[Newsletter] [Statistics] [Contact Information] [E-mail]

Welcome to the website of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection. We are happy to see you as guest, please step in and have a look. For the latest developments concerning conscientious objection in Europe, you can click on our map and see more details in the table below. If you want to contact our national members click on the map or see the list below or open the Member organizations & links page . For more information about individual cases check our News page. For more detailed reports and background information open the Document or Country reports page ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ You find the latest issue of our Newsletter "The right to refuse to kill" when you click here. (For older copies see our section "Newsletter")

EBCO Web Carte d'Europe 1) green = no conscription Bosnis-Herzegovina, Croatia, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Malta, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, Macedonia 2) yellow = Conscientious objection fairly recognized Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia . Lithuania , Norwegen-Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Serbia 3) orange = Conscientious recognized but discriminatory Cyprus, Greece, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Estonia, Finland, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Albania, Poland, Montenegro 4) red = Conscientious objection not recognized Belarus, Azerbaijan, Turkey (including Northern Cyprus)
		[ + ]

July 2008 Turkish ministry of justice - a motion to relax pressure on Conscientious Objectors? Turkish Ministry of Justice has published an circular which orders that draft evaders are no longer seized by recruiting offices. According to the circular, recruiting offices no longer have the authority to take evaders into custody; in order to take an evader into custody, a judge’s decision will be required. Moreover, the circular states that evaders who serve their sentences for evading; will not be taken to Recruiting Office, but will be expected to go to the Office by himself. The circular by Ministry of Justice, which makes references to the European Convention on Human Rights, has been circulated among the prosecutors’ offices. Details of the circular are as follows: Draft evaders will not be searched for or taken into custody upon demands of recruiting offices. Only the prosecutors can call an order to take an evader under custody. If the Prosecutor’s Office decides that there is no need for further prosecution, evaders will not be arrested or taken into custody. If and when the accused party is declared guilty and receives punishment (either in terms of prison sentences or fines) according to the Military Penal Code, after execution of the sentence, the person will not be taken to a Recruiting Office. The Recruiting Offices will have no authority to oppose to the Prosecutor’s judgement. The judgement will be sent to the presidency of related recruiting Office only for the purpose of informing. This circular carries positive implications for conscientious objectors in Turkey: First of all, conscientious objectors will be judged in civilian courts for draft evasion; unless an objector declares his objection after starting military service. Secondly, after they serve the sentence upon a civilian court’s judgement, they will not be taken and handed in to Recruiting Offices. This circular is not a recognition of the right to conscientious objection. However, apparently it is potentially a measure in the way of relaxing the pressure on conscientious objectors. Best Wishes, Feyda Sayan

"The deprivation of liberty of Mr. Halil Savda was arbitrary"t the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded on 20 July 2008 on Turkish CO Halil Savda's repeated imprisonment in its statement to the Turkish government. "The deprivation of liberty of Mr. Halil Savda during the periods between 16 and 28 December 2004, between 7 December 2006 and 2 February 2007, as well as between 5 February and 28 July 2007 was arbitrary. His deprivation of liberty since 27 March 2008 is also arbitrary, being in contravention of articles 9 and 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of articles 9 and 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights from which the Republic of Turkey is a State Party, falling under category II of the categories applicable to the consideration of cases submitted to the Working Group. In addition, it also falls under category III of the categories applied by the Working Group, as far as Mr. Savda would have to serve his prison term following his conviction by judgement No. 2007/742-396." Here the link to the full pdf document

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - PUBLIC STATEMENT AI Index: EUR 25/003/2008 (Public) Date: 20 June 2008 Greece: Lazaros Petromelidis repeatedly convicted for his beliefs		Lazaros Petromelidis

