Merve Arkun

Merve is an antimilitarist activist, campaigner, and organizer from Turkey. For her, the spark began with the “national security” classes she took in high school; this experience led her to reflect on nationalism and militarism and to fight against the deep links between the two. She is one of the coordinators of the Conscientious Objection Watch and a member of international antimilitarist networks such as War Resisters’ International. She believes that resistance against compulsory military service is a powerful form of civil disobedience so she focuses on strengthening this form of disobedience, organizing solidarity with those resisting compulsory military service, connecting local struggles with global anti-war movements.

As a mother facing the anxieties of raising a child in times of crisis, she never forgets that the personal is political, a reminder that gives her strength to live and to keep resisting. She genuinely enjoys watching cloudy skies, swimming, and cooking.