures. The case file will be sent to the Erzurum Regional Court of Appeals for review.
November 25, 2025
VicdaniRet.org