International petition to free conscientious objector Halil Savda addressed to: 

. President of Turkey Ahmet Necdet Sezer

· Commander of Turkish Armed Forces and Chief of General Staff Yaar Büyükanit,
· Military Court in Çorlu,
· Turkish Ambassador to the UK H.E. Mr Akin Alptuna,
· Turkish Ambassador to the USA Dr. Osman Faruk Logoglu,

This international petition was initiated by Payday, a network of men working with the Global Women’s Strike. Contact payday@paydaynet.org  www.refusingtokill.net

As of 11 April 2007 23:00 GMT, 238 people from 16 countries have signed (Belgium, Canada, 
France, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA,Venezuela )including:
· Vittorio Agnoletto Member of the European Parliament
· John McDonnell Member of British Parliament
· Rita Zanutel, Assessora alle Politiche Sociali della Provincia di Venezia

More signatories at http://www.petitiononline.com/Halil/petition.html

Halil Savda, Kurdish conscientious objector, sentenced on 15 March
to 15 months and 15 days, on trial again on 12 April 2007

On 15 March the Çorlu military court sentenced Mr Halil Savda to 15 months and 15 days in a military prison for his refusal to obey orders. Mr Savda was previously on trial on 7 December 2006, detained until 25 January 2007, then released from custody, and then taken back to barracks where he was arrested again and charged with “insistent insubordination” for refusing orders. On 12 April he will be on trial again for his refusal, and risks being sentenced to more time in jail. This cycle of arrest, detention, trial, “release”, new arrest, is against any notion of natural justice and must stop.

In a similar case in January 2006, the European Court of Human Rights found that the repeated proceedings against Mr Osman Murat Ülke, another conscientious objector in Turkey, constituted degrading treatment in violation of Article 3 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, to which Turkey is also a State Party.

During his detention Mr Savda was badly beaten. On 8 February Amnesty International issued a statement confirming this. His lawyer’s press statement of 2 February can be found at http://www.refusingtokill.net/Turkey%20Halil/LawyerPressStatement.htm.

Last year, Mr Mehmet Tarhan, another conscientious objector in Turkey, was also subjected to mental and physical torture in detention. International protest, including from Members of the European Parliament, led to his release from prison in March 2006 – although not to his discharge from the army. Sentenced to a further 25 months in jail, Mr Tarhan has started legal proceedings against the prison administrators for attempted lynching, and for insults, threats and theft.

Now Mr Savda, Mr Tarhan, Mr Ülke and countless others are demanding that Turkey legally recognize conscientious objection as their right, and everyone’s. They are part of a growing movement, in that region and all over the world, of people who refuse to accept the squandering of human, social and financial resources on military violence, and therefore the wholesale manufacture of poverty and repression.

We demand that the Turkish authorities stop the persecution and violence against Halil Savda, recognize him as a conscientious objector, and release him immediately.

We also demand the immediate end to all other persecution of conscientious objectors in Turkey.

Sincerely,

1.       

Ben Martin

Payday

UK 

 

2.       

Hans Hellén  

 

Finland

 

3.       

Roberto Carlon  

 

Venezia (Italy)

 

4.       

Jennifer Hautman  

 

United Kingdom

Invest in Caring not Killing!

5.       

Sharon de-Wit  

 

United Kingdom

 

6.       

Janelle Thiessen  

 

United Kingdom

Please discontinue this horrendous breach of justice Free Halil Savda and cease in the persecution of those refusing to fight

7.       

George Tsogas  

 

United Kingdom

 

8.       

Michael Moutousis  

 

United Kingdom

 

9.       

Natasa Polyxroniadou

 

Greece

 

10.   

Xanthoula Karanika  

 

Greece

 

11.   

Yiannis Glarnetatzis  

 

Greece

 

12.   

Panayiotis Makris  

 

Greece 

 

13.   

Michael Maragakis  

 

Greece

 

14.   

Filippas Kyritsis  

 

Greece

 

15.   

Thanasis Makris  

 

Greece

 

16.   

Dimitris Tsouhlis  

 

Greece

 

17.   

George Maitos  

 

Greece

 

18.   

Kyriakos Iosifidis  

 

Greece

 

19.   

Akrivopoulos Babis  

 

Greece

 

20.   

George Halkias  

 

Greece

 

21.   

George Halkias  

 

Greece

 

22.   

Lazaros Petromelidis  

 

Greece

 

23.   

Ermioni Frezouli  

 

Greece

 

24.   

Dimitris Sotiropoulos  

 

Greece

 

25.   

Kostas Savaidis  

 

Greece

 

26.   

Agelos Nikolopoulos  

 

Greece

 

27.   

Tasos Batas  

 

Greece

 

28.   

Agelis Michalopoulos  

 

Greece

 

29.   

