16 May 2005, 16:06
Jehovah's Witnesses persecuted in Armenia
Twenty Jehovah's Witnesses have presently been put in prison for their refusal to serve in the army for religious considerations in Armenia.
Young men who refuse to serve in the army should be sent to alternative civilian service. However, they are in fact sent to work in institutions that provide services to the army, not civilians. Besides, such institutions are in the military jurisdiction and young men have to wear military uniforms in such service. Their identity documents also indicate that they belong to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia. The order of the Armenian government that people in the alternative civilian service must not be in the military jurisdiction is thus not put into practice.
Representatives of the military police inspect them daily and officials at medical institutions also treat them as soldiers, a website of Jehovah's Witnesses says.
Since the alternative service in Armenia is military, not civilian, many young people refuse to serve, which often means legal proceedings are instituted against them leading to up to eight years in prison.
Meanwhile, Armenia has obligations to the Council of Europe to provide alternative civilian service that is equal in length to service in the Armed Forces.
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