Turkmenistan https://updates.wri-irg.org/en en Turkmenistan: 16 conscientious objectors freed https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2021/turkmenistan-16-conscientious-objectors-freed <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_1col' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-1col--node--42409.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story.html.twig * ds-1col--node-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="42409" class="node node--type-story node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-image--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image.html.twig * field--expert--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-image.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_desktop/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=HaDv4gHd 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/gif"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v 1x" type="image/gif"/> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> <img src="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v" alt="Turkmenistan map" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> </picture> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="caption"></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node-post-date---custom.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--node-post-date.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <time > 11 May 2021</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--dynamic-twig-field:node-author-name-twig---custom.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-dynamic-twig-fieldnode-author-name-twig field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Author(s)</div> <div class="field--item"> <span>Felix Corley</span> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--body--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--story.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>In a surprise move, the regime freed from prison on 8 May all 16 of Turkmenistan's known jailed conscientious objectors in a prisoner amnesty. The 16 – all of them Jehovah's Witnesses – were serving jail terms of between one and four years. They are among the very few prisoners of conscience - including political prisoners - ever to be freed in the regular prisoner amnesties. </p> <p>However, the regime appears to have made no moves towards offering a civilian alternative to those unable to perform compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. The regime has rejected repeated United Nations (UN) calls to introduce a genuinely civilian alternative service. </p> <p>The 16 freed conscientious objectors were included in the amnesty at the initiative of the authorities and no bribes were paid, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. Nor were the young men pressured to swear any oaths or submit to any other obligation to gain release. All have to report to the police within three days of arriving home. "Most likely, further conditions will be explained to them there," Jehovah's Witnesses added. All those released were in good health.</p> <p>Of the 16 amnestied and freed conscientious objector prisoners, 20-year-old Bahtiyar Atahanov was serving the longest sentence. A court in Tejen jailed him for four years in July 2019. The most recently sentenced of those amnestied and freed was 21-year-old Rasul Rozbayev. A court in the northern Dashoguz Region jailed him for two years in March 2021. Ten of the 16 were serving second sentences on the same charges. All had offered to do an alternative civilian service, but the regime does not allow this (see full list of amnestied and freed prisoners below).</p> <p>Courts handed down 32 known convictions and jailings of conscientious objectors since Turkmenistan <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">resumed such jailings in January 2018</a>. All of them were Jehovah's Witnesses.</p> <p>No new criminal cases against Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors have been handed to Prosecutor's Offices, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18.</p> <h2>No alternative to compulsory military service</h2> <p>Turkmenistan offers <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">no alternative to its compulsory military service</a>. Military service for men between the ages of 18 and 27 is generally two years. Article 58 of the 2016 Constitution describes defence as a "sacred duty" of everyone and states that military service is compulsory for men.</p> <p>Young men who refuse military service on grounds of conscience generally face prosecution under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2 punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime "by means of inflicting injury to oneself, or by simulation of illness, by means of forgery of documents, or other fraudulent ways". Punishment is a jail term of one to four years. The first known use of Article 219, Part 2 to punish a conscientious objector was the case of Azat Ashirov, while Serdar Dovletov's case was the second (see below).</p> <p>From 2014, <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">courts punished conscientious objectors with corrective labour or suspended prison terms</a>, rather than imprisonment. However, jailings resumed in January 2018.</p> <p>Courts <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2443">jailed 12 conscientious objectors in 2018, two of them for two years and 10 for one year.</a> Courts <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2522">jailed 7 conscientious objectors in 2019, one of them for four years, one for three years, one for two years and four for one year</a>. Courts jailed 5 conscientious objectors in 2020, four of them for two years and one for one year. Courts jailed 8 conscientious objectors in 2021, seven of them for two years and one for one year.<br />  </p> <h2>Calls for alternative civilian service ignored</h2> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls to introduce an alternative to compulsory military service. In March 2017, the UN Human Rights Committee <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2320">adopted Concluding Observations on Turkmenistan's human rights record</a> (CCPR/C/TKM/CO/2).</p> <p>The Committee stated: "The State party should revise its legislation without undue delay with a view to clearly recognizing the right to conscientious objection to military service, provide for alternative service of a civilian nature outside the military sphere and not under military command for conscientious objectors, and halt all prosecutions of individuals who refuse to perform military service on grounds of conscience and release those who are currently serving prison sentences."</p> <p>The UN Human Rights Committee has repeatedly called for an alternative civilian service to be introduced. It has issued 13 Decisions in favour of 15 conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses. In its most recent such Decision, published on 17 September 2019 (<a href="https://undocs.org/CCPR/C/126/D/2302/2013">CCPR/C/126/D/2302/2013</a>), it ruled that the right to freedom of religion or belief of former conscientious objectors Juma Nazarov, Yadgarbek Sharipov, and Atamurad Suvhanov had been violated by their jailing.</p> <p><a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1733">Nazarov</a> and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1802">Sharipov were jailed in 2012</a>, and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1817">Suvhanov (for the second time) in 2013</a>. The men had lodged their Human Rights Committee appeals in August 2013.