Alkystis Mavraki  

 

Greece

 

30.   

Nikolas Kominis  

 

Greece

 

31.   

Nikitas Linardakis  

 

Greece

 

32.   

Kyriakos Kapidis  

 

Greece

 

33.   

Spyros Psyxas

 

Greece 

 

34.   

Yiannis Chrysovergis  

 

Greece

 

35.   

Nasos Theodoridis  

 

Greece

 

36.   

Kostas Douvis  

 

Greece

 

37.   

Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors  

 

Greece

 

38.   

Alexia Tsouni  

 

Greece

 

39.   

Valon Canhasi   

 

 

 

40.   

casi totten   

 

 

 

41.   

Mary Jo McArthur  

 

USA

 

42.   

Carol Seeley

Women's International League of Peace and Freedom

USA

 

43.   

Dillon Naber

Payday

USA

Every man and woman should have the right to choose to be a pacifist

44.   

Ruth Todasco

Global Women's Strike 

 

 

45.   

Susah Hyatt Indiana University

 

USA

 

46.   

Brittany Stonesifer  

 

USA

 

47.   

Maggie Ronayne

 Global Women's Strike, Ireland & Lecturer, National University of Ireland,

Galway, Ireland 

 

48.   

Frances Crowe

 

USA

 

49.   

banu nilgun uygun   

 

 

 

50.   

Helka Repo   

 

 

 

51.   

Eric Gjertsen Payday

 

USA

 

52.   

Marja Kurenniemi

 

Finland

 

53.   

Vivian Schatz

 

 

 

54.   

Karl Howeth

 

USA

 

55.   

Mario Pin

 

Italia

 

56.   

Juha Keltti

 

Finland

 

57.   

joan Sage

 

 

 

58.   

Jaakko Renko

 

Finland

 

59.   

Elena Schiavon

 

Italia

 

60.   

DANIELLE CLARKE

Unitedforpeaceandjustice

/moveonorg

PHILADELPHIA PA USA

AS A VIETNAM VETERAN I UNDERSTAND A SOLDIER NOT FIGHTING IN A UNREASONABLE WAR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN FOUGHT

61.   

Maurice Montet

UNION PACIFISTE de FRANCE 

 

 

62.   

Stefania Sinigaglia

 

Italy

 

63.   

Malla Kantola

 

Finland

 

64.   

Christine Spice

 

 

 

65.   

EH Lau

 

USA

Support Dignity Justice Peace worldwide

66.   

Daniel Samartino

 

USA

 

67.   

Ville Lind�n

 

 

 

68.   

Alessandro Braggio

 

Italy

Turkish authorities must have more respect of the human rights otherwise it is impossible the entering if Turkey in Europe

69.   

Elsie Dean

 

Canada

 

70.   

Sophia Vassilakidis

 

United States

 

71.   

Rona Rothman

 

USA

 

72.   

Anne Phillips

 

 

 

73.   

Mary Kalyna

 

USA

 

74.   

R Addessa

 

USA

Turkey's torture, imprisonment and oppression of innocent people is no less abhorent than USA policies and practices and should desist immediately One cannot build a true democracy of one's people absent respect for the people's right to speak freely and openly against the horrors of war or any government sponsored terror Release Savda

75.   

Dean Kendall

 

USA

 

76.   

Heidi Turtiainen

 

 

 

77.   

Heikki Sovijärvi

 

 

 

78.   

Mikko Koikkalainen

 

Finland

 

79.   

Mika Varjonen

 

Finland

 

80.   

Mikko Riikonen

 

Finland

 

81.   

Jorma kitunen

 

Finland

 

82.   

Koskimies Jaakko

 

Finland

 

83.   

Christer K Lindholm

 

Finland

 

84.   

Ismo Pykäläinen

 

 

 

85.   

Markus Mattsson

University of Helsinki

Finland

The offences the Turkish government commits against its citizens are not going to pave the way for Turkey into the EUToivo Peppanen

86.   

Alan Liddiard

Creative Forum 

UK

 

87.   

Mikko Toivonen

 

Finland

 

88.   

Henri Juvonen

 

Finland

 

89.   

Marina Asara

 

Finland

 

90.   

Tuuli Vuori

 

 

 

91.   

Timo Virtala

 

Finland

My dream is to visit Turkey one day I have been reading lots of good things about Turkey, for exemple from finnish author Mika Waltari I hope you'll join the EU as soon as possible, and I hope you will release Halil Savda as soon as possible

92.   

Matti Koskimies

 

Finland

 

93.   

Samuli Tanner

 

Finland

 

94.   

Hannele Tiitto

 

Finland

 

95.   

Simo Hellsten

entrepreneur

Finland

 

96.   

Diane Laison

 

USA

 

97.   

Eusebio Strada

 

Italia(Milano)

 

98.   

