Press Release 

JOINT PRESS RELEASE • STOP PROSECUTING TURKISH CYPRIOT CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR HASAN RAHVANCIOĞLU

 

Connection e.V., the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) and War Resisters’ International (WRI) strongly condemn the prosecution of conscientious objector Hasan Rahvancıoğlu, whose trial is scheduled for 27 November 2025 before the Security Forces Court in the self-declared state of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). This is a clear violation of the fundamental human right to conscientious objection to military service, and we call on the authorities in the "TRNC" to immediately dismiss all charges.

«Connection e.V.», «European Bureau for Conscientious Objection» (EBCO), «International Fellowship of Reconciliation» (IFOR) and «War Resisters’ International» (WRI) strongly condemn the prosecution of conscientious objector Hasan Rahvancıoğlu, whose trial is scheduled for 27 November 2025 before the Security Forces Court in the self—declared state of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). This is a clear violation of the fundamental human right to conscientious objection to military service, and we call on the authorities in the TRNC to immediately dismiss all charges.

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PRESS RELEASE • EASING OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN UKRAINE

Söder and Linnemann Call for Actions Contrary to International Law

When Russia launched its attack, the Ukrainian government imposed an exit ban on all men between the ages of 18 and 60. Since then, leaving the country has only been possible with special permission. This constitutes a violation of the human right to freedom of movement. Since the end of August 2025, men aged 18 to 22 have been allowed to leave the country, and many are taking advantage of this opportunity — presumably including a large number of conscientious objectors.

When Russia launched its attack, the Ukrainian government imposed an exit ban on all men between the ages of 18 and 60. Since then, leaving the country has only been possible with special permission. This constitutes a violation of the human right to freedom of movement. Since the end of August 2025, men aged 18 to 22 have been allowed to leave the country, and many are taking advantage of this opportunity ⸻ presumably including a large number of conscientious objectors.

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THAILAND • DROP CHARGES AGAINST CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR NETIWIT CHOTIPHATPHAISAL

«I reject the idea that peace must come through violence, that obedience is more important than conscience. Militaristic values permeate Thai society ⸻ not only in the barracks, but in our classrooms, in our politics, in how young people are taught to think and express themselves. These values make true education, democracy, and freedom of expression difficult to achieve. To object is to resist that mindset. It is to say: our lives should not be tools of war, our minds not moulded by fear.»

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