JOINT PRESS RELEASE • Greece: Annul the Unlawful Call-Up for Military Service of Recognised CO Zacharias Piazas
17th February 2026
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A recognised conscientious objector in Greece is being called up for military service in a case with multiple violations of human rights and illegalities. Zacharias Piazas has been officially recognised as conscientious objector to military service, by decision of the Greek Minister of National Defence, in September 2025.
FORCED TO TEMPORARILY DEPART FROM THE PUNITIVE ALTERNATIVE SERVICE
In December 2025 he initiated the (punitive and discriminatory) alternative civilian service in an institution for chronic medical conditions in Thessaloniki, away from the region of his permanent residence, but soon found himself forced to temporarily depart because of the harsh financial conditions.
The institution informed the military authorities which summoned the conscientious objector to provide explanation for his absence — a standard procedure before the revocation of conscientious objector status. In his written replies, the conscientious objector explained how the institution did not provide him housing and minimum resources for covering his basic living needs, which meant that he had to find housing by himself, which proved to be impossible. As international organisations have repeatedly pointed out, conscientious objectors performing alternative civilian service in Greece are either provided with food and housing inside the institutions in which they are appointed to, without receiving any money whatsoever, or they are entitled to receive an amount of money (223.53 euros per month, unchanged since 2005) which is well below the threshold of poverty, and with which they have to cover all their needs and expenses, including housing. This situation has become even more unbearable in the midst of a housing and cost of living crisis in recent years.
THE REPLIES OF THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR: INABILITY, NOT REFUSAL OR DISCIPLINARY DISOBEDIENCE
In his written replies to the military authorities, the conscientious objector explained that his temporary departure is not a refusal to perform the alternative civilian service, neither a disciplinary disobedience, but rather a matter of factual inability. He also claimed that failing to ensure minimum conditions of living for conscientious objectors during alternative service, contrary to the provisions for conscripts performing military service, constitutes discrimination on grounds of belief. Furthermore, he challenged the competence of the military authorities to summon him, arguing that conscientious objectors should not fall under the jurisdiction of the military, and it’s rather the institution an objector is appointed to which is responsible for any disciplinary offences.
AN UNLAWFUL CALL-UP FOR MILITARY SERVICE
On 10th February 2026, before receiving any official information about how the military authorities have considered his written explanations, and without having been informed about any revocation of his conscientious objector status, he was called up for military service, for the 27th February 2026.
The case of Zacharias Piazas illustrates the continuous violations of human rights of conscientious objectors, including the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the right to freedom from discrimination, through a punitive and discriminatory alternative civilian service and a procedure of revocation of conscientious objector status for those unable to perform it. It is worth noting that in the case of Petromelidis v. Greece, which involves, inter alia, a revocation of conscientious objector status of someone who did not perform a punitive and discriminatory alternative civilian service, the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has found multiple violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
However, in this case, it appears that there might be an additional violation, even of the Greek domestic legislation, since a recognised conscientious objector is called up for military service before even his CO status is «duly» revoked. Mr. Piazas was called up for military service on 10th February, while the revocation of his conscientious objector status was issued on 12th February.
In any case, the revocation of CO status on any «disciplinary» grounds, (which the Greek Ombudsman has criticised already since 1999) and especially because of the inability to continue a clearly punitive and discriminatory alternative civilian service, constitute violations of international treaties that Greece has ratified (e.g. ICCPR, European Convention on Human Rights) and which according to the Greek constitution prevail over any domestic legislation.
THE CALL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
The undersigned international organisations urge the Greek authorities to immediately annul the unlawful call-up for military service of recognised conscientious objector Zacharias Piazas and provide him and all conscientious objectors with an alternative civilian service which is not punitive and discriminatory in terms of its nature, cost or duration, according to the relevant concluding observations of UNHRC.
— «Connection e.V.»