Terry Starr

 

United Kingdom

 

99.   

Antonio Tondello

Rifondazione Comunista Portogruaro

Italy

 

100.   

MATT BRAY

 

England 

 

101.   

Dalia & Rami Moran    

 

 

 

102.   

Ann Garrett

Green Party +Amnesty International

UK 

 

103.   

michael johnson    

 

 

 

104.   

Luca Tutino  

 

Italy 

 

105.   

Ruth Aponte  

 

USA 

 

106.   

michal schwartz  

 

israel 

 

107.   

Tamara Galloway  

 

England

Degrading treatment of conscientious objectors will not help Turkey in its relations with European countries

108.   

francesca wells    

 

 

 

109.   

Maria Ornella

Codipep – Roma

Rome – Italy

I hope this is the very last one STOP VIOLENCE AND UP WITH HUMAN RIGHTS RESPECT

110.   

Annasilvia Muriel Dell'Oro

 

 ITALY 

 

111.   

Micol Dell'Oro  

 

ITALIA 

 

112.   

Fabio Dell'Oro  

 

ITALIA 

 

113.   

Daniele Jenni

Grüne Partei Bern-Demokratische Alternative GPB-DA

Switzerland 

 

114.   

Alexandra Krefeld    

 

 

 

115.   

Daniel Tyson

SWP

UK 

 

116.   

Marco Mais  

 

Italia

Free Halil Savda!

117.   

Dell'Olivo Carlo  

 

Italy - Venice 

 

118.   

Saif JK    

 

 

 

119.   

Verene Parker    

 

 

 

120.   

Noam Kaminer

Refuseniks' Parents forum

Israel 

 

121.   

Margaret Breslau  

USA 

 

 

122.   

fatima ali

UNITY

UK 

 

123.   

Jill Yeates

 

UK 

 

124.   

Julienne Travers  

 

Italy

If Turkey wants to be part of Europe it has the absolute duty of adhering to the fundamental values of the EU, one of which is the right to conscientious objection with regard to exemption from military service

125.   

Nicolette Blake

Journalist

UK 

 

126.   

Justin Morahan  

 

Ireland

Free all conscientious objectors

127.   

Dr Susan Blackwell

The University of Birmingham

United Kingdom

Conscription is so last-century

128.   

Roberta Lombardi

accadueò - per l'acqua pubblica  

 

 

129.   

Antonella Cenerella    

 

 

 

130.   

Lee McGlade    

 

 

 

131.   

Ralf Kaufeldt  Almanya 

 

 

 

132.   

Bob Goupillot

Scottish Socialist Party and T and G Union

Scotland 

 

133.   

Colin Rutherford  

 

Scotland 

 

134.   

DrCJBurns-Cox  

 

UK

All civilised societies respect conscientous objectors to fighting in war

135.   

Katharine Bradley  

 

UK 

 

136.   

Selma Piro    

 

 

 

137.   

Mhic McGlashan

[+ a v looy]  

UK

We planned to holiday in Turkey but not now

138.   

Nancy Elan  

 

UK 

 

139.   

Laura Yeates    

 

 

 

140.   

joyce giblin/tony giblin    

 

 

 

141.   

Van Looy  

 

Belgium 

 

142.   

Alicia Alonso Merino Sodepaz-Balamil

 

España 

 

143.   

Nina Lopez

Global Women's Strike  

 

 

144.   

Vlora Ademi

journalist

Mitrovica, Kosovo 

 

145.   

Sahit Mehmeti

 

 Mitrovica, Kosovo 

 

146.   

Arta

NA

Kosova

Freedom

147.   

Fadil Miftari  

 

Mitrovica, Kosovo 

 

148.   

Osman Ýþçi  

 

Turkey 

 

149.   

Gillan Hall

 

 UK 

 

150.   

Aferdita Syla  

 

Mitrovica, Kosovo

 

151.   

Aferdita  Kosovo 

 

 

 

152.   

Richard Pearl

Payday

UK

Everyone should have the right not to fight

153.   

Ed Sirett  

 

UK 

 

154.   

Annastina Kaffarnik  

 

Germany 

 

155.   

gail martin  

 

Scotland 

 

156.   

Melville Johnston  

 

 

Canada 

157.   

christine Johnston

Unitarian

Canada

We enjoyed our visit to Turkey so are doubly upset at the lack of human rights

158.   

Harold P Koehler

Humanist Association of London and Area

Canada 

 

159.   

Ruth di Giovanni  

 

Canada 

 

160.   

Les Levidow

 Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC)

UK 

 

161.   

Dr MR Zabaleta

LAWRS

UK 

 

162.   

christine clark  

 

UK

I demand that the violence, degredation and total disregard for human rights in the treatment of conscientious objectors in Turkey must stop now

163.   