</p> <p>All three men also complained of "inhuman and degrading treatment" after their arrests. The Human Rights Committee <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2519">stressed that Turkmenistan is under an obligation to make reparation to Nazarov, Sharipov and Suvhanov for the violations of their rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including to "expunge their criminal records and to provide them with adequate compensation. The State party is also under an obligation to avoid similar violations of the Covenant in the future"</a>.</p> <p>The Committee's September 2019 Decision urged Turkmenistan to meets its obligations to avoid similar violations such as by changing the law, <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2519">"for instance, by providing the possibility of exemption from service or alternative service of a civilian nature"</a>.</p> <p>Another conscientious objector former prisoner, Arslan Begenchov, lodged a case to the UN Human Rights Committee on 20 June 2018 and is awaiting a decision, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. When <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">sentenced in Charjew to one year's imprisonment in January 2018, Begenchov was the first conscientious objector to be sentenced to prison since 2014</a>.</p> <h2>Ignoring UN special procedures, and Human Rights Committee</h2> <p>On 10 December 2020, four UN human rights Special Procedures wrote to Turkmenistan's government (<a href="https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=25740">AL TKM 2/2020</a>) expressing "serious concern at the conviction and detention of Messrs. Sanjarbek Saburov and Eldor Saburov for their refusal, based on their religious conscience and opinion, to perform military service".</p> <p>The Saburov brothers were <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2590">each jailed in August 2020 for two years</a>. "We also express our serious concern at the fact that the S. A. Niyazov District Court of the Dashoguz Region has yet to share with the family of the two brothers copies of its [August] 2020 decision", the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues wrote.</p> <p>The December 2020 Communication also expressed concern that the Saburov brothers were convicted and punished a second time, "which is a violation of the rule against double jeopardy, or non bis in idem, enshrined in article 14(7) ["Right to equality before courts and tribunals and to fair trial"] of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights".</p> <p>"We deeply regret the criminalization of conscientious objection," the UN human rights Special Procedures wrote. Turkmenistan "must provide meaningful alternative service, that is, it must be <a href="https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=25740">compatible with the reasons for the conscientious objection</a>, of a non-combatant or civilian character, in the public interest and must not be punitive of character".</p> <p>The UN Special Procedures asked the government to comment on the cases and explain why the Saburov brothers were convicted for a second time. "Please provide detailed information on the measures undertaken to ensure that persons, including those who are members of religious or belief minorities, who refuse to perform military service based on their conscience, religion or belief are not criminally prosecuted and punished, and that their right to freedom of religion or belief is respected and protected," they also asked.</p> <p>The regime did not reply to the UN within the requested 60 days. However, in the regime's report to the Human Rights Committee submitted on 27 March 2020, the regime did not explain why young men with conscientious objections to military service are jailed, and why they cannot perform an alternative civilian service. It merely repeated the regime's claim that <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">defending the country "is the sacred duty of every citizen"</a>.</p> <h2>Why no alternative civilian service?</h2> <p>Forum 18 was unable to find out why the authorities will not introduce an alternative civilian service and why conscientious objectors who are willing to perform such an alternative service, like the 15 Jehovah's Witness young men, continue to be jailed.</p> <p>On 10 May 2021, the telephone at the office of the regime-appointed Human Rights Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova went unanswered. The telephone of Merettagan Taganov, chair of the Human Rights and Freedoms Committee of the newly-created upper chamber of Parliament, the Halk Maslahaty, as well as of Yusupguly Eshshayev, the regime-appointed Chair of the Mejlis (lower chamber of Parliament) Human Rights Committee, similarly went unanswered each time Forum 18 called the same day.</p> <p>A Foreign Ministry official refused to explain why the regime is not willing to introduce a civilian alternative service in line with repeated UN recommendations, and why young men continue to be imprisoned. Ata (who would not give his last name) of the Foreign Ministry's International Organisations Department claimed to Forum 18 in August 2020 that Turkmenistan <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2590">"is dealing with these bodies, including the UN".</a></p> <p>Ata said he did not agree that Turkmenistan is failing to implement UN human rights recommendations. "Our Department is dealing with difficult issues, including with the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, the World Health Organisation, and the OSCE," he claimed. "We are trying to do our best."</p> <p>Foreign Ministry officials have refused to talk to Forum 18 on this issue since.</p> <h2>List of known amnestied and freed conscientious objectors</h2> <p>Sixteen conscientious objectors to compulsory military service (listed below in chronological order of sentence) – all of them Jehovah's Witnesses – are known to have been amnestied and freed on 8 May 2021. Thirteen were serving prison sentences under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 ("Rejecting call-up to military service"), Ashirov and Dovletov under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2, and Atahanov under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2. Ten were serving second sentences.</p> <p>1) Bahtiyar Amirjanovich Atahanov; born 17 June 2000; sentenced 15 July 2019 Tejen City Court under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2; appeal rejected 20 August 2019 Ahal Regional Court; four years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>2) Azat Gurbanmuhammedovich Ashirov, born 7 January 1999; sentenced 31 July 2019 Abadan District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appeal rejected 3 September 2019 Ashgabat City Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>3) Serdar Nurmuhammedovich Dovletov, born 2 December 1993; sentenced 12 November 2019 Bayramali City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appealed rejected 3 December 2019 Mary Regional Court; three years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>4) Kamiljan Ergashovich Ergashov, born 27 June 2001; sentenced 13 January 2020 Niyazov District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 4 February 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>5) Vepa Bahromovich Matyakubov, born 19 August 1998; sentenced 17 February 2020 Boldumsaz District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 17 March 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>6) Sanjarbek Davranbekovich Saburov, born 12 August 1994; sentenced 6 August 2020 Niyazov District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 1 September 