Turkey article318-poster en.pdf

GREECE On 20 May, Greek conscientious objector Lazaros Petromelidis was again sentenced in absentia to three years imprisonment without suspension on two charges of insubordination by the Naval Court of Piraeus. This means that after this trial, his 15th one, there is again an arrest warrant for Lazaros Petromelidis, and he is in imminent danger of imprisonment for his beliefs. Lazaros Petromelidis' case has a long history of 16 years, full of prosecutions and convictions. He was first prosecuted after he declared his conscientious objection in March 1992, at a time when Greece did not recognize the right to conscientious objection. In 1998 he refused to do the alternative service he was offered, as it was of an extremely punitive duration -- in his case, seven and a half times longer than the military service he would otherwise have had to perform. Since then, he has been regularly receiving call-up papers to serve in the military and has been repeatedly charged with insubordination because of his refusal, as a conscientious objector, to do military service. He has been passed through more than a dozen trials and has been imprisoned three times, in May 1998, April 1999 and September 2002. Lazaros Petromelidis (45) is holding a world record on punishments for his conscientious objection to military service. He has been on trial for refusing to enlist in the Greek army 15 times since his 30th birthday, has been sentenced to imprisonment several times and has been banned from traveling abroad. He is ending his conscription age at the end of this year but may be called up again until the 31st of December 2008. His repeated punishment for the same offence is in contradiction to the Ne Bis in Idem principle in Article 14 paragraph 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: "No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence for which he has been finally convicted or acquitted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of each country." EBCO and War Resisters' International call for the suspension of Lazaros Petromelidis' sentence. The right to conscientious objection is a legitimate exercise of the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 18), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 18), the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Article 9) and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (Article 10). EBCO calls on people to send protest letters to: Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, Prime Minister of Greece Maximos Mansion ('Megaro Maximou') 19, Herodou Attikou str. GR-106 74 Athens (info@primeminister.gr). Please inform also your Members of the European Parliament and ask them to intervene at the Greek government. Meanwhile an intervention at the Chairman of the Committee for Liberties, Justice and home affairs at the European Parliament Gérard Deprez (Belgium) to take actions to protect Article 10 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. You find further information on Lazaros Petromelidis' on this website.		Lazaros Petromelidis

Brussels, 15 May 2008 - Press Release 15 May, International Conscientious Objectors’ Day Turkey should stop persecuting conscientious objectors to military service Since November 2006, the young Turkish conscientious objector, Halil Savda, sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment, guilty of refusing to carry out his military service, has been in and out of prison for a total of 9 months.It is important to remember that Turkey, in spite of judgements by the European Court of Human Rights and orders by the Council of Europe, has still not legislated for the status of conscientious objectors, nor made any provision for alternative civilian service. Many objectors who refuse to serve in uniform, just as those people and associations who support them, find themselves regularly behind bars. They are charged with “damaging national power” and “disobeying orders”. For these crimes the penal code prescribes 4 to 5 years’ imprisonment. A military court recently judged that Halil Savda was unfit to serve in the army for reasons of “socially disturbed personality”. In spite of this, he has not been set free, but merely transferred from the military prison to the civil prison in Çorlu, where he may still have to remain for some 10 months. CNAPD, the Christian Peace Movement (MCP) and the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), deeply concerned by the attacks on freedom of conscience in Turkey, on the day consecrated around the world to the recognition of conscientious objection, demand from the Turkish authorities: The immediate release of Halil Savda; An end to administrative humiliation and harassment and to ostracism of conscientious objectors who have already served their sentences; The establishment of a civilian service to replace military service, as recommended by the Council of Europe, of which Turkey is a member. Turkey, moreover, as a candidate country for membership of the European Union (EU), must recognise the right to conscientious objection to military service, which is one of the fundamental human rights of the EU. EBCO strives for the recognition of this right at the level of European institutions. EBCO’s website: http://www.ebco-beoc.org Contact: Carla Goffi / Email: mcp.belgium@skynet.be Telephone: +32 (0) 496463965 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bruxelles, le 15 Mai 2008 - Communiqué de presse 15 mai, journée internationale consacrée à l’objection de conscience : La Turquie doit cesser les persécutions à l’encontre des objecteurs de conscience au service militaire Depuis Novembre 2006 , le jeune objecteur de conscience turc Halil Savda, condamné à 21 mois d’incarcération, coupable de refuser de prester son service militaire, sort et rentre en prison pour un total de 9 mois. Rappelons que la Turquie, en dépit des condamnations de la Cour Européenne des droits de l’homme et des injonctions du Conseil de l’Europe, n’a toujours pas légiféré sur le statut d’objecteur de conscience, ni prévu de service civil de remplacement. Les nombreux objecteurs qui refusent de servir sous les drapeaux, ainsi que les personnes et associations qui les soutiennent, se trouvent régulièrement derrière les barreaux. Ils sont poursuivis pour ‘dommage au pouvoir national’ et ‘désobéissance aux ordres’. Le code pénal prévoit, pour ces enfreintes, de 4 à 5 ans d’emprisonnement. Halil Savda a récemment été jugé par le tribunal militaire inapte à prester dans l’armée, pour des raisons de ‘personnalité socialement dérangée’. Il n’a pas, pour autant, été libéré mais transféré de la prison militaire à celle civile de Çorlu, où il risque de purger encore une dizaine de mois. Le CNAPD et le Mouvement Chrétien pour la Paix (MCP) et le Bureau Européen de l’Objection de Conscience (BEOC), fort préoccupés par les graves atteintes à la liberté de conscience en Turquie, en ce jour consacré mondialement à la reconnaissance de l’objection de conscience, demandent aux autorités turques : La libération immédiate de Halil Savda ; L’arrêt des vexations, tracasseries administratives et ostracisme à l’encontre des objecteurs de conscience qui ont déjà purgé leurs peines ; La mise en place d’un service civil de remplacement au militaire, conformément aux recommandations du Conseil de l’Europe dont fait partie la Turquie. La Turquie, comme pays candidat à l’adhésion à l’UE, a d’ailleurs l’obligation de reconnaître le droit à l’objection de conscience au service militaire, qui est un est des droits de l’homme fondamentaux de l’UE. Le BEOC œuvre pour la reconnaissance de ce droit au niveau des institutions européennes . Site web du BEOC : http://www.ebco-beoc.org/ Personne de contact : Carla Goffi mcp.belgium@skynet.be tel ; 0496463965		Halil Savda

