The Right to Conscientious Objection to Military Service and Turkey's Obligations under International Human Rights Law

PART I: THE RECOGNITION OF CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW 1. International Level: The United Nations Human Rights System 2. Regional Level: The European Human Rights System 3. Consensus on International Standards PART II: CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION TO MILITARY SERVICE: THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY 4. Conscription and the Myth of the Military-Nation 5. Intricacies of the Turkish Legal System 6. Turkey's International Obligations

Özgür Heval Ç?nar is Senior Associate Member of Seesox, St Antony's College, University of Oxford, UK.

"Ç?nar ends his very readable analysis with a set of recommendations for policymakers. Among others, he urges Turkey to comply with its obligations under international law, and underlines the necessity of recognizing and establishing an alternative civilian service. This book enriches the legal literature on freedom of thought and of religion in general, and on the right to conscientious objection in particular. Ç?nar's comparative study is a must-read for researchers working in this area and for conscientious objectors in Turkey, but most importantly for policymakers." - Ethem Çoban, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany, International Journal of Constitutional Law

"[...T]his book will prove an excellent tool for conscientious objectors and their advocates. Coupled with its historical and in-depth commentary on both the conscientious objection and the United Nations, European, and Inter-American human rights systems, this book is a must-have for advocates or scholars discussing conscientious objections." - David J. Hotelling, Harvard Law School, USA, Harvard Human Rights Journal

"Turkey is the only state of 47 members of the Council of Europe not to recognise conscientious objection. In this new book, Ç?nar analyses and subjects to informed criticism Turkey's official State ideology, founded on the idea of a 'military-nation' based on a system of compulsory military service. This analysis is also relevant to many other states, especially since Ç?nar provides cogent and soundly based proposals for reform. This book is a unique resource for scholars and practitioners alike and is highly recommended." - Bill Bowring, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK

"A must-read, not only for academics, activists, and policy makers interested in the problem of conscientious objection but also for those interested in contemporary Turkish politics." - Fuat Keyman, Sabanc? University, Turkey

"Özgür Heval Ç?nar has given us all a book that boldly charts the rugged