European Bureau for Conscientious Objection

International day of action: Tuesday 9 December 2014

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) condemns the unacceptable and anachronistic practice of the Turkish-Cypriot authorities to prosecute and imprison conscientious objectors to military service.

Διεθνής ημέρα δράσης: Τρίτη 9 Δεκεμβρίου 2014

Το Ευρωπαϊκό Γραφείο για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης (EBCO) καταδικάζει την απαράδεκτη και αναχρονιστική πρακτική των Τουρκοκυπριακών αρχών να διώκουν και να φυλακίζουν αντιρρησίες συνείδησης στη στρατιωτική θητεία.

Today, 4 December 2014, Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector Haluk Selam Tufanlı was sentenced to 10 days in prison for objecting to participate in the annual compulsory military exercises in the northern part of Cyprus on the basis of his ideological conscientious objection.

Βρυξέλλες, 22 Οκτωβρίου 2014

Το Ευρωπαϊκό Γραφείο για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης (EBCO) καταδικάζει για άλλη μια φορά την απαράδεκτη πρακτική των ελληνικών αρχών να στοχοποιούν και να διώκουν αντιρρησίες συνείδησης. Το EBCO ζητά την αναίρεση της καταδίκης του αντιρρησία συνείδησης Γιάννη Γκλαρνέτατζη και την απόσυρση των κατηγοριών εναντίον όλων των αντιρρησιών συνείδησης στην Ελλάδα, χώρα στην οποία ο θεσμός της εναλλακτικής υπηρεσίας παραμένει τιμωρητικός και αποτελεί διάκριση εις βάρος των αντιρρησιών συνείδησης.

Brussels, 22 October 2014

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) condemns once again the unacceptable practice of the Greek authorities to target and prosecute conscientious objectors. EBCO demands the repeal of the conviction of conscientious objector Yiannis Glarnetatzis and the dismissal of the charges against all conscientious objectors in Greece, a country where the institution of alternative service remains punitive and constitutes discrimination against conscientious objectors.

The authorities initiated a “peace process” after the Turkish state and military conducted a thirty-year-old war whichleft thousands of casualties. The process was conceptualized as a step towards constructive dialogue with the Kurdish movement. However, the state did not abandon its long lived habits of providing peace with its arms, tanks and bombs. Families lost their children and funerals never stopped although a ceasefire was announced and armed groups left the Turkish borders.

EBCO participated in the action on conscientious objection organised by the Association of Conscientious Objection in Turkey (VR-DER) on Galatasaray square (Istiklal street) on 10th October 2014. During the action, Vedat ZENCIR, one of the two first Turkish conscientious objectors who declared their conscientious objection on ideological grounds in 1990, burnt the arrest warrant that police issued against him on 27/07/2014. Another Turkish conscientious objector, Ercan AKTAS, also burnt the arrest warrant that police issued against him on 03/09/2014.

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objectors (EBCO) presented its Annual Report 2014 “Conscientious objection to military service in Europe 2014” in a press conference in Istanbul, Turkey.

The press conference was organised by the Association of Conscientious Objection in Turkey (VR-DER) and took place on Friday 10th of October 2014 at 11:00 at Cezayir Toplantı Salonu, Galatasaray-Beyoğlu. The moderator of the press conference was Metin BAYRAK, member of the Association of Conscientious Objection in Turkey (VR-DER), and the speakers were:

Photos from the successful event organised on the occasion of the International Day of Non-Violence 2 October 2014 at 21:00 in POREIA theatre, Athens, Greece, where the outstanding performance of “BLASTED” theatre play of Sarah Kane was followed by an interesting open discussion with the audience on the manifestations of violence which are addressed by the theatre play, with:
• Dimitris Tarloou, Artistic Director of POREIA theatre and director of the “BLASTED” theatre play;

Athens, 1 October 2014

The International Day of Non-Violence is marked on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.

Brussels, 6 August 2014 “On the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, EBCO honours the conscientious objectors who refused to fight then, expresses its solidarity to the conscientious objectors who refuse to fight today, and calls to respect all over the world the peaceable commitment of people for the end of wars, armed conflicts and violence”, Friedhelm Schneider, EBCO’s President stated today. During the World War I, 1914-1918 it is estimated that more than nine million troops were killed, and, as many as 10 million civilians.

Brussels, 17 July 2014