Greece: Punished for their beliefs: how conscientious objectors continue to be deprived of their rights

Index Number: EUR 25/007/2005
Date Published: 10 May 2005
Categories: Europe And Central Asia, Greece

In this document, Amnesty International welcomes the recent landmark ruling by the Military Court in Athens to acquit a religious conscientious objector charged with insubordination for not serving his military service on grounds of "a conflict of duties". However, the organization is concerned that Greek legislation on conscription and conscientious objection continues to fall below international standards and that not only in law but also in practice the alternative civilian service remains problematic and clearly discriminatory against conscientious objectors to military service.