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>7) Eldor Davranbekovich Saburov, born 9 April 1999; sentenced 6 August 2020 Niyazov District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 1 September 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>8) Myrat Baymukhammedovich Orazgeldiyev, born 6 May 2002; sentenced 3 September 2020 Vekilbazar District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 29 September 2020 Mary Regional Court; one year's ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>9) Ruslan Khadynyaz oglu Artykmuradov; born 24 May 2000; sentenced 11 January 2021 Sayat District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>10) Azamatjan Narkulyevich Narkulyev, born 9 November 2000; sentenced 18 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>11) Maksat Jumadurdiyevich Jumadurdiyev, born 15 May 2000; sentenced 18 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>12) Artur Aydogdyyevich Yangibayev, born 22 April 1997; sentenced 18 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>13) Veniamin Muslimovich Genjiyev, born 12 May 2000; sentenced 19 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal lodged to Lebap Regional Court; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>14) Ikhlosbek Valijon oglu Rozmetov, born 26 November 1997; sentenced 19 January 2021 Gurbansoltan eje District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>15) Nazar Palvanovich Alliyev, born 12 December 2000; sentenced 10 February 2021 Hojambaz District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 9 March 2021 Lebap Regional Court; one year's ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>16) Rasul Ruslanovich Rozbayev, born 14 August 1999; sentenced 16 March 2021 Niyazov District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; intends to appeal to Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p> </p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author-information--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author information</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--authors-and-bios--bio-only.html.twig * paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * paragraph--bio-only.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--authors-and-bios paragraph--id--_84 paragraph--view-mode--bio-only"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-bio--bio-only.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio.html.twig * field--paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--field-bio.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-bio field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p><em>Felix Corley, Forum 18. This article is a shortened version of <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2656">an article originally posted on Forum18</a> on 10th May 2021.</em></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-programmes-projects--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Programmes &amp; Projects</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/1" hreflang="en">Right to Refuse to Kill</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-countries--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-countries.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Countries</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/209" hreflang="en">Turkmenistan</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-theme--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Theme</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">Conscientious objection</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--comment--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--comment.html.twig * field--default--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--comment.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig x field--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--node--comment.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> <section class="comments"> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=42409&amp;2=comment&amp;3=comment" token="2sQDaVxWIBKI0oIqPDpnRNaylIlfsklynhgPdEgIOIw"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Tue, 11 May 2021 14:55:02 +0000 cmoy 42409 at https://updates.wri-irg.org https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2021/turkmenistan-16-conscientious-objectors-freed#comments Turkmenistan: Now 15 jailed conscientious objectors https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2021/turkmenistan-now-15-jailed-conscientious-objectors <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_1col' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-1col--node--42351.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story.html.twig * ds-1col--node-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="42351" class="node node--type-story node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-image--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image.html.twig * field--expert--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-image.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_desktop/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=HaDv4gHd 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/gif"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v 1x" type="image/gif"/> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> <img src="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v" alt="Turkmenistan map" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> </picture> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="caption"></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node-post-date---custom.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--node-post-date.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <time > 16 Feb 2021</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--dynamic-twig-field:node-author-name-twig---custom.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-dynamic-twig-fieldnode-author-name-twig field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Author(s)</div> <div class="field--item"> <span>Felix Corley, Forum 18</span> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--body--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--story.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><em>A court in Lebap Region jailed 20-year-old Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Nazar Alliyev for one year for refusing compulsory military service. He is the seventh to be jailed in 2021 so far and joins 14 other jailed conscientious objectors (9 of them serving second sentences). "We deeply regret the criminalization of conscientious objection," four UN human rights Special Procedures wrote to the Turkmen government in December 2020, adding that Turkmenistan "must provide meaningful alternative service". The regime has not responded to the UN.</em></p> <p>On 10 February, a court in the eastern Lebap Region jailed 20-year-old Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Nazar Alliyev for one year for refusing compulsory military service. He is the seventh conscientious objector known to have been jailed so far in 2021. All had offered to perform an alternative civilian service, but Turkmenistan does not offer this. Turkmenistan has rejected repeated United Nations calls to introduce such a service.</p> <p>Courts jailed six Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors in January, five of them within the space of two days. As all six had already served earlier sentences on the same charges, courts handed all of them a two-year jail term, five of them in a strict-regime labour camp (see below).