CYPRUS : The Initiative for Conscientious Objection - Cyprus has celebrated International Conscientious Objectors' Day on May 15th with a demonstration and a press-conference in front of the Army Recruitment Center in northern part of Nicosia Conscience is needed for peace... The Initiative for Conscientious Objection - Cyprus has celebrated International Conscientious Objectors' Day on May 15th with a demonstration and a press-conference in front of the Army Recruitment Center in northern part of Nicosia. The main theme was "Our duty for our homeland is peace and Conscientious Objection is our right". The particular location was chosen because that is where all the paperwork, health checks etc for the compulsory military service takes place. The demonstrators called for legislation for the right of conscientious objection in the Turkish occupied areas. Furthermore, they have pointed out that in both sides of the island, young people are trained to use deadly weapons and are asked to keep guard against each other. This is an unacceptable and unnecessary situation. The lack of the right of conscientious objection forces the youth, who either refuses or can not do the military service, to leave the island and never return back. The whole idea of the military service goes against the basic desire of the youth for reunification and peace in the island. General Aims, Principles and an Open Call of The Initiative for Conscientious Objection - Cyprus Military service ’in the northern part of Cyprus from The Right to Refuse to Kill - The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection Newsletter - Summer 2006 pdf format of newsletter read also: http://militarizmi.reddet.org/8e.htm

Greek Section of Amnesty International Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors Initiative for Conscientious Objection in Cyprus (north) European Bureau for Conscientious Objection War Resisters' International To the Embassy of Turkish Republic, Athens Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, Athens Prime Minister of Greece, Athens Athens, 11 April 2008 Greece, Cyprus and Turkey to recognise international standards on the right to conscientious objection Representatives of conscientious objection and human rights organisations from several European countries, meeting in Athens over the weekend, call for Greece, Cyprus and Turkey to recognise the right to conscientious objection according to European and international standards. The representatives remind the governments of Greece, Cyprus and Turkey that the right to conscientious objection has been recognised by several international institutions, among others the United Nations[1] and the Council of Europe[2]. More specifically, in a decision on two individual complaints from South Korea, the United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled in 2007 that not to provide for the right to conscientious objection is a violation of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion[3]. In detail: Although Greece provides in its law 3421/2005 for the right to conscientious objection, the law itself and its implementation do not meet international standards. The Ministry of Defence and not a civilian authority decides on applications for conscientious objection, an application is only possible within strict time limits, and thus not for serving soldiers or reservists, and the alternative service of conscientious objectors is almost twice the length of military service, which is punitive. In addition, in recent years the majority of non-religious conscientious objectors have been rejected by the Ministry of Defence, and several conscientious objectors still face prosecution The situation regarding the right to conscientious objection is very different in the two parts of Cyprus. While the Republic of Cyprus recognises the right to conscientious objection for conscripts, an application has to be made to the Ministry of Defence, and not to a civilian authority. The right is also not available to serving conscripts or professional soldiers. In the northern part of Cyprus the right to conscientious objection is not recognised at all. All military matters are directly controlled by the Turkish military. Turkey too does not recognise the right to conscientious objection. Conscientious objectors face a life in illegality and/or repeated imprisonment. Conscientious objector Halil Savda has been arrested again on 27 March 2008, after having been released on 28 July 2007, following the completion of a sentence of six months of imprisonment on charges of continued disobedience. He now has to serve an outstanding prison sentence of 15.5 months on charges of desertion, and will also face a new trial on new charges of desertion. The repeated punishment of conscientious objectors in Turkey violates Article 14 paragraph 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: "No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence for which he has already been finally convicted or acquitted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of each country"[4]. Furthermore, the European Court of Human Rights decided in January 2006 in the case of CO Osman Murat Ülke that the Turkish practice of repeated imprisonment amounts to a “civil death”and a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights[5]. Although the details differ from country to country, all three countries are “united” in their violation of the right to conscientious objection, and in their refusal to accept the freedom of conscience according to European and international standards. We, representatives from conscientious objection and human rights organisations from European countries, including Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey, therefore call on these governments to finally comply with those human rights treaties all three countries are part of, and to finally recognise the right to conscientious objection according to those standards, without any “buts”and restrictions. Signatories: Greek Section of Amnesty International, Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors, Initiative for Conscientious Objection in Cyprus (north), European Bureau for Conscientious Objection, War Resisters' International. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] United Nations Commission on Human Rights (1998), Resolution 1998/77: Conscientious Objection to Military Service and subsequent resolutions in 2000, 2002 and 2004 [2] Council of Europe (1987), Recommendation No. R (87) 8 of the Committee of Ministers [3] Human Rights Committee, CCPR/C/88/D/1321-1322/2004, 23 January 2007 [4] Working Group on Arbitrary Detention: Opinion No 36/1999 (TURKEY), Opinion No 24/2003 (ISRAEL). See also Human Rights Committee: General Comment No 32, CCPR/C/GC/32, 23 August 2007 [5] AFFAIRE ÜLKE v. TURQUIE, Requête no 39437/98, 24 January 2006

