The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Türkiye violated conscientious objector Murat Kanatlı’s right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion as he invoked Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Following a unanimous decision, the court ordered Türkiye to pay the applicant 9,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages and 2,363 euros for Kanatlı’s costs and expenses.
Since the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not recognized internationally and by the ECHR, the court holds Türkiye responsible for human rights violations in this region.
Murat Kanatlı was convicted and imprisoned in 2009 for refusing to perform a one-day military service on the grounds of conscientious objection and had filed a case to the ECHR.
(Source Euronews)