</p> <p>The jailing of Alliyev brings to 15 the number of young conscientious objectors to military service known to have been convicted and to be currently serving jail sentences (see full list below).</p> <p>This new case brings to 31 the number of known convictions and jailings of conscientious objectors since Turkmenistan <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">resumed such jailings in January 2018</a>. All of them are Jehovah's Witnesses.</p> <p>An increasing number of conscientious objectors to military service are serving second sentences for the same "crime". Nine of the current 15 known conscientious objector prisoners – including all six sentenced in January - are serving second sentences (see below).</p> <p>Six Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors were freed from Seydi Labour Camp in 2020 <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2628">after serving their sentences in full</a>.</p> <p>An aide to the chief specialist Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah at the regime's <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">Commission for Work with Religious Organisations and Expert Analysis of Resources Containing Religious Information, Published and Printed Production</a> told Forum 18 on 12 February that he was not in the office and that his mobile phone was not working. Asked about the jailings of conscientious objectors, the aide said he was not informed and put the phone down (see below).</p> <p>The telephones of Yusupgeldi Durdiyev, the Cabinet of Ministers official who chairs the regime's Commission controlling religious communities; of the office of the regime-appointed Human Rights Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova; and of Yusupguly Eshshayev, the regime-appointed Chair of the Mejlis (Parliament) Human Rights Committee, went unanswered each time Forum 18 called on 12 February (see below).</p> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses are conscientious objectors to military service and do not undertake any kind of activity supporting any country's military. But they are willing to undertake an alternative, totally civilian form of service, as is <a href="https://www.quno.org/sites/default/files/resources/QUNO%202015%20RB%20Conscientious%20Objection%20FINAL.pdf">the right of all conscientious objectors to military service under international human rights law</a>.</p> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls, for example by <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee, to introduce a genuine civilian alternative to compulsory military service, to stop prosecuting and punishing conscientious objectors, and to compensate those it has punished</a>.</p> <p>The UN Human Rights Committee has published 13 Decisions in favour of 15 conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses. In its most recent such Decision, published on 17 September 2019 (C/126/D/2302/2013), it ruled that the right to freedom of religion or belief of former conscientious objectors Juma Nazarov, Yadgarbek Sharipov, and Atamurad Suvhanov had been violated by their jailing (see below).</p> <p>On 10 December 2020, four UN human rights Special Procedures wrote to Turkmenistan's government expressing "serious concern" about the second sentences handed down in August 2020 to two of the conscientious objectors, Sanjarbek and Eldor Saburov. "We deeply regret the criminalization of conscientious objection," they wrote, adding that Turkmenistan "must provide meaningful alternative service". The regime does not appear to have responded within the requested 60 days (see below).</p> <p>Asked why the regime is not willing to introduce a civilian alternative service in line with repeated UN recommendations, and why young men continue to be imprisoned, an official of the Foreign Ministry's International Organisations Department told Forum 18 in August 2020 that Turkmenistan "is dealing with these bodies, including the UN". He said he did not agree that Turkmenistan was failing to implement UN human rights recommendations (see below).</p> <p>Another Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector former prisoner, Arslan Begenchov, lodged a case to the UN Human Rights Committee in 2018 and is awaiting a decision (see below).</p> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses filed a complaint with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in May 2020 <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2590">on behalf of 19 current or former jailed conscientious objectors</a>. The 19 men include some of those currently imprisoned in Seydi Labour Camp, plus others who have been released after serving earlier sentences.</p> <p>Other prisoners of conscience jailed for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief – all of them Muslims – are serving far longer jail terms (see below).</p> <p>The regime admitted to the UN Human Rights Committee in March 2020 that two jailed Muslims – both in their mid-thirties - had died in prison in 2016. It claimed that they had both died of a "chronic illness" (see below).</p> <h2>Latest prosecution</h2> <p>Hojambaz District Military Conscription Office in the eastern Lebap Region summoned Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Nazar Palvanovich Alliyev (born 12 December 2000) in autumn 2019. However, as he was living in another city he decided not to go, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. Conscription officers stepped up their search for Alliyev in April 2020, visiting his mother, workplace and neighbours.</p> <p>On 16 May 2020, when Alliyev was visiting his mother, several conscription officers took him by force to Lebap Region Military Conscription Office. There officers tried to get him to put on a military uniform, but he refused. Alliyev filed a statement refusing military service. He also mentioned that in 2015 he had been diagnosed with a heart disease, myocarditis and mitral valve prolapse (grade 1). The officer threatened to send him to the army by force.</p> <p>After that, officers took him to the city Military Conscription Office, where they held him for one night. They told him that the court hearing against him was scheduled for 19 May 2020. However, no court hearing took place. Instead officers took him to the hospital for electrocardiogram and rheumatism tests. He was stated fit for military service.</p> <p>Alliyev filed an application stating that he would not come to be sent off to the military unit. In addition, under great pressure, his mother signed the application, that she agreed for a criminal case to be initiated against her son. Officers confiscated Alliyev's passport.</p> <p>Hojambaz District Military Conscription Office wrote to Alliyev stating that no alternative service is available in Turkmenistan. In June 2020 Alliyev filed another statement refusing military service and explaining his religious objections to undertaking military service.</p> <p>In December 2020, the Prosecutor's Office several times summoned Alliyev, along with his mother. There he wrote a statement explaining his position. Alliyev underwent another medical examination in the district and regional conscription offices. He filed written statements and an application to the Prosecutor's Office.</p> <p>The investigator summoned Alliyev for interrogation on 4 January 2021, telling him a case was being opened against him under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour. The indictment was completed on 26 January. Alliyev had to sign a pledge not to leave the area in the run-up to his trial.