— «European Bureau for Conscientious Objection»
— «War Resisters’ International»
17th February 2026
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Download this press release as PDF-file ↷
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A recognised conscientious objector in Greece is being called up for military service in a case with multiple violations of human rights and illegalities.
Zacharias Piazas has been officially recognised as conscientious objector to military service, by decision of the Greek Minister of National Defence, in September 2025.
— — —
FORCED TO TEMPORARILY DEPART FROM THE PUNITIVE ALTERNATIVE SERVICE
In December 2025 he initiated the (punitive and discriminatory) alternative civilian service in an institution for chronic medical conditions in Thessaloniki, away from the region of his permanent residence, but soon found himself forced to temporarily depart because of the harsh financial conditions.
The institution informed the military authorities which summoned the conscientious objector to provide explanation for his absence — a standard procedure before the revocation of conscientious objector status. In his written replies, the conscientious objector explained how the institution did not provide him housing and minimum resources for covering his basic living needs, which meant that he had to find housing by himself, which proved to be impossible. As international organisations have repeatedly pointed out, conscientious objectors performing alternative civilian service in Greece are either provided with food and housing inside the institutions in which they are appointed to, without receiving any money whatsoever, or they are entitled to receive an amount of money (223.53 euros per month, unchanged since 2005) which is well below the threshold of poverty, and with which they have to cover all their needs and expenses, including housing. This situation has become even more unbearable in the midst of a housing and cost of living crisis in recent years.
— — —
THE REPLIES OF THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR: INABILITY, NOT REFUSAL OR DISCIPLINARY DISOBEDIENCE
In his written replies to the military authorities, the conscientious objector explained that his temporary departure is not a refusal to perform the alternative civilian service, neither a disciplinary disobedience, but rather a matter of factual inability. He also claimed that failing to ensure minimum conditions of living for conscientious objectors during alternative service, contrary to the provisions for conscripts performing military service, constitutes discrimination on grounds of belief. Furthermore, he challenged the competence of the military authorities to summon him, arguing that conscientious objectors should not fall under the jurisdiction of the military, and it’s rather the institution an objector is appointed to which is responsible for any disciplinary offences.
— — —
AN UNLAWFUL CALL-UP FOR MILITARY SERVICE
On 10th February 2026, before receiving any official information about how the military authorities have considered his written explanations, and without having been informed about any revocation of his conscientious objector status, he was called up for military service, for the 27th February 2026.
The case of Zacharias Piazas illustrates the continuous violations of human rights of conscientious objectors, including the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the right to freedom from discrimination, through a punitive and discriminatory alternative civilian service and a procedure of revocation of conscientious objector status for those unable to perform it. It is worth noting that in the case of Petromelidis v. Greece, which involves, inter alia, a revocation of conscientious objector status of someone who did not perform a punitive and discriminatory alternative civilian service, the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has found multiple violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
However, in this case, it appears that there might be an additional violation, even of the Greek domestic legislation, since a recognised conscientious objector is called up for military service before even his CO status is «duly» revoked. Mr. Piazas was called up for military service on 10th February, while the revocation of his conscientious objector status was issued on 12th February.
In any case, the revocation of CO status on any «disciplinary» grounds, (which the Greek Ombudsman has criticised already since 1999) and especially because of the inability to continue a clearly punitive and discriminatory alternative civilian service, constitute violations of international treaties that Greece has ratified (e.g. ICCPR, European Convention on Human Rights) and which according to the Greek constitution prevail over any domestic legislation.
— — —
THE CALL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
The undersigned international organisations urge the Greek authorities to immediately annul the unlawful call-up for military service of recognised conscientious objector Zacharias Piazas and provide him and all conscientious objectors with an alternative civilian service which is not punitive and discriminatory in terms of its nature, cost or duration, according to the relevant concluding observations of UNHRC.
— — —
— «Connection e.V.»
Keywords: ⇒ Conscientious Objection ⇒ Greece