Amnesty International
Group 27, Victoria

Conscientious Objectors

group 27
Amnesty International
Victoria, BC

update: 4 August 2005

Conscientious Objectors

Conscientious Objectors site

January to June 2004
Concerns in Europe

2003
Greece: To be in the army or choosing not to be: the continuous harassment of conscientious objectors.

Resolution 1989/59 on conscientious objection to military service, adopted by the UN Commission on Human Rights in March 1989, in operative paragraph 4 emphasizes that

...alternative service should be in principle of a non-combatant or civilian character, in the public interest and not of a punitive nature.

Statements

- about bringing the length of civilian service in line with international standards...

There are still considerable pressures for and against shortening of the civilian service, and it is rather likely that the matter will be reverted to within the next few years. I ensure you that I will do all I can within my power to have the length of alternative civilian service reduced.
- explaining the exceeding length of alternative civilian service...

[...] the military service in its entirety is more exhausting physically and mentally than the alternative service.
- about reasonable limits...

Our alternative civilian service of 395 days in fact adds only 33 days to the length of military service required of many Finnish conscripts, because the length of service for conscripts trained to become officers in the reserve is 362 days.

(compare: "[...] remained more than double the length of military service performed by over 50 per cent of army conscripts [...]", as quoted in Concerns in Europe)

(All statements quoted from letters to Group 27)



by Picasso


Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion [...]

Prisoners of conscience: conscientious objectors in Finland Under the Damocles sword: conscientious objectors in Greece The price of principle: conscientious objectors in Israel

Prisoners of conscience: imprisonment of conscientious objector to military service in Finland


In the period under review [January to June 2004], AI called for the immediate and unconditional release of conscientious objector Eero Herman Salomo Laititen. In February 2003, 20-year-old Eero Herman Salomo Laitinen had been charged with a civilian service offence as a result of his refusal to undertake the mandatory 395 days’ alternative civilian service, citing the length of service as a reason for his objection. He entered prison in January after having been sentenced to 197 days’ imprisonment.

New legislation, in force since 1998, considerably reduced the length of military service. The length of alternative civilian service, however, remained more than double the length of military service performed by over 50 per cent of army conscripts. AI considered such a length as punitive and discriminatory, and continued to urge a review of existing legislation, aimed at reducing the length of alternative civilian service, thereby bringing it into line with internationally-recognized standards and recommendations.

Table: Services regulations in Finland

days of military service
depending on rank, type of service and length of contract

days of alternative civilian service

old regulation

Military Service Act 1998

(unaltered)

240 180 395
285 270 395
330 362 395

Conscientious objection in Greece

Historic decision by military court gives the right to former conscript to apply for alternative civilian service

Amnesty International welcomes today's [1 April 2005] historic decision of the Military Court in Athens which ruled unanimously that religious conscientious objector and former conscript Sergey Gutarov should be released and allowed to apply for alternative civilian service due to a "conflict of duties" (duty to the army and duty to his religion). [...]

Sergey Gutarov had served his military service in the Russian army. Later, he became a Jehovah's Witness, so when the Greek army called him to report for military service he asked to serve alternative civilian service instead -- this is not allowed under Greek law 2510/97 for those who have already served in the armed forces. Sergey Gutarov was arrested on Thursday 31 March 2005, charged with insubordination for failing to report for military service and was held in pre-trial detention. Amnesty International considered him to be a prisoner of conscience and called for his immediate and unconditional release.

Amnesty International believes that every person has the right to refuse to perform military service on the grounds of conscience or profound personal conviction, without suffering any legal or physical penalty. Anyone imprisoned for exercising this right is considered to be a prisoner of conscience, provided that the person has not rejected an alternative non-military service that is not punitive or discriminatory in length or substance.

source: EUR 25/004/2005 1 April 2005     Top

11 May 2005
Punished for their beliefs: how conscientious objectors continue to be deprived of their rights
EUR 25/007/2005
 

Conscientious objection in Israel

Amnesty International is concerned about the number of Israeli soldiers and reservists detained because of their refusal to perform their military service. The number of imprisoned conscientious objectors is now approximately ten, although numbers fluctuate. The total number of objectors imprisoned since the beginning of the intifada in September 2000 is some 280. [by 23 April 2004]

A person who for reasons of conscience or profound conviction arising from religious, ethical, moral, humanitarian, philosophical, political or similar motive refuses to perform armed service or any other direct or indirect participation in wars or armed conflicts and is imprisoned as a result of his/her refusal to serve is considered by Amnesty International to be a prisoner of conscience unless such a person has also refused to perform alternative civilian service of comparable length. There is no such alternative civilian service in Israel.

Left to right: Haggai Matar, Noam Bahat, Matan Kaminer, Shimri Tzameret and Adam Maor © private

A Victory for Human Dignity

September 2004

Haggai Matar, Noam Bahat, Matan Kaminer, Shimri Tzameret and Adam Maor are free and out of prison and are, as conscientious objectors, exempt from military duty.

see also: Middle East - Israel and the Occupied Territories