Conscription

Pope Francis said Sept. 28 government officials have a "human right" to refuse to discharge a duty, such as issuing marriage licenses to homosexuals, if they feel it violates their conscience.

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) submitted to parliament on Aug. 6 a law proposal for the right to conscientious objection.

The proposal, prepared by HDP lawmakers Pervin Buldan and ?dris Baluken, included amendments to the Turkish penal code, military penal code and military service law.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite signed on Monday a legal amendment, which reintroduces military conscription in the country.

The bill had already been approved on Thursday with an overwhelming majority at Lithuania's Seimas with 112 MPs voting in favour, the National Radio and Television informs.

Lithuania considers reintroducing military conscription in view of the changed geopolitical situation.

This was discussed at a meeting of the State Defence Council, which brings together Lithuania's President, Prime Minister, Parliament Speaker, Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence.

A government motion for the implementation of a paid military service exemption was approved by Parliament early on Dec. 10.

Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz admitted during the General Assembly session on Dec. 9 that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) had clearly expressed its disapproval of paid military service exemptions, but defended the bill as necessary.

Ten years after his death, Turkish painter Mehmet Tunalı is being remembered with a retrospective exhibition at Studio Çukurcuma in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district.

I was in Israel last week, where I saw a picture of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife posing with their youngest son, who is about to be conscripted into the Israeli army. Israel has mandatory military service and, as the photo shows, there are no exemptions. Even young women serve.

The Ukrainian parliament has adopted a resolution recommending that acting President Oleksandr Turchynov resume mandatory drafting of conscripts into the country's army.

According to a report of Radio Free Europe, the resolution "on additional measures for strengthening Ukraine's defense capability in connection with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine" was adopted on Thursday.