Antonis Kousoulos, aged 20, was sentenced to six month’s imprisonment for refusing to perform compulsory military service by Nicosia Military Court on 7 September 1992. He is one of 10 conscientious objectors, all Jehovah’s Witnesses as far as AI is aware, currently in prison in Cyprus. Recent cases of conscientious objection have suggested a trend towards imposing harsher sentences. Legislation passed in January 1992 recognized for the first time the right to conscientious objection and made provision for alternative service. However, this legislation falls short of United Nations and Council of Europe recommendations and is not acceptable to the Jehovah’s Witness community.