</p> <h2>One-year jail term</h2> <p>In the run-up to his trial, Alliyev rejected the free lawyer assigned by the state. He chose his own lawyer, who agreed to cite United Nations Human Rights Committee decisions regarding military service in Turkmenistan. These had found that the authorities had violated the rights of conscientious objectors by punishing them for refusing military service (see below).</p> <p>At Alliyev's trial at Hojambaz District Court on 10 February, he told the court that he is willing to perform an alternative, civilian service. His lawyer cited the Human Rights Committee decisions. However, Judge Merdan Amanov did not take these decisions into account and convicted Alliyev under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. He handed down a one year sentence in an ordinary regime labour camp. "The hearing was held in a respectful manner," Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18.</p> <p>Alliyev was arrested in the courtroom after the verdict was handed down and taken to the pre-trial detention prison LB-E/9 in Turkmenabat.</p> <p>The telephone of Hojambaz District Court went unanswered each time Forum 18 called on 12 February.</p> <p>Alliyev is intending to appeal against his conviction, Jehovah's Witnesses added. If this fails, he is likely to be transferred to the ordinary regime labour camp LB-E/12 in Seydi, where eight of the convicted conscientious objectors are already serving their sentences (see below).</p> <h2>Six January 2021 trials, convictions, jailings</h2> <p>Courts jailed six Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors in January, five of them within the space of two days. As all six had already served an earlier sentence on the same charges, courts handed all of them a two-year jail term, five of them in a strict-regime labour camp.</p> <p>A Judge at Sayat District Court in Lebap Region sentenced Ruslan Artykmuradov to the maximum term of two years in a strict-regime labour camp.</p> <p>Judges at Danev District Court in Lebap Region sentenced Azamatjan Narkulyev, Artur Yangibayev, Maksat Jumadurdiyev and Veniamin Genjiyev to the maximum term of two years. Narkulyev, Jumadurdiyev and Genjiyev were given strict-regime labour camp sentences and Yangibayev ordinary regime.</p> <p>A Judge at Gurbansoltan eje District Court in Dashoguz Region sentenced Ikhlosbek Rozmetov to the maximum term of two years in a strict-regime labour camp.</p> <p>All were jailed under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>Artykmuradov, Narkulyev, Yangibayev and Jumadurdiyev chose not to appeal against their latest convictions and they have now entered legal force.</p> <h2>Second convictions increasing</h2> <p>A growing number of conscientious objectors are being convicted twice on the same charges when they continue to refuse renewed call-up to compulsory military service after completing their first sentences.</p> <p>Nine of the current conscientious objector prisoners (all of them Jehovah's Witnesses) have been convicted twice of the same "crime" since Turkmenistan <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">restarted jailings of conscientious objectors in January 2018</a>.</p> <p>In its December 2020 letter about the cases of two of those sentenced for a second time, four UN human rights Special Procedures pointed out to Turkmenistan's government that sentencing individuals for the second time for the same "crime" violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (see below).</p> <h2>No alternative to compulsory military service</h2> <p>Turkmenistan offers <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">no alternative to its compulsory military service</a>. Military service for men between the ages of 18 and 27 is generally two years. Article 58 of the 2016 Constitution describes defence as a "sacred duty" of everyone and states that military service is compulsory for men.</p> <p>Young men who refuse military service on grounds of conscience generally face prosecution under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2 punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime "by means of inflicting injury to oneself, or by simulation of illness, by means of forgery of documents, or other fraudulent ways". Punishment is a jail term of one to four years. The first known use of Article 219, Part 2 to punish a conscientious objector was the case of Azat Ashirov, while Serdar Dovletov's case was the second (see below).</p> <p>From 2014, <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">courts punished conscientious objectors with corrective labour or suspended prison terms</a>, rather than imprisonment. However, jailings resumed in January 2018.</p> <p>Courts <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2443">jailed 12 conscientious objectors in 2018, two of them for two years and 10 for one year.</a> Courts <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2522">jailed 7 conscientious objectors in 2019, one of them for four years, one for three years, one for two years and four for one year</a>. Courts jailed 5 conscientious objectors in 2020, four of them for two years and one for one year.</p> <h2>Calls for alternative civilian service ignored</h2> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls to introduce an alternative to compulsory military service. In March 2017, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2320">adopted Concluding Observations on Turkmenistan's human rights record</a> (CCPR/C/TKM/CO/2).</p> <p>The Committee stated: "The State party should revise its legislation without undue delay with a view to clearly recognizing the right to conscientious objection to military service, provide for alternative service of a civilian nature outside the military sphere and not under military command for conscientious objectors, and halt all prosecutions of individuals who refuse to perform military service on grounds of conscience and release those who are currently serving prison sentences."</p> <p>In its response to the Concluding Observations (CCPR/C/TKM/3), submitted to the Human Rights Committee on 27 March 2020, Turkmenistan failed to explain why young men with conscientious objections to military service are jailed and why they cannot perform an alternative civilian service. It merely repeated the regime's claim that <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">defending the country "is the sacred duty of every citizen"</a>.</p> <p>The most UN Human Rights Committee has repeatedly called for an alternative civilian service to be introduced. It has issued 13 Decisions in favour of 15 conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses. In its most recent such Decision, published on 17 September 2019 (<a href="https://undocs.org/CCPR/C/126/D/2302/2013">CCPR/C/126/D/2302/2013</a>), it ruled that the right to freedom of religion or belief of former conscientious objectors Juma Nazarov, Yadgarbek Sharipov, and Atamurad Suvhanov had been violated by their jailing.</p> <p><a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1733">Nazarov</a> and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1802">Sharipov were jailed in 2012</a>, and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1817">Suvhanov (for the second time) in 2013</a>. The men had lodged their Human Rights Committee appeals in August 2013.</p> <p>All three men also complained of "inhuman and degrading treatment" after their arrests. The Human Rights Committee <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2519">stressed that Turkmenistan is under an obligation to make reparation to Nazarov, Sharipov and Suvhanov for the violations of their rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including to "expunge their criminal records and to provide them with adequate compensation. The State party is also under an obligation to avoid similar violations of the Covenant in the future"</a>.