Hijack highlights Turkish refuseniks

By Sarah Rainsford
BBC News, Istanbul

Ekinci said as a Christian he did not want to serve in a Muslim army

Human rights and pacifist groups in Turkey have distanced themselves from Tuesday's plane hijack, which was carried out by a Turkish man on the run from compulsory military service.

The hijacker, Hakan Ekinci, had been seeking political asylum in Albania and had been in contact with anti-militarist groups in Turkey for some months.

The groups say they worry the principle of conscientious objection, which is not recognised in Turkish law, will be wrongly linked with acts of violence.

Mr Ekinci said in letters published on the internet that he had converted to Christianity eight years ago, and declared his conscientious objection to military service, which is compulsory for all Turkish men for up to 15 months.

The punishment for dodging the draft can be up to five years in prison.

The right to conscientious objection, or alternative service, is not recognised here.

'Traitors'

The hijacking of Flight 1476 from Tirana has highlighted the issue which anti-militarist groups call a violation of human rights.

They point to a ruling by the European Court this year which condemned the "clandestine life" that a conscientious objector was compelled to adopt in Turkey as "civil death".

Military service is compulsory for all Turkish adult males

But the same groups have been quick to distance themselves from Hakan Ekinci, calling his aggressive tactics unacceptable.

Many Turks already label conscientious objectors as traitors, so the pacifist groups fear they could become the target of aggressive action themselves in response.

One pacifist told the BBC he believed he had every right to refuse military service on moral grounds - but he is on the run, unable to work, travel or carry his ID for fear of being caught.

There are no reliable figures on how many Turkish men are in the same position.

The subject is still very sensitive here. Turkey's military is highly respected.

Earlier this year, a court case against a prominent Turkish writer was initiated by the military itself after an article in which she argued conscientious objection was a human right.