11.04.2006 - Source: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Response whether there is a requirement for a minimum period of service for volunteer recruits in the military; whether volunteer recruits of the armed forces face any restrictions in obtaining a discharge (July 2001 - April 2006) ("Whether there is a requirement for a minimum period of service for volunteer recruits in the military, and whether volunteer recruits of the armed forces face any restrictions in obtaining a discharge (July 2001 - April 2006) [TUR100753.E]") [ID 15595]

Document(s): Open document

10.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Military Service ("Country Report - October 2005") [#40563],  [ID 13973]

"5.137 The Freedom House report ‘Countries at the Crossroads 2005 – Turkey, noted that:

“The military holds a special place in the Turkish republic. Since Turkey’s first military coup, in 1960, it has acted as the guarantor of Turkey’s secularism, territorial integrity, and government functioning… While it has never stayed in power long, it used the first and subsequent coups, in 1971 and 1980, to increase its autonomy and enhance its role during civilian rule…Reducing the political influence of the military has been a prime concern of the EU. Beginning with the 2001 constitutional amendments, Turkey has confined the NSC to an advisory role with, as of August 2004, a civilian at its head; it has removed the military members from the higher education council and RTUK; and it has increased transparency and parliamentary oversight of military expenditures. The military is still not entirely subservient to the ministry of defense, and its budget remains disproportionately high…Public trust in the military is strong, and military schools are among the best in the country, thus contributing to the continued power and prestige of this institution.” [62] (p14)

5.138 The Netherlands report on military service in Turkey July 2001 noted that:

“The army and military service are held in high regard by a large section of the population…The army’s popularity stems partly from the fact that public opinion is convinced that it is more or less immune from the corruption, which is widespread in Turkey…The performance of military service is regarded by a large part of the population as a rite of passage ‘to become a man’. There are parents who will not allow their daughters to marry someone who has not yet performed his military service, and companies often prefer to employ someone who has discharged his military obligations.” [2b] (p12)

5.139 As recorded in Europa World online, Turkey: Defence (website accessed on 8 October 2005) “The total strength of the active armed forces at 1 August 2004 was 514,850 (including 391,000 conscripts), comprising an army of 402,000, a navy of 52,750 and an air force of 60,100. There was a gendarmerie numbering 150,000 and a coast guard of 2,200. Reserve forces totalled 378,700 in the armed forces and 50,000 in the gendarmerie.” [1e] (Turkey: Defence)

5.140 According to Article 1 of the Military Act No.1111 (1927) every male Turkish citizen is obliged to carry out military service. [25] (p1) The Netherlands report 2001 states that the obligation commences on 1 January of the year in which a male citizen becomes 19 years old, and ends on 1 January of the year in which he reaches the age of 40. (The Turkish way of counting age differs from that in Western Europe, and this accounts for the fact that the Military Act refers to the 20th and 41st years). [2b] (p10)

5.141 The Turkish Daily News reported that on 17 July 2003 as part of reforms to increase the professionalism of the armed forces the standard length of military service was reduced from 18 months to 15 months. Some university graduates serving as officers are now conscripted for 12 months instead of the previous 16, while some privates will serve for six months instead of eight. This change has lead to a 17 percent reduction in the number of conscripts in the Turkish armed forces. [23d]

5.142 The Netherlands report 2001 reported that “Persons of call-up age are not usually issued with passports, and cannot have passports renewed. In a small number of cases, and with the consent of the military authorities, a passport with a short period of validity is issued. The entry ‘yapmiştir’ (done) or ‘yapmamiştir’ (not done) in the passport indicates whether the holder has completed military service or not.” [2b] (p15)"

Document(s): Open document

06.11.2003 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Groups at risk (e.g. members of opposition parties, human rights activists, certain groups of women); inadequate implementation of political reforms (German) ("Asylsuchende aus der Türkei - Position der SFH") [#17802],  [ID 13974]

"Der Militärdienst in der Türkei ist an und für sich äusserst streng und von einem absolut respektlosen Klima geprägt. Schläge, Erniedrigungen und andere Menschenrechtsverletzungen sind an der Tagesordnung. Besonders von diesen Menschenrechtsverletzungen betroffen sind neben Zeugen Jehovas vor allem Kurden und Christen, die der türkischen Sprache nicht kundig sind und klar als Nichttürken erkannt werden können, aber auch Personen, die in der Vergangenheit wegen ihrer pro-kurdischen Haltung aufgefallen sind, unter ihnen ehemalige Refraktäre und Deserteure."

