After many years in which no conscientious objectors were imprisoned, Turkey is once again about to jail one.
Çınar Koçgiri Doğan is one of hundreds of conscientious objectors in Turkey who publicly refuse to perform compulsory military service. In 10 days, Çınar will be imprisoned for his conscientious objection. As Conscientious Objection Watch and War Resisters’ International, we stand in solidarity with Çınar. Join us and support him with your messages of solidarity.
Click here to send your message of solidarity to Çınar Koçgiri Doğan.
While the Turkish government attempts to intimidate conscientious objectors through trials, fines, and prison sentences, every message you send will give strength to Çınar and to the movement for the right to refuse to kill.
Your words have power!
Messages can be sent in English and will be translated by the Conscientious Objection Watch team.
More info about Çınar Doğan Koçgiri’s case:
Conscientious objector Çınar Koçgiri Doğan has been sentenced to five months in prison by the Sivas 3rd Criminal Court for failing to report for military service on the grounds that he was a draft evader.
The sentence imposed by the Sivas 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance was appealed on 7 May 2025 by his lawyer Gökhan Soysal. The Kayseri Regional Court of Appeal, 5th Criminal Chamber, rejected the appeal on 2 July 2025, less than two months later, thereby finalising the decision.
The local court stated in its reasoning that ‘(…) considering that the fact that conscientious objection is not recognised as a right in our country does not constitute a violation of our legislation or the European Convention on Human Rights, the defendant’s defence that he is a conscientious objector was not accepted.’
Conscientious objector Çınar Koçgiri Doğan had previously been sentenced to five months in prison by the Sivas 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance, and it was decided to postpone the announcement of the verdict. Due to the finalisation of the second sentence imposed on conscientious objector Doğan, it was decided to proceed with the announcement of the first sentence.
Following the final ruling, the Sivas Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued a formal notice to Doğan, ordering him to report to an open prison facility within ten days. The office warned that a warrant would be issued if he failed to comply.
Doğan’s lawyer, Gökhan Soysal, stated that they would file an individual appeal to the Constitutional Court against the final ruling, but that this appeal would not suspend the implementation of the ruling. The lawyer also stated that Doğan was expected to be released within a week due to the severity of the sentence.
Despite multiple rulings by the European Court of Human Rights and findings by UN bodies calling on Türkiye to recognise the right to conscientious objection, the government continues to deny this right. See our report “Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Turkey” for a detailed analysis on Turkiye’s obligations under international law to recognise the right conscientious objection.
