United Kingdom: Conscientious objection to military service – Vic Williams

Vic Williams, a 28-year-old soldier in the British Army’s Royal Artillery, was found guilty by a court martial on 11 September 1991 on three charges relating to deserting his regiment and speaking out against the Gulf War. He has been sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment for desertion and conduct prejudicial to good military discipline. Amnesty International considers him to be a prisoner of conscience and is appealing for his immediate and unconditional release. Amnesty International is concerned that “reasonable access” to information about procedures for registering conscientious objection does not appear to have been guaranteed in the case of Vic Williams.

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