Document(s): Open document

29.08.2003 - Source: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Query response on documentation required from a student to be able to defer military service for one year; whether additional documentation must be forwarded to the government during the academic year to prove that the student is attending lectures and writing exams; whether this policy applies uniformly to all academic institutions in Turkey, including the open education program at Anadolu University ("Documentation required from a student to be able to defer military service for one year; whether additional documentation must be forwarded to the government during the academic year to prove that the student is attending lectures and writing exams; whether this policy applies uniformly to all academic institutions in Turkey, including the open education program at Anadolu University [TUR41928.E]") [ID 24263]

Document(s): Open document

21.06.2003 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Noch immer kein ziviler Militär-Ersatzdienst; nur medizinische Gründe können zu einem Ausschluss aus der Armee führen ("Zur aktuellen Situation - Juni 2003 ") [#14557],  [ID 13975]

"Es gibt nach wie vor keinen zivilen Militär-Ersatzdienst und nur medizinische Gründe können zu einem Ausschluss aus der Armee führen. Frauen müssen keinen Militärdienst leis-ten. Der Militärdienst von Universitätsabgängern dauert 16 Monate, wenn sie ihn als Reser-veoffiziere absolvieren.
Je nach politischer Lage im Land können Lehrer, Ärzte und Beamte ihren Militärdienst in ihrem Beruf absolvieren, indem sie diesen in den kurdischen Provinzen ausüben. Sie sind jedoch verpflichtet, eine Grundausbildung von 40 Tagen zu absolvieren.
Die nächstgrösseren Brüder von im Kampf gegen die PKK gestorbenen Soldaten können ebenfalls vom Militärdienst befreit werden."

Document(s): Open document

21.06.2003 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Aushebungsverfahren und Aufgebot: Druck der Armee auf die Jugendlichen ist nicht mehr so gross ("Zur aktuellen Situation - Juni 2003 ") [#14557],  [ID 13976]

"Mittlerweile hat sich die Situation betreffend Aushebung und Aufgebot zum Militärdienst normalisiert und der Druck der Armee auf die Jugendlichen ist nicht mehr so gross wie zur Zeit des Konflikts mit der PKK. Studenten, die ein Fernstudium absolvieren, können ihren Militärdienst in der Regel wieder aufschieben. Studenten, die an einer türkischen Universität studieren, können ihren Militärdienst bis 29-jährig aufschieben. Ausnahmen bilden diejeni-gen Studenten, die nach einem Doktorat noch eine Zusatzausbildung absolvieren. Für sie ist das Höchstalter 36 Jahre.
Die reguläre Aufenthaltsbewilligung im Ausland muss mehr als drei Jahre gedauert haben, um den Militärdienst wegen Auslandaufenthalts aufschieben zu können. Diese Soldaten leisten einen einmonatigen Militärdienst unter guten Bedingungen in Burdur.
Wie in der Schweiz gibt es auch in der Türkei bestimmte Einrücktermine. Es gibt deren vier: je der 21.-27. im Februar, Mai, August oder November."

Document(s): Open document

11.2002 - Source: Asylum Aid

David McDowall: Brutal and degrading treatment ("Asylum Seekers from Turkey II (revised, updated edition of the report of a mission to Turkey, October 2000)") [#10639],  [ID 13977]

"Military service exposes conscripts to an environment of brutal and degrading treatment. Perceived leftists and Kurds are at greater risk of mistreatment than others. In the 1990s there was a significant chance of being posted to the south east. The current situation is unclear. Suspicious deaths have taken place among conscripts in recent years, with a disproportionately large number of Kurdish victims. The gendarmerie (jandarma) has an unsavoury track record for serious human rights abuses, whether in the OHAL or outside it. Approximately half all conscripts are required to serve in the gendarmerie. Compulsion to join the village guards is widespread with no indication yet of this force being disbanded. Military service exposes conscripts to a risk of being required to co-operate in acts contrary to basic rules of human conduct."

Document(s): Open document

23.04.2002 - Source: UK House of Commons - Foreign Affairs Committee

House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee: ("Sixth Report (Session 2001-02) of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee") [#8427],  [ID 13978]

Document(s): Open document
ukcmfa-tur0402.pdf