</p> <p>The Committee therefore urged Turkmenistan to meets its obligations to avoid similar violations such as by changing the law, <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2519">"for instance, by providing the possibility of exemption from service or alternative service of a civilian nature"</a>.</p> <p>Another conscientious objector former prisoner, Arslan Begenchov, lodged a case to the UN Human Rights Committee on 20 June 2018 and is awaiting a decision, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. When <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">sentenced in Charjew to one year's imprisonment in January 2018, Begenchov was the first conscientious objector to be sentenced to prison since 2014</a>.</p> <h2>Protest by four UN special procedures</h2> <p>On 10 December 2020, four UN human rights Special Procedures wrote to Turkmenistan's government (<a href="https://www.spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=25740">AL TKM 2/2020</a>) expressing "serious concern at the conviction and detention of Messrs. Sanjarbek Saburov and Eldor Saburov for their refusal, based on their religious conscience and opinion, to perform military service".</p> <p>The Saburov brothers were <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2590">each jailed in August 2020 for two years</a>. "We also express our serious concern at the fact that the S. A. Niyazov District Court of the Dashoguz Region has yet to share with the family of the two brothers copies of its [August] 2020 decision", the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues wrote.</p> <p>The December 2020 Communication also expressed concern that the Saburov brothers were convicted and punished a second time, "which is a violation of the rule against double jeopardy, or non bis in idem, enshrined in article 14(7) ["Right to equality before courts and tribunals and to fair trial"] of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights".</p> <p>"We deeply regret the criminalization of conscientious objection," the UN human rights Special Procedures wrote. Turkmenistan "must provide meaningful alternative service, that is, it must be <a href="https://www.quno.org/sites/default/files/resources/QUNO%202015%20RB%20Conscientious%20Objection%20FINAL.pdf">compatible with the reasons for the conscientious objection</a>, of a non-combatant or civilian character, in the public interest and must not be punitive of character".</p> <p>The UN Special Procedures asked the government to comment on the cases and explain why the Saburov brothers were convicted for a second time. "Please provide detailed information on the measures undertaken to ensure that persons, including those who are members of religious or belief minorities, who refuse to perform military service based on their conscience, religion or belief are not criminally prosecuted and punished, and that their right to freedom of religion or belief is respected and protected," they also asked.</p> <p>The regime does not appear to have responded to the UN within the requested 60 days.</p> <h2>Jehovah's Witnesses push for alternative civilian service</h2> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses have urged Turkmenistan's government to introduce a civilian alternative to compulsory military service. In March 2020, local Jehovah's Witnesses visited the regime's <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">Commission for Work with Religious Organisations and Expert Analysis of Resources Containing Religious Information, Published and Printed Production</a> in the capital Ashgabat.</p> <p>At the Commission, the Jehovah's Witnesses raised the issue of an alternative civilian service, as well as pushing for the government to <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">allow their communities to gain official registration (officials have always rejected such applications)</a>, to end harassment of young Jehovah's Witnesses and to allow a visit by foreign Jehovah's Witnesses.</p> <p>"The meeting was cordial," Jehovah's Witnesses noted, "but the official recommended contacting the appropriate Ministries and commented specifically that he was unable personally to resolve the matter of registration."</p> <p>The Commission's chief specialist Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah was not in the office on 12 February 2021 and an aide refused to discuss anything with Forum 18. The telephone of Yusupgeldi Durdiyev, the Cabinet of Ministers official who chairs the Commission, went unanswered the same day. (Both Durdiyev and Nasrullah are former imams.)</p> <h2>Why no alternative civilian service?</h2> <p>Forum 18 was unable to find out why the authorities will not introduce an alternative civilian service and why conscientious objectors who are willing to perform such an alternative service, like the 15 Jehovah's Witness young men, continue to be jailed.</p> <p>On 12 February 2021, the telephone at the office of the regime-appointed Human Rights Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova went unanswered. The telephone of Yusupguly Eshshayev, the regime-appointed Chair of the Mejlis (Parliament) Human Rights Committee, similarly went unanswered each time Forum 18 called the same day.</p> <p>Asked why the regime is not willing to introduce a civilian alternative service in line with repeated United Nations (UN) recommendations, and why young men continue to be imprisoned, Ata (last name unknown) of the Foreign Ministry's International Organisations Department told Forum 18 in August 2020 that Turkmenistan "is dealing with these bodies, including the UN".</p> <p>Ata said he did not agree that Turkmenistan is failing to implement UN human rights recommendations. "Our Department is dealing with difficult issues, including with the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, the World Health Organisation, and the OSCE," he claimed. "We are trying to do our best."</p> <h2>Which labour camp?</h2> <p>Officials have <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2632">already told Yangibayev he will be transferred to the ordinary-regime Labour Camp LB-E/12 at Seydi</a>, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. Eight other conscientious objectors jailed between 2019 and 2020 are held in these camps (see below).</p> <p>The other five prisoners of conscience sentenced in January – Artykmuradov, Narkulyev, Jumadurdiyev, Genjiyev and Rozmetov - are still being held in the pre-trial detention prison LB-E/9 in Turkmenabat. They do not know whether they will be sent to the strict-regime Labour Camp LB-E/11 at Seydi (located next to the ordinary-regime camp), or to the strict-regime Labour Camp MR-E/16 in Bayramali in Mary Region.</p> <p>A prisoner died of coronavirus on 14 August 2020 in the strict-regime Labour Camp LB-E/11, Turkmen.news noted on 24 August 2020. Regime officials claim that the country has no coronavirus infections.</p> <p>Conditions in labour camps <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">where prisoners of conscience are held are harsh</a>. Relatives who want to send food or other parcels to prisoners at either of the Seydi Labour Camps must bring the parcel to the marble arch in the remote village of Uchajy in neighbouring Mary Region, 150 kms (95 miles) away. Three times a month, prison guards collect the parcels to take them to the Labour Camps, Turkmen.news noted. Prisoners complain that parcels often are not handed over, or if they are fresh food has gone off, the news service added. Money can now be sent in parcels, but often is missing when a parcel is handed over.