Sentencing of conscientious objector Boris Sotiriadis
Use this form to send the letter below to the relevant authority (Mr Kostas Karamanlis, Prime Minister of Greece). You can add your own notes in a separate box after the standard text, if you wish. You must include a name, address, and email address; a copy will be sent to you with a cc to the WRI office (so we have a record of how many email letters have been sent out for this particular case).
Dear Prime Minister Mr Kostas Karamanlis
I am very concerned about the recent wave of sentences against conscientious objectors in Greece, and especially about the sentencing of CO Boris Sotiriadis.
Boris Sotiriadis is a Jehovah's Witness, and refuses to serve in the military based on his religious beliefs. He already served in the Georgian military before he turned Jehovah's Witness and came to Greece. However, he was called up to serve three months of military service, and when he reported to the military on 1 August, he asked to perform a substitute service instead. He was detained, and on 22 August he was sentenced by the Xanthi Military Court to 3.5 years imprisonment.
All the recent arrests are a violation of the right to conscientious objection. The Greek law 2510/97 does not comply with international standards, as spelled out by numerous resolutions of the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. Only recently, the UN Committee for Human Rights called on Greece to improve the situation of conscientious objectors. The new wave of sentences by Military Courts therefore is a step in the wrong direction.
I therefore urge you to stop all proceedings against conscientious objectors, and to respect human rights.
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