Conscientious Objection under European Regime of Human Rights: An Analysis on Turkey

Year 2024, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 67 - 85, 10.01.2024

Cerenmelis Kıcıroğlu

Abstract

This study examines the right to conscientious objection to military service in Turkey in light of the Council of Europe’s (CoE) human rights system. The European Court of Human Rights recognized the right to conscientious objection (CO) in 2011. Accordingly, the member states of the CoE need to incorporate the right and make the necessary arrangements in their domestic law. However, Turkey is an exception to this rule. The internal tensions of modernization and historical specificities have been effective in this orientation. In conclusion, the non-recognition of the right to conscientious objection has had some negative effects on Turkish democracy and state-citizen relations. The objective of this study is to outline the approach of Turkey’s domestic law to CO and suggest proposals for harmonizing domestic legislation with international human rights standards binding on Turkey.

Keywords

Council of Europe, Conscientious Objection, European Convention on Human Rights, European Court of Human Rights, Turkish Legal System

Avrupa İnsan Hakları Rejimi Kapsamında Vicdani Ret: Türk İstisnacılığı

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Avrupa Konseyi (AK) insan hakları sistemi ışığında Türkiye’de askerlik hizmetine karşı vicdani ret hakkını incelemektedir. Avrupa İnsan Hakları Mahkemesi vicdani ret hakkını 2011 yılında tanımıştır. Buna göre, AK üyesi devletlerin bu hakkı kendi iç hukuklarına dâhil etmeleri ve gerekli düzenlemeleri yapmaları gerekmektedir. Ancak Türkiye bu kuralın bir istisnasıdır. Modernleşmenin içsel gerilimleri ve tarihsel özgünlükler bu yönelimde etkili olmuştur. Sonuç olarak, vicdani ret hakkının tanınmaması, Türk demokrasisi ve devlet-vatandaş ilişkileri üzerinde birtakım olumsuz etkiler yaratmıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye iç hukukunun vicdani ret konusundaki yaklaşımını ana hatlarıyla ortaya koymak ve yerel mevzuatın Türkiye için bağlayıcı olan uluslararası insan hakları standartlarıyla uyumlu hale getirilmesi için önerilerde bulunmaktır.

Keywords

Vicdani Ret, Avrupa Konseyi, Avrupa İnsan Hakları Sözleşmesi, Avrupa İnsan Hakları Mahkemesi, Türk Hukuk Sistemi

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