Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Azerbaijan: Alternative service "not under discussion" despite latest ECtHR decision

(05.11.2021) Despite another European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) decision that Azerbaijan violated the human rights of two more conscientious objectors, Saadat Novruzova of the Presidential Administration’s Human Rights Protection Unit told Forum 18 that changing the law to introduce a civilian alternative to compulsory military service "is not under discussion". Azerbaijan committed to the Council of Europe to introduce an alternative service by January 2003. The 7 October ECtHR decision reminded Azerbaijan of a similar earlier decision that "calls in principle for legislative action" to satisfy "the obligations incumbent on it of assuring .. the right to benefit from the right to conscientious objection".

Despite another European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) decision that Azerbaijan violated the human rights of two more conscientious objectors, Saadat Novruzova of the Presidential Administration’s Human Rights Protection Unit told Forum 18 that changing the law to introduce a civilian alternative to compulsory military service "is not under discussion". Azerbaijan committed to the Council of Europe to introduce an alternative service by January 2003. The 7 October ECtHR decision reminded Azerbaijan of a similar earlier decision that "calls in principle for legislative action" to satisfy "the obligations incumbent on it of assuring .. the right to benefit from the right to conscientious objection".

Conscientious objector Zana Aksu sentenced to imprisonment

(18.09.2021) For an alleged violation of Turkish military law, conscientious objector and human rights activist Zana Aksu has been sentenced to 18 months in prison by the Criminal Division of the Eruh District Court. He is also to pay a fine of 10,000 TL (equivalent to about 1,000 euros). Aksu had already been charged with insubordination in 2018 and acquitted. The prosecution did not let up and initiated proceedings again last year. This time with success for the time being. The verdict is not yet final.

South Korea: Top court confirms acquittal of man who refused enlistment for nonviolence beliefs

(24.06.2021) The Supreme Court upheld the appellate court’s acquittal of the man, a self-identifying "queer feminist," indicted on charges of violating the Military Service Act for refusing to follow his conscription in 2017.

Syria: ECJ strengthen conscientious objectors in asylum cases

(19.11.2020) The European Court of Justice decided, that in the context of the civil war in Syria, there is a strong presumption that refusal to perform military service there is connected to a reason which may give rise to entitlement to recognition as a refugee

In a number of situations, such refusal is an expression of political opinions or of religious beliefs, or is motivated by membership of a particular social group.