A court in Sivas has sentenced conscientious objector Çınar Koçgiri Doğan to five months in prison for refusing to perform compulsory military service—making him the first conscientious objector to be incarcerated in Turkey in nearly a decade.
The Sivas Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office indicted Doğan in December 2024, and he was tried by the Sivas 3rd Penal Court of First Instance. In his defense, Doğan stated that his refusal to serve was grounded in his political beliefs and ethical convictions.
“Although military service is compulsory, my political stance views conscientious objection as a fundamental right, and I believe I should be exempt from service. If I were assigned another form of public duty, I would be willing to fulfill it,” he told the court, requesting acquittal.
However, the court ruled otherwise. Citing Article 63 of the Military Penal Code No. 1632, the judges emphasized that conscientious objection is not recognized under Turkish law. They rejected Doğan’s defense and sentenced him to five months in prison.
“The fact that conscientious objection is not recognized as a right in our country does not constitute a violation of our legislation or the European Convention on Human Rights,” the ruling stated.
The court also noted that Doğan became eligible for conscription in 2008, was classified as a draft evader in 2019 after a postponement period, and was later detained by law enforcement.
Although his lawyer, Gökhan Soysal, appealed the verdict, the 5th Penal Chamber of the Kayseri Regional Court of Justice upheld the lower court’s ruling on July 2, finalizing Doğan’s prison sentence.
Surrender Order Issued
Following the ruling, the Sivas Prosecutor’s Office issued a formal notice ordering Doğan to report to an open prison facility within 10 days. It warned that an arrest warrant would be issued if he failed to comply.
In a statement to bianet, Doğan said he would apply for a 10-day deferral of the sentence.
“I was sentenced to five months in prison for the same charge in 2024,” he said. “What we’re seeing is the judiciary reflecting the state’s shift in military policy. Two of my fellow conscientious objectors are now facing prison terms of up to 19 months. In the past, we were let off with fines. Now those penalties have turned into prison time.”
Doğan, who lives in a village in Sivas and works in agricultural production, expressed concern over the consequences of imprisonment.
“Going to prison just because I refused to serve in the military will disrupt my work and life,” he said.
A Precedent Revived
Doğan’s sentencing marks a notable shift in Turkey’s approach to conscientious objection. Over the past decade, objectors were typically fined rather than imprisoned. His case appears to signal a more punitive stance by Turkish courts in alignment with evolving military and state policy.