</p> <p>Prison authorities could send any of the other five conscientious objectors jailed in January to serve their sentences in the strict-regime Labour Camp MR-E/16 at Bayramali in Mary Region. Camp officials are known for high levels of corruption. After prison visits from relatives were banned in March 2020 because of coronavirus, prison guards began offering prisoners to buy food from them to make up for food parcels earlier brought by prisoners' relatives, Turkmen.news noted on 19 November 2020.</p> <p>In a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee, former Jehovah's Witness prisoner of conscience Aibek Salayev stated that <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">conditions in Seydi Labour Camp LB-E/12, where he was held, were "inhuman"</a>.</p> <p>Salayev noted that the Camp was "<a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">known for its overcrowdedness, harsh climatic conditions, scarce supplies of food, medication and personal hygiene products, and for tuberculosis, skin diseases, its very high mortality rate, and physical abuse"</a>. Officials also threatened him with rape in the Camp.</p> <p>The UN Human Rights Committee <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">found that Turkmenistan had violated the rights of Salayev and another Jehovah's Witness former prisoner of conscience Vladimir Nuryllayev.</a> The Views of the Committee on the case (<a href="https://www.undocs.org/CCPR/C/125/D/2448/2014">CCPR/C/125/D/2448/2014</a>) were adopted on 18 April 2019. It stated that Turkmenistan "is also under an obligation to take all steps necessary to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future".</p> <h2>Eight conscientious objectors currently in Seydi Labour Camp</h2> <p>Fifteen Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors are known - as of 15 February - to be serving jail terms. Eight of them are currently imprisoned at the <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">harsh ordinary-regime Seydi Labour Camp</a> in the desert in Lebap Region.</p> <p>The address of the Seydi Labour Camp is:</p> <p>746222 Lebap velayat<br /> Seydi<br /> uchr. LB-E/12<br /> Turkmenistan</p> <h2>List of known jailed conscientious objectors</h2> <p>Fourteen conscientious objectors to compulsory military service (listed below in chronological order of sentence) – all of them Jehovah's Witnesses – are known to be jailed. Eleven are serving prison sentences under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 ("Rejecting call-up to military service"), Ashirov and Dovletov under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2, and Atahanov under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2. Nine are serving second sentences.</p> <p>1) Bahtiyar Amirjanovich Atahanov; born 17 June 2000; sentenced 15 July 2019 Tejen City Court under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2; appeal rejected 20 August 2019 Ahal Regional Court; four years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>2) Azat Gurbanmuhammedovich Ashirov, born 7 January 1999; sentenced 31 July 2019 Abadan District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appeal rejected 3 September 2019 Ashgabat City Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>3) Serdar Nurmuhammedovich Dovletov, born 2 December 1993; sentenced 12 November 2019 Bayramali City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appealed rejected 3 December 2019 Mary Regional Court; three years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>4) Kamiljan Ergashovich Ergashov, born 27 June 2001; sentenced 13 January 2020 Niyazov District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 4 February 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>5) Vepa Bahromovich Matyakubov, born 19 August 1998; sentenced 17 February 2020 Boldumsaz District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 17 March 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>6) Sanjarbek Davranbekovich Saburov, born 12 August 1994; sentenced 6 August 2020 Niyazov District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 1 September 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>7) Eldor Davranbekovich Saburov, born 9 April 1999; sentenced 6 August 2020 Niyazov District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 1 September 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>8) Myrat Baymukhammedovich Orazgeldiyev, born 6 May 2002; sentenced 3 September 2020 Vekilbazar District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 29 September 2020 Mary Regional Court; one year's ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>9) Ruslan Khadynyaz oglu Artykmuradov; born 24 May 2000; sentenced 11 January 2021 Sayat District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>10) Azamatjan Narkulyevich Narkulyev, born 9 November 2000; sentenced 18 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>11) Maksat Jumadurdiyevich Jumadurdiyev, born 15 May 2000; sentenced 18 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>12) Artur Aydogdyyevich Yangibayev, born 22 April 1997; sentenced 18 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>13) Veniamin Muslimovich Genjiyev, born 12 May 2000; sentenced 19 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal lodged to Lebap Regional Court; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>14) Ikhlosbek Valijon oglu Rozmetov, born 26 November 1997; sentenced 19 January 2021 Gurbansoltan eje District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>15) Nazar Palvanovich Alliyev, born 12 December 2000; sentenced 10 February 2021 Hojambaz District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; intends to appeal; one year's ordinary regime labour camp.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author-information--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author information</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--authors-and-bios--bio-only.html.twig * paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * paragraph--bio-only.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--authors-and-bios paragraph--id--_76 paragraph--view-mode--bio-only"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-bio--bio-only.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio.html.twig * field--paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--field-bio.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-bio field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Felix Corley, <em>Forum 18. </em>This article was first published on <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2636"><em>Forum 18 </em></a>on 15th February 2021.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-programmes-projects--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Programmes &amp; Projects</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/1" hreflang="en">Right to Refuse to Kill</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/465" hreflang="en">Front Page</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-countries--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-countries.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Countries</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/209" hreflang="en">Turkmenistan</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-theme--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Theme</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">Conscientious objection</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--comment--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--comment.html.twig * field--default--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--comment.