Five objectors to reservist military exercises threatened with a sentence

HRWF International Secretariat (03.08.2002)/ Website http://www.hrwf.net - Email info@hrwf.net - The Cypriot authorities have started again to prosecute conscientious objectors that refuse to perform reservist military exercises. These conscientious objectors are Christian Jehovah's Witnesses. Five of them are facing the possibility of either imprisonment or a fine in October 17, 2002 and it is likely expected that they will be repeatedly prosecuted each time they will refuse a military reservist exercise. Already three out of the five conscientious objectors (reservists) have been previously convicted for their neutral stand.

Here are the details of the five cases:

Case 1

Name: Michalis A. Georgiadis

Address: Smyrnis 49, Kaimakli, Nicosia

Telephone : +35722436871, +35722473124

Age: 47

Marital Status: Married

Children: Two C (Aged 16 & 13)

Employment / Monthly Salary: Dustman//$900.00

Health Condition: Good

Appeared Before Military Court: June 17, 2002 (adjourned)

Appearing Before Military Court: October 17, 2002C Facing third sentence

Offence: Refused as a conscientious objector to perform reservist military exercises

Previous Sentences: November 1996 C Fine of $1,000.00 / January 2001 C Fine of $3,000.00

Case 2

Name: Savvas M. Savva

Address: Nikolaou Ellina 69, Emba, Paphos

Age: 42

Marital Status: Divorced

Children: Three (Aged 20, 17, 11)

Employment / Monthly Salary: Construction Worker / $1,200.00

Health Condition: Good

Appeared Before Military Court: June 17, 2002

Appearing Before Military Court: October 17, 2002

Offence: Refused as a conscientious objector to perform reservist military exercises

Previous Sentences: None

Case 3

Name: Mamas I. Skoufaris

Address: Archangelou Michael 44, Parekklisia, Limassol

Telephone: +35725634893

Age: 37

Marital Status: Married

Children: Four (Aged 10, 7, 7, 3)

Employment / Monthly Salary: Lorry Driver / $1,000.00

Health Condition: Good

Appeared Before Military Court: June 17, 2002

Appearing Before Military Court: October 17, 2002 C Facing second sentence

Offence: Refused as a conscientious objector to perform reservist military exercises. He has been a Jehovah's Witness for the last 10 years.

Previous Sentences: December 1993 - two months imprisonment

Case 4

Name: Panayiotis A. Zacharia

Address: 54th Street, Building 3 Apartment 4, Kato Polemidhia, Limassol

Age: 30

Marital Status: Married

Children: Two (Aged 8, 5)

Employment / Monthly Salary: Aluminum Designer / $1,000.00

Health Condition: Good

Appeared Before Military Court: June 17, 2002

Appearing Before Military Court: October 17, 2002

Offence: Refused as a conscientious objector to perform reservist military exercises

Previous Sentences: None

Case 5

Name: Christoforos A. Christoforou

Address: 25 Martiou No. 20, Xylophagou, Larnaca

Age: 41

Marital Status: Married

Children: Two (Aged 16, 12)

Employment / Monthly Salary: Waiter / $500.00

Health Condition: Poor

Appeared Before Military Court: June 17, 2002

Appearing Before Military Court: October 17, 2002 C Facing third sentence

Offence: Refused as a conscientious objector to perform reservist military exercises

Previous Sentences: 1994 C Three months imprisonment / 1996 C Fine of $1,000.00

These Jehovah's Witnesses have refused to perform their reservists military obligations. However, all of them applied to the ministry of defense for alternative civilian service. The ministry of defense refused to give them conscientious objector status. They have been told that the existing legislation does not apply for the reservists. Thus reservists in Cyprus have no right to opt between civilian or military service.

The present legislation gives the right to conscripts to apply for civilian service. Jehovah's Witnesses are granted conscientious objector status. But for the reservists there is no such provision in the Cypriot law. Cypriot Jehovah's Witnesses have already pointed out to the authorities of this limitation of their present legislation. However, they have given no indication that they are willing to modify their existing legislation so as to include the reservists as conscientious objectors.