Fax To: M. Lluís Maria de PUIG President of the CoE Parliamentary Assembly Plaza de la Marina Espanola 8, 28071, Madrid, Spain Tel: +34 91 538 1000 / Fax: +34 91 538 1015 Subject: Investigation of reports of intimidation and ill-treatment 17 April 2008 Dear Mr. President, I would like to bring to your attention the following press release which EBCO issued after the alleged intimidation and ill-treatment of Turkish conscientious objector Ismail Saygi. We urge you to launch an immediate investigation into this case and make the findings public. Thank you in advance. Yours sincerely, Alexia Tsouni Secretary General European Bureau for Conscientious Objection FAX To: Mr. José LELLO President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly 3, Place du Petit Sablon, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 513 2865 / Fax: +32 2 514 1847 Subject: Investigation of reports of intimidation and ill-treatment 17 April 2008 Dear Mr. President, I would like to bring to your attention the following press release which EBCO issued after the alleged intimidation and ill-treatment of Turkish conscientious objector Ismail Saygi. We urge you to launch an immediate investigation into this case and make the findings public. Thank you in advance. Yours sincerely, Alexia Tsouni Secretary General European Bureau for Conscientious Objection PRESS RELEASE Arrest and intimidation of Turkish conscientious objectors 16 April 2008 The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) held its annual meeting in Athens on 12 April with representatives of 14 European countries: Turkey, Cyprus, Russia, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, Macedonia. The assembly protested against the arrest of the Turkish conscientious objector Halil Savda in Istanbul on 27 March during a solidarity meeting for the imprisoned objector Ismail Saygi. “We expect a respectful treatment of the young Turkish human rights defender and the respect of his conscientious conviction which forbids his participation in military service”, explained EBCO’s President Gerd GREUNE. Halil Savda already spent several months in military prison, and has been sentenced repeatedly on charges of "persistent disobedience" or "desertion". Furthermore the assembly expressed its outrage about reports that the young conscript Ismail Saygi has been badly treated and beaten while detained in his military unit and was so much intimidated that he withdrew his declaration as conscientious objector. “The Turkish authorities and international bodies like the Council of Europe and NATO should investigate these cases”, said EBCO’s President. It is not acceptable that a 19 year old youngster is arrested and forced to give up his right to the freedom of conscience by military force.