Chashah Nicholas

 

 England 

 

164.   

BANDERIER OPHELIE

Confédération Nationale du Travail Jura

France

A BAS TOUTES LES ARMEES !

165.   

Roy St Pierre  

 

United Kingdom 

 

166.   

Veronica Zundel  

 

United Kingdom

Conscientous objection should be a basic human right for all

167.   

Corinna Lotz

A World to Win

UK 

 

168.   

John Edwards  

 

United Kingdom 

 

169.   

Anat Matar

Refuseniks' Parents forum

Israel 

 

170.   

Edward Egan

 Salford Faith &Justice Commission

UK 

 

171.   

Lucy MacArthur  

 

UK 

 

172.   

Zohar Milchgrub

Yesh Gvul

Israel

 

173.   

Andrew Warren

Fellowship Party

UK

 

174.   

Cari Mitchell

English Collective of Prostitutes

UK

 

175.   

Eric Penrose

Brent & Harrow Mental Health Association

UK

 

176.   

Toby Penrose

 

UK

 

177.   

Selma James

Global Women’s Strike

UK

 

178.   

Michael Kalmanovitz

Payday

UK

 

179.   

Helen

WinVisible – Women with visible and Invisible disabilities

UK

 

180.   

Sam Weinstein

Utility Workers Union of America

USA

 

181.   

Lisa Longstaff

Crossroads Women’s Centre

UK

 

182.   

Didi Rossi

Wages Due Lesbians

UK

 

183.   

Hazel Sillitoe

Unmanageabletv

UK

 

184.   

Cristel Amiss

Women of Colour in the Global Women’s Strike

UK

 

185.   

Nina Lopez

Global Women’s Strike

UK

 

186.   

Lori Nairne

Wages Due Lesbians

USA

 

187.   

Norma Rana

 

UK

 

188.   

Mukhtar Rana

 

UK

 

189.   

Jenny Hautman

Crossroads Women’s Centre

UK

 

190.   

B Melinde

 

UK

 

191.   

R Melinde

 

UK

 

192.   

Bob Labi

 

UK

 

193.   

Neil Naik

 

UK

 

194.   

Tanja Hollmann

 

UK

 

195.   

B Simonds

Women Against Rape

UK

 

196.   

Daniela Dillon

 

UK

 

197.   

Patrick Dillon

National Health Service

UK

 

198.   

Tim Flatman

 

UK

 

199.   

Tahir Suleyman

 

UK

 

200.   

Issa Farrah

 

UK

 

201.   

D Stephen

 

UK

 

202.   

Hanna Demel

Global Women’s Strike

UK

 

203.   

Niki Adams

Legal Action for Women

UK

 

204.   

Kristina Brandemo

 

UK

 

205.   

Anne Neale

Wages Due Lesbians

UK

 

206.   

Kim Sparrow

Single Mothers Self-Defence

UK

 

207.   

Ariane Sacco

 

UK

 

208.   

Agnes Orbadi

 

UK

 

209.   

Emily Churchill

Student

UK

 

210.   

Helen Owder

 

UK

 

211.   

Saskia Ellis

Black Women’s Rape Action Project

UK

 

212.   

Senga

Black Women’s Rape Action Project

UK

 

213.   

Rita

All African Women’s Group

UK

 

214.   

Anne-Marie

All African Women’s Group

UK

 

215.   

Areta Hautman

 

UK

 

216.   

Anna Thorburn

 

UK

 

217.   

Sara Walker

 

UK

 

218.   

Claire Glasman

Global Women’s Strike

UK

 

219.   

Solveig Francis

Global Women’s Strike

UK

 

220.   

John McDonnell

Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

UK

 

221.   

George Fowler

 

UK

 

222.   

Maria Cordon

 

Venezuela

 

223.   

Chashah Nicholas

 

 

 

224.   

Jacques Gregoire

 

France

 

225.   

Vittorio Agnoletto

Member of European Parliament

Italy

 

226.   

Katharine Bradley

 

UK

 

227.   

Pio Russo Krauss

 

Italy

 

228.   

Lina Mirasoli

 

Italy

 

229.   

Gennaro Varriale

 

Italy

 

230.   

Sophia Vassilakidis

 

 

 

231.   

Syndesmos Antirrision Syneidisis

Greek Association of Conscientious Objectors

Greece

 

232.   

Marco Mais

 

Italy

 

233.   

Eusebio Strada

 

Italy

 

234.   

Carlo Dell’Olivo

Payday men’s network

Italy

 

235.   

Mario Pin

 

Italy

 

236.   

Loredana Spadon

 

Italy

 

237.   

Chris Bluemel

 

UK

 

238.   

Rita Zanutel

Assessora alle Politiche Sociali della
Provincia di Venezia

Italy