Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector arrested for refusing to pay “military court” fine

Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector Halil Karapasaoglu was arrested on Tuesday for refusing to pay a fine of 2,000 Turkish lira which was handed to him by a “military court” for not reporting for reserve army duty in the TRNC.

He will serve a sentence of 20 days.

According to Turkish Cypriot Kibris Postasi, Karapasaoglu, a graduate student, had been waiting for “police” to arrest him in his house, along with his friends and family. He had attended an exam earlier in the morning.

Around 11 am he was informed by “authorities” that they would come to arrest him.

Supporters of Karapasaoglu and members of the Conscientious Objection Initiative gathered outside his house.

Karapasaoglu did not resist arrest. He was taken to a hospital for medical examinations and will be transferred to the ‘central prison’ around 5 am.

In-Cyprus