European Bureau for Conscientious Objection

Open letter of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) to the Alternate Minister of National Defence of Greece

To: Alternate Minister of National Defence of Greece, Mr. Panagiotis Rigas

On the occasion of the international conscientious objection day, Amnesty International Greece will organise an informative and artistic event with conscientious objectors from Greece, Cyprus and Germany on 16/5 in Athens, including discussion and art, with the participation of:
Halil Karapasaoglu, Turkish-Cypriot conscientious objector and poet.

On the occasion of the International Conscientious Objection Day on 15 May 2019, the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) red-flags the multiple discriminations that conscientious objectors to military service continue to undergo in Europe. In the run-up to the European elections, EBCO points moreover to the enduring omission of European institutions to take action against the violation of the human right to conscientious objection.

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) expresses its deed disappointment over the bill introduced by the Ministry of National Defence of Greece concerning inter alia issues about conscientious objectors to military service (COs).

“It is a lost opportunity that the bill introduces only minor changes to the relevant legislation, and fails to bring the Greek legislation about conscientious objectors in line with the international human rights law and standards”, Friedhelm Schneider, EBCO's President stated today.

Erik studied law, and became a lawyer. Coming from a catholic family he joined the Quakers. He was a pacifist and a peace-activist.

Οι αντιρρησίες συνείδησης στην Ελλάδα υφίστανται σοβαρές παραβιάσεις των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων τους όπως καταγγέλλουν επί δεκαετίες οι διεθνείς φορείς. Επισυνάπτεται το Υπόμνημα σε μορφή pdf

“Turkish-Cypriot conscientious objector Halil Karapaşaoğlu is a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely for his peaceful convictions and his genuine opposition to the compulsory military service. EBCO denounces his imprisonment as a blatant human rights violation.

"EBCO is extremely disturbed by the continuing harassment of the activists of the Turkish Association of Conscientious Objection VR-DER. We demand from the Turkish authorities to address the right to conscientious objection with legalisation, not with investigation.

An investigation has been launched against the Association of Conscientious Objection (VR-DER) because of the posts shared on social media and the vicdaniret.org website.

Furkan Çelik, who owns the domain, and VR-DER Co-Chair attorney Gökhan Soysal deposed at the Prosecutor's Office yesterday (January 11).

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE DU BUREAU EUROPEEN DE L’OBJECTION DE CONSCIENCE  (BEOC)

For information contact Derek Brett (+41 77 462 9825; derek.brett@ifor.org) or Murat Kanatli (+90 542 852 8446; muratkanatli@gmail.com; facebook @muratkanatli2018)

As reported in EBCO's press release of 2^nd January, Turkish-Cypriot conscientious objector Halil Karapaşaoğlu faced trial yesterday at the Military Court of northern

Brussels, 2 January 2019

Brussels, 12 December 2018

EBCO welcomes the Resolution on the right to conscientious objection to military service in Europe which was adopted by the General Assembly of the European Youth Forum in Novi Sad, Serbia, 22-24 November 2018.

16 October 2018

Umut Fırat Süvarioğulları has to be free! Statement of VR-DER (Turkish Conscientious Objection Association) calling for the release of conscientious objector Umut Firat after 25 years of incarceration.