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig x field--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--node--comment.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> <section class="comments"> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=42351&amp;2=comment&amp;3=comment" token="p42jlVduo6Qs_l1ynKcSmjfuL20XeCLgfc7mQ8H05Dc"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Tue, 16 Feb 2021 13:30:30 +0000 cmoy 42351 at https://updates.wri-irg.org https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2021/turkmenistan-now-15-jailed-conscientious-objectors#comments Turkmenistan: 8 conscientious objectors jailed in 2021, UN special procedures ignored https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2021/turkmenistan-8-conscientious-objectors-jailed-2021-un-special-procedures-ignored <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_1col' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-1col--node--42379.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story.html.twig * ds-1col--node-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="42379" class="node node--type-story node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-image--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image.html.twig * field--expert--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-image.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_desktop/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=HaDv4gHd 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/gif"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v 1x" type="image/gif"/> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> <img src="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v" alt="Turkmenistan map" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> </picture> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="caption"></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node-post-date---custom.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--node-post-date.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <time > 22 Mar 2021</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--dynamic-twig-field:node-author-name-twig---custom.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-dynamic-twig-fieldnode-author-name-twig field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Author(s)</div> <div class="field--item"> <span>Felix Corley, Forum 18</span> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--body--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--story.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>On 16 March the regime jailed another conscientious objector to military service for two years, the eighth such 2021 jailing. Like six of the other 2021 jailings, 21-year-old Jehovah's Witness Rasul Rozbayev is being punished for the second time on the same charges. The jailings ignore a December 2020 appeal by four UN special procedures. A March 2020 regime report to the UN insisted that defending the country "is the sacred duty of every citizen".</p> <p>On 16 March, a court in the northern Dashoguz Region jailed 21-year-old Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Rasul Rozbayev for two years in an ordinary regime labour camp for refusing compulsory military service. This is his second sentence on the same charges. He is the eighth conscientious objector known to have been jailed so far in 2021. All these prisoners of conscience had offered to perform an alternative civilian service, but Turkmenistan does not offer this.</p> <p>The regime has rejected repeated United Nations (UN) calls to introduce a genuinely civilian alternative service (see below).</p> <p>Forum 18 tried to find out why prosecutors bring cases to punish these prisoners of conscience such as Rozbayev, who cannot perform military service on grounds of conscience but are ready to perform an alternative, civilian service. An official of Dashoguz Region Military Prosecutor's Office told Forum 18 that it does not answer oral questions, only questions submitted in writing (see below).</p> <p>Courts jailed six Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors in January, <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2632">five of them within the space of two days</a>. As all six had already served earlier sentences on the same charges, courts handed all of them a two-year jail term, five of them in a strict-regime labour camp. A court jailed <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2636">a seventh for one year in February</a> (see below).</p> <p>The jailing of prisoner of conscience Rozbayev brings to 16 the number of young conscientious objectors to military service known to have been convicted and to be currently serving jail sentences (see full list below of currently jailed conscientious objectors).</p> <p>This new case brings to 32 the number of known convictions and jailings of conscientious objectors since Turkmenistan <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">resumed such jailings in January 2018</a>. All of them are Jehovah's Witnesses.</p> <p>An increasing number of conscientious objectors to military service are serving second sentences for the same "crime". Ten of the current 16 known conscientious objector prisoners – including Rozbayev and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2636">six of the seven other young men jailed in 2021</a> - are serving second sentences (see below).</p> <p>Six Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors were freed from Seydi Labour Camp in 2020 <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2628">after serving their sentences in full</a>.</p> <p>Forum 18 was unable to reach anyone at the regime's <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">Commission for Work with Religious Organisations and Expert Analysis of Resources Containing Religious Information, Published and Printed Production</a>, including its chief specialist Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah or Yusupgeldi Durdiyev, the Cabinet of Ministers official who chairs the Commission. The telephone went unanswered on 19 March (see below).</p> <p>The telephones of the office of the regime-appointed Human Rights Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova; and of Yusupguly Eshshayev, the regime-appointed Chair of the Mejlis (Parliament) Human Rights Committee, went unanswered each time Forum 18 called the same day (see below).</p> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses are conscientious objectors to military service and do not undertake any kind of activity supporting any country's military. But they are willing to undertake an alternative, totally civilian form of service, as is <a href="https://www.quno.org/sites/default/files/resources/QUNO%20Conscientious%20Objection%20-%20International%20Standards_Revised%202021_FINAL.pdf">the right of all conscientious objectors to military service under international human rights law</a>.</p> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls, for example by <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">the UN Human Rights Committee, to introduce a genuine civilian alternative to compulsory military service, to stop prosecuting and punishing conscientious objectors, and to compensate those it has punished</a>.</p> <p>The UN Human Rights Committee has published 13 Decisions in favour of 15 conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses. In its most recent such Decision, published on 17 September 2019 (<a href="https://undocs.org/CCPR/C/126/D/2302/2013">C/126/D/2302/2013</a>), it ruled that the right to freedom of religion or belief of former conscientious objectors Juma Nazