On 3 May 1995, conscientious objector Iosif Kosta Kourides was sentenced by Nicosia Military Court to 15 months’ imprisonment for refusing to perform military reservist exercises. He was previously imprisoned in 1992 for the same reason. He is one of 17 conscientious objectors currently in prison in Cyprus for refusing to perform military service or reservist exercises. All are, as far as AI knows, Jehovah’s Witnesses. AI considers them to be prisoners of conscience and calls on the Cypriot authorities to release them immediately and to introduce a completely civilian service of non-punitive length for conscientious objectors.
