Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Ukraine: Recruitment offices, military detain, pressure and torture conscientious objectors

(18.10.2024) On 11 June, Recruitment Office officials tortured Adventist conscientious objector Pavlo Halagan to pressure him to accept mobilisation. "They tied me to the bed with chains and began to physically torture, punch and beat me," he complained. On 1 July, at a military camp, "one commander grabbed me by the neck", Baptist conscientious objector Kiril Berestovoi complained. "He hit me on the head, beat me around the heart." The torture lasted half an hour. Officials use psychological pressure, detention (sometimes for several months), deprivation of food, threats, and beatings.

Turkey: CO Onur Erden denied asylum in Cyprus

Detained in a military prison on his return to Turkey

(19.07.2013) After his demand for political asylum was rejected by the Republic of Cyprus, Turkish conscientious objector Onur Erden was deported back to Istanbul via Jordan on Thursday, July 11th. He was arrested after his appearance in the court and transferred to military prison in Kasimpasa Naval Base in Istanbul. On 17 July, he was transferred to the 2nd Army Corps Command Military Prison in Gelibolu, Çanakkale. He remains in custody.

Turkey: Military prolongs imprisonment of conscientious objector İnan Süver

“I haven’t committed any crime, so why am I in prison?”

(07.06.2011) Further on the Turkish military prosecution of conscientious objector İnan Süver. His possible release on license for this 25 months sentence was delayed for 9 months, because he escaped from the civil prison for some days. He declared no his escape: “I haven’t committed any crime, so why am I in prison?” Now İnan Süver has to stay in jail at least until June 13, 2012.

Egyptian pacifist Maikel Nabil Sanad arrested for insulting the military

Please send letter of protest

(30.03.2011) War Resisters’ International, the international network of pacifist and antimilitarist organisations with more than 80 affiliates in more than 40 countries, is concerned about the arrest of Egyptian pacifist and conscientious objector Maikel Nabil Sanad, 25, from Cairo [3]. According to information received by War Resisters’ International, Maikel Nabil Sanad was arrested in his home in the Ain Shams neighbourhood if Cairo at about 10pm on 28 March 2011 by military police. He was only able to call his brother on the next day, to inform him of his arrest.