Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

China to update military conscription system

(27.10.2011) China’s Ministry of Defense held a monthly press conference on Oct. 26. At the conference, the spokesman Yang Yujun answered a question about reviewing the amendment to China’s military conscription law. The amendment seems to refer to an amendment presented at the end of June, which is aimed at recruiting more college graduates to the military.

Egypt: Imprisoned blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad to be sent to psychiatric hospital

Trial postponed to 1 November

(20.10.2011) War Resisters’ International learned today that a military court ordered on 18 October to send imprisoned pacifist blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad to a psychiatric hospital for examination. According to the information received, the blogger is presently still being held in El Marg prison, and is on hunger strike since 23 August.

Egypt: Military court set retrial date of blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad on day 57 of his hunger strike

(13.10.2011) Today, the date for the re-trial of imprisoned pacifist blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad, who is on the 52nd day of his hunger strike, has been set for next week, 18 October 2011 - which would be day 57 of his hunger strike. Although the military appeal court on Tuesday declared the initial sentence of three years’ imprisonment void, and ordered a re-trial of the blogger, who has been on hunger strike since 23 August, the court did not order his release pending re-trial. While Tuesday’s judgement looks positive on first view, it can turn into a de-facto death sentence for pacifist blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad, as he might not survive long enough to see his re-trial, which has now been set for 18 October.

Egypt: Imprisoned blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad to be re-tried, but not released

De-facto death sentence after 50 days of hunger strike

(11.10.2011) War Resisters’ International is extremely concerned about the life of imprisoned pacifist blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad. Although the military appeal court declared the initial sentence of three years’ imprisonment void, and ordered a re-trial of the blogger, who has been on hunger strike since 23 August, the court did not order his release pending re-trial. While today’s judgement looks positive on first view, it is a de-facto death sentence for pacifist blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad, as he might not survive long enough to see his re-trial, which could be in one week or even up to one month.