'Conscientious Objection Will Be Discussed in Parliament in Northern Cyprus"

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Northern Cypriot Minister of National Education and Culture and Socialist Democracy Party (TDP) Chair Cemal Özyiğit has said that they will put the issue of conscientious objection into their agenda in 2019.

Özay said in a TV program that they will introduce a bill regarding conscientious objection to the parliament, daily Yeni Düzen (New Order) reported.

Minister Özay said on another TV program that lawyers are working on the issue and it will be on the agenda of the cabinet in the first days of the new year, daily Detay Kıbrıs (Detail Cyprus) reported.

Saying that "This bill has got to be passed", Özay stated the following on the matter:

'It does not mean that nobody does military service'

"There are cases proceeding at the European Court of the Human Rights (ECtHR). Some of our youth brought the topic to the ECtHR. Therefore, a law is urgently needed.

"All four parties made promises to the people on this issue.

"Okay, this is an international right, but this does not mean that 'Nobody does military service' or 'Nobody joins mobilization'.

"What is being said is that conscientious objection is an international right. But there is no law on it.

"We have such young people who do not want firearms in their hands. Those young ones will be told 'You will work in public service for this amount of time'.

"But a young one who goes hunting cannot say 'I cannot take a gun in my hand.'"

The TDP introduced a bill that included the recognition of the conscientious objection to the parliament in 2014. The bill was rejected. (EKN/VK)