For Immediate Release
European Court to hear arguments STRASBOURG—The European Court of Human Rights will hear arguments on Wednesday, December 1, in Thlimmenos v. Greece, a case in which a conscientious objector was denied the post of chartered accountant because he had previously been convicted for refusing to perform military service. In June 1988, Iakovos Thlimmenos sat for the public examination for the appointment of chartered accountant. He came in second among 60 candidates, but he was denied appointment because his refusal to perform military service had resulted in a felony conviction. The European Court has previously ruled in favor of Jehovah's Witnesses on conscientious objection issues. Mr. Thlimmenos is asking compensation from Greece for his loss. Decision on the case is expected in two to three months. When turning the case over to the Court, The European Commission of Human Rights commented in its December 4, 1998, report that it could not "ignore the fact that the applicant refused to serve in the armed forces because of his religious beliefs. Moreover, . . . the applicant never refused to comply with his general civic duties. At the time of the applicant's conviction the possibility of alternative service did not exist in Greece. As a result, Jehovah's Witnesses were faced with the choice of either serving in the armed forces or being convicted. In these circumstances, the Commission considers that the applicant's conviction amounted to an interference with his right to manifest his religion." In April 1997, Amnesty International issued a report Out of the Margins: The Right to Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe, stating: "The right to conscientious objection to military service is not a marginal concern outside the mainstream of international human rights." The report urged European governments to set the standard for the rest of the world on this issue. For decades, Jehovah's Witnesses have been known for their conscientious objection to participation in any activity related to military or armed conflict. Thlimmenos v. Greece is the third case involving Jehovah's Witnesses in Greece and military conscription issues to be heard by the European Court. Greece instituted an arrangement for alternative civilian service in 1997, shortly after the European Court released its decision in favor of the Witnesses in the two earlier cases. Contact in Greece: Professor Nicos Alivizatos, telephone: (+30)-1-36.13.117
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