Vigil in Berlin, May 2018

South Korea: No Right to Conscientious Objection yet

New published

Kamiljan Ergashov. Photo: Jehovahs Witnesses

Turkmenistan: First 2020 conscientious objector jailing

(27.01.2020) On 13 January, a court in Dashoguz Region of northern Turkmenistan jailed 18-year-old Jehovah’s Witness conscientious objector Kamiljan Ergashov for two years for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. This is the first known conviction and jailing of a conscientious objector so far in 2020. It is the 20th known such conviction since January 2018.

(external link)   ... more
More Reports

Press Release

Turkey: Conscientious objectors call to refuse

(23.10.2019) Today, exiled conscientious objectors from Turkey published a call to refuse the war in Northern Syria: “Refuse! Resist! Don’t be a soldier!” They declared: “This is an illegal war that contradicts international treaties. Those who make the decision to invade, those who participate in it, and those who offer support should know that they are committing a crime against humanity!”

... more
More Press Releases

From our Projects

Turkey: Do not be a supporter of the military deployment to Libya!

(14.01.2020) The Turkish Grand National Assembly approved a bill to deploy troops to Libya on 2 January. This bill fuels the war and internal conflict in Libya. The Turkish government has been taking steps that inflame the war in the eastern Mediterranean region and Libya for a while. With the bill, Turkey is destroying peace. As conscientious objectors and war resisters, we are absolutely against the bill approved by the Turkish Grand National Assembly. We invite everyone to take a stand against it.

... more
More Project Reports

From our Projects

Photo: Mari Park, Amnesty International

South Korea: Alternative to military service is new punishment for conscientious objectors

(27.12.2019) Conscientious objectors in South Korea will continue to be punished and stigmatized for refusing military service under a new alternative service law that was adopted today by the country’s parliament, said Amnesty International. Under the new law, those refusing military service on religious or other grounds will be required to work in a jail or other correctional facility for three years. Previously, they would have been jailed for 18 months.

... more
More Project Reports