More Turkish soldiers died from suicide than combat in 10 years: Minister

ANKARA – Anatolia News Agency

The Turkish Army has taken steps to reduce suicide in the barracks by making each soldier responsible of another soldier in the same team. AA photo

Turkish Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz has revealed that more soldiers passed away after committing suicide than were killed in attacks in the last 10 years. Responding to a parliamentary question from Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Altan Tan, Yılmaz stated that 601 soldiers in the Turkish Army were killed in attacks, fights, ambushes and harassment fires between Jan. 1, 2002 and Dec. 31, 2012.

In the same period, the number of soldiers who committed suicide was 965. “A different pattern has not been determined in suicidal tendencies in the Turkish Army compared to other civil [groups],” the statement read.

In response to another parliamentary question, Yılmaz claimed the Defense Ministry was currently not carrying out any work to end the nation’s obligatory military service.