The European Court of Human Rights yesterday found Turkey in violation of Articles 6 and 10 of the European Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) in the KHRP-assisted case of Yurdatapan v Turkey.

On 23 July 1999 Mr Yurdatapan, an opponent of Turkey’s harsh laws relating to conscription, distributed leaflets entitled “Freedom of Thought - No. 38” in front of the Istanbul State Security Court.  These leaflets contained statements made by Osman Murat Ülke, a conscientious objector, opposing conscription. Mr Ülke was himself prosecuted for making these statements in 1997 and a similar leaflet entitled “Freedom of Thought – No 9” containing his statements had previously been banned by the Turkish general Staff Military Court. Mr Yurdatapan was subsequently tried by a military court for seeking to dissuade persons from serving in the military, sentenced to two months imprisonment and a fine.