Over the past 10 years, 55 men who are Jehovah’s Witnesses have petitioned the Turkish government to recognize their right to conscientious objection. Because their petitions have been denied, they have faced numerous prosecutions, burdensome fines, and in the case of some, years in prison. Currently, 15 young Witness men in Turkey are facing repeated prosecution for their refusal to serve in the military.
Τα τελευταία 10 χρόνια, 55 Μάρτυρες του Ιεχωβά έχουν ζητήσει από την τουρκική κυβέρνηση να αναγνωρίσει το δικαίωμα που έχουν να αρνηθούν τη στράτευση ως αντιρρησίες συνείδησης. Τα αιτήματά τους όμως έχουν απορριφθεί, με αποτέλεσμα να ασκηθούν σε βάρος τους πολλαπλές ποινικές διώξεις και να τους επιβληθούν δυσβάσταχτα πρόστιμα. Κάποιοι μάλιστα έχουν καταδικαστεί σε πολυετείς ποινές φυλάκισης. Αυτή τη στιγμή, 15 νεαροί Μάρτυρες στην Τουρκία υφίστανται επανειλημμένα ποινικές διώξεις επειδή αρνούνται να υπηρετήσουν στο στρατό.
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jw.org, 17 Μαρτίου 2014 / March 17, 2014,
"
Turkey Refuses to Conform to European Standards in the Matter of Conscientious Objection" /
"
Η Τουρκία Αρνείται να Συμμορφωθεί με τα Ευρωπαϊκά Πρότυπα στο Ζήτημα της Αντίρρησης Συνείδησης".
4 comments:
Hello,
it is always easy to point the finger at somebody else, but one shouldn't forget, that always four fingers point back ...
Greece is not any better than Turkey. Over the years more Greek Jehovah's Witnesses have been in prison, than Turkish ones.
I just checked the last report of Amnesty International and since you read German as well, here the part about conscientious objectors:
Kriegsdienstverweigerer aus Gewissensgründen
Die wiederholte strafrechtliche Verfolgung von Kriegsdienstverweigerern aus Gewissensgründen setzte sich fort.
Im Februar 2012 verurteilte das Militärgericht in Athen den 49 Jahre alten Avraam Pouliasis, einen der ersten griechischen Militärdienstverweigerer, zu sechs Monaten Gefängnis mit einer dreijährigen Bewährung. Avraam Pouliasis war nach dem Gesetz nicht länger zur Ableistung des Militärdienstes verpflichtet, da er älter als 45 Jahre war.
Why not report about that?
Best, B.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
It is true that Greece has a long history of violating religious conscience choices. The numbers have been bigger because JW's at Greece are also much more numerous than in Turkey.
But since 1997/1998 the Greek state started solving this sad condition. This blog has often presented this issue. See eg here:
http://e-homoreligiosus.blogspot.gr/search/label/CONSCIENTIOUS%20OBJECTORS
and
http://e-homoreligiosus.blogspot.gr/search/label/GREECE%3A%20RELIGIOUS%20PERSECUTIONS
But the condition in Turkey ought to be solved. Conscientious objection esp. for religious reasons should be a highly respected value for the modern societies.
Regards,
I agree with you, it's time, that Turkey, too, respects the EHCR and the decisions made by the EHCtR. Unfortunately your posts about Greece are - as I just checked - in Greek, so for an international audience not to understand. This might be the reason, why I misconceived the post about Turkey - in English - as being singling out this country.
Since I know some of the brothers concerned in Turkey in person, I wish nothing more, that their situation is solved as soon as possible.
B.
Yes, let's hope that Turkey will change its position on this issue!
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