TURKEY: Conscientious objector Halil Savda arrested again Turkish conscientious objector Halil Savda was arrested again on 27 March 2008, during a solidarity demonstration for imprisoned conscientious objector Ismail Saygi. Halil Savda read a statement in the name of the Solidarity Initiative for Saygi, saying: "Based on our own painful experiences we worry about the possibility that Saygi will be targeted by the random pressures and restrictions, disciplinary punishments and torture that conscientious objectors are exposed to in military prisons." Soon after, he was taken into custody by police, because of an outstanding arrest warrant on charges of desertion. Halil Savda already spent several months in military prison, and has been sentenced repeatedly on charges of "persistent disobedience" or "desertion". (see further messages on this site below)		Halil Savda

Turkish Conscientious Objector Arrested Conscientious objector Ismail Saygi, who was taken into custody on 16 March, has been arrested. Aftter serving seven months of his military service, Ismail Saygi declared on 15 November 2006 that he wanted to become a conscientious objector. He was taken into custody on Sunday, 16 March, and has now been arrested in Istanbul. Because he was registered as a deserter, an arrest warrant had been issued against him in his absence. Saygi was first handed over to the military police in Üsküdar, and then, after appearing in front of a military prosecutor, taken to Maltepe military prison in Istanbul. Saygi is expected to be transferred to a military prison in Sarikamis, in the east of Turkey. An Initiative for Solidarity with Ismail Saygi has been formed starting public actions on 19 March at Galatasaray Highschool in Taksim, central Istanbul, to show solidarity with conscientious objection and to start a support campaign. Bianet News, 19 March 2008

A Turkish translation of the Council of Europe brochure has been produced by EBCO and is now available here: "Mecburî askerlik hizmetine karþý vicdanî retçilik"

Friedhelm Schneider, EBCO Representative to the Council of Europe has written an article in French language on the development of conscientious objection and alternative service in Germany which you can find at this link.		Friedhelm Schneider

CO situation in Russia Military Draft Conscripts called up Alternative Civil Service: applications (servicemen) Have not been called for any reason Spring 2006 124 550 Full year 319 (275) Every year: approximately 2/3 of all conscripts are not called up because of deferrals, exemptions, healthy reasons, etc Autumn 2006 123 310 Full year 319 (275) Spring 2007 133 500 227 (97) Autumn 2007 132 350 184 (unknown) Remark: 2006 was the last year of the military service term with 24 months. The reduction of the term of the military service as well as of the civil service is planned for 2007-2008. In 2007 the term consists of 18 months, from 2008 it is expected to be of 12 months. The same regards to the alternative civil service. 2004-2007 – 42 months; 2007 – 31,5 months, from 2008 it is expected to be of 21 months. Table of the situation of military service and conscientious objection in the Council of Europe member states Council of Europe member state Conscription (no more conscription since... Duration of compulsory military service Right to conscientious objection since Duration of alternative service Russia Yes In 2007 – 18 months, from 2008 – 12 months 1992 – in the Constitution of the SovietFederal Republic of Russia. 1993 – in the modern Constitution of the RF In 2007 – 31,5 months, from 2008 – 21 months Source: Andrey Kalikh, Moscow

Our Mission EBCO's principal aim is to promote conscientious objection to a military service as a fundamental human right. This includes the proper national legislation as well as international binding guidelines. EBCO It serves as a network and umbrella organization for national CO-organizations all over Europe. Currently, more than thirty organizations from more than twenty countries participate. Besides exchanging information and experience, keeping members, politicians and interested people updated are our main tasks. Another focus lies on lobbying European institutions in favor of the right to conscientious objection. EBCO has consultative status with the Council of Europe (please click here for contact information of our delegate) and also works together with the European Parliament. In addition, EBCO is a member of the European Youthforum.

Contact Information The International Secretariat, EBCO's headquarters, is located in Brussels, at the premises of our partner organization IFIAS. Gerd Greune, President of EBCO and President of IFIAS is working there. You can reach the International Secretariat from Monday through Friday under following address. Below you can also find the contact information our representative to the Council of Europe and our account information. EBCO International Secretariat Telephone: +32 (2) 215 79 08 Fax: +32 (2) 245 62 97 Postal address: 81a Avenue Jan Stobbaerts, B-1030 Brussels, Belgium Visiting Address: 61 Rue Henri Stacquet, B-1030 Brussels, Belgium Electronic mail: Info and Webmaster: ebco@ebco-beoc.org How to find us in Brussels: click here for access map (.pdf)

EBCO Delegate to the Council of Europe Representative: Friedhelm Schneider Telephone: +49 (0) 62 32 6 71 50 Fax: +49 (0) 62 32 67 15 67 Address: Große Himmelsgasse 3, D-67346 Speyer, Germany Electronic mail: ebco@ebco-beoc.org Account Information Owner and account number: EBCO Account 001-1076165-26 Bank and location: FORTIS BANQUE Bruxelles IBAN: BE59 0011 0761 6526 BIC: GEBABEBB

[back to top]