Turkey country assessment

Posting after Completion of Basic Training

5.138 The Netherlands report 2001 stated that “Every conscript's unit for posting after his basic training is determined by computer by the Directorate for the Recruitment of Conscripts in the Ministry of Defence.” The place of subsequent posting depends upon the basic training undergone, the place of registration and possible criminal record.” [2b] (p19)
5.139 The report continued
“Anyone who has been convicted of theft is therefore very unlikely to be placed in a unit responsible for managing an arms depot. Among others, spokesmen for the Turkish human rights association IHD and various military sources say that they do not believe that a record of past criminal offences, whether or not of a political nature, results in an extra-harsh posting by way of additional punishment….Spokesmen for the IHD also consider it unlikely that conscripts are screened on the basis of ethnic origin or religious or political convictions for the purpose of deciding on subsequent postings.” [2b] (p21)
Discrimination in the Armed Forces
5.140 The Netherlands report 2001 states that
“The armed forces operate a harsh regime. Non-commissioned officers and lieutenants in particular occasionally beat conscripts as a means of disciplining them. The use of insults – again by NCOs and lieutenants – to conscripts is a fairly regular occurrence…. Harassment and discrimination by fellow soldiers or non-commissioned officers occur, depending in particular on the local commander. However, it is not possible to say that any single group suffers systematic discrimination. According to Turkish human rights organisations and former soldiers, in many cases the problems stem from conflicts between conscripts themselves.” [2b] (p49)
5.141 The Netherlands report 2001 reported that “Systematic discrimination against Kurdish conscripts can be ruled out. At the level of the unit in which conscripts serve, the situation is very often dependent on the individual commander.” In addition the report continued “There is therefore no systematic discrimination against conscripts who are known to be left wing activists. Again much depends on the commander of the respective unit.” [2b] (p50)
5.142 The report continues “Apart from occasional harassment, which depends entirely on fellow soldiers and the commander, Christian conscripts in the army encounter no discrimination” [2b] (p51) and “By comparison with the past, Jehovah’s Witnesses face hardly any problems during their military service.” [2b] (p52)
5.143 A Country of Origin Research of the Canada Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa dated 10 September 2004, entitled “Turkey: Military and societal treatment of homosexuals who have been deemed unfit to serve in the military and/or who have been discharged from the military due to their sexual orientation (January 2002 - September 2004)” gives an overview of these issues quoting a variety of sources. A stated in the report:
“GLBTQ: An Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Culture describes Turkey as having a "restrictive" military policy on homosexuals (2004), which prohibits military service by homosexuals (GLBTQ 2004; Turkish Daily News 17 July 2003). The Turkish military officially recognizes homosexuals as "threats to the armed forces and discharges them for indecency if [their sexual orientation is] discovered" (GLBTQ 2004). Homosexuality is deemed to be an illness by the military, and those who are affected by it are exempt from serving (Turkish Daily News 8 Sept. 2003; KAOS GL 31 Oct. 2002; ibid. 2002; The Nonviolent Activist July-August 2002). Homosexuals seeking exemption are required to provide the military with a photograph of themselves while on the receiving end of anal intercourse as proof of their sexual orientation (ibid.; see also KAOS GL 31 Oct. 2002; ibid. 2002)… KAOS GL, an advocacy group based in Turkey and aimed at combating discrimination against homosexuals (9 Sept. 2004), reported that in reality, very few conscripts apply to the military for exemption from military service on the basis of their sexual orientation because homosexuals who are exempted from military service on this basis face "repressive Islamic social pressures" (The Nonviolent Activist July-Aug. 2002) and problems in respect of employment opportunities and social acceptance (KAOS GL 31 Oct. 2002). [7e]

Medical Services
5.144 As stated in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report 2001 in 1999 20 of the most essential drugs were continuously and affordably available at public or private health facilities or drug outlets within one hour's travel of home for 99% of the Turkish population. [35] (p3)
5.145 As noted in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report 2002, Turkey ranked 88 (out of 177 countries) in the world, in comparison the UK ranked 12. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development—a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living. [35]
5.146 As published in the Health Statistics 2002 of the Turkish Ministry of Health there were 1,1566 hospitals, and a bed capacity of 178,135. 654 of the hospitals (bed capacity 88,827) were run by the Ministry of Health, 241 were private, 121 were social insurance institutions, and the remainder, were run by other organisations, including other Ministries and universities. There were in 2001 90,757 physicians, of whom 41,907 were specialists, and 48,850 non-specialists [46] According to the World Health Organisation there were 136.72 physicians per 100,000 population in 2002. [37a]

Cost of Treatment

5.147 The Foreign and Commonwealth Office reported in 2001 that if the patient has contributed to a social security scheme (SSK, BAG KUR, EMEKLI or SANDIGI), his or her cost of treatment will be met. A person who has not made social security contributions and who does not have his/her own financial means and can show that he/she is penniless, is provided with free treatment by the state. [4a]
5.148 On 21 February 2005 the Turkish Daily News reported that a law to transfer ownership of Social Security Authority (SSK) hospitals to the Health Ministry had came into effect over the weekend.
“The law also transfers health facilities owned by Postal and Telecommunications General Directorate (PTT) and Ziraat Bank to the ministry. SSK hospitals will from now on be run like other state-owned medical facilities. SSK members will still have to obtain referrals from their local hospital for treatment at university hospitals…Numerous political parties, nongovernmental organizations and labor groups criticized the government decision to transfer the hospitals to the Health Ministry. Those opposing to the law said the government intended to privatize the health sector, with many people only getting the treatment they could afford. The government decision is a small part of the social security reform process currently under way to ease the burden on taxpayers. Despite being owned by the SSK, hospitals are a drain to the state because of the huge losses they incur. “ [23p]