Turkish conscientious objector Mehmet Bal was arrested in June, reports campaigning group Payday (www.refusingtokill.net). Having been held in custody at Besiktas Military Prison, where he was beaten by duty officers, Bal was later sent to the Hasdal Military Prison. Officers in charge there incited other inmates to ‘do what was necessary’. His fellow prisoners beat him with sticks until he passed out, then dragged him into the cold showers so that he could regain consciousness and be beaten again.
After the attacks, Bal was taken to Gümüssuyu Military Hospital but was not admitted, despite being unable to move his neck, legs or arms. He is now in Adana Military Prison, hundreds of kilometres from his home in Istanbul.
