Jehovah’s Witnesses

For Immediate Release
November 22, 2010
(Armenian)

Grand Chamber of the European Court to review issue of conscientious objection in Armenia

YEREVAN, Armenia—On November 24, 2010, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights will consider if the right to conscientious objection falls within the scope of freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Despite the willingness of the Applicant, Vahan Bayatyan, to perform genuine alternative civilian service, he was imprisoned by Armenia from September 2002 to July 2003 for his refusal to bear arms. The Court is being asked to rule that Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, protects the right of conscientious objection to military service.

On accession to the Council of Europe in 2001, Armenia made a commitment to institute a genuine civilian alternative to military service for conscientious objectors, and in the meantime to pardon all those who had been convicted. Instead of honoring its commitment, Armenia continues to convict and imprison conscientious objectors. There are 72 Jehovah’s Witnesses who are currently serving prison terms in Armenia as conscientious objectors.

The decision of the Grand Chamber on this issue will have a major impact not only on the last few member States of the Council of Europe, including Armenia, that do not recognize the right of conscientious objectors but also on countries like South Korea, where there are currently over 800 conscientious objectors in prison.

Contacts:
in Europe: European Association of Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses
Telephone: +44 20 8906 2211
Telephone: +32 2 782 0015

in United States: David Semonian, Office of Public Information
Telephone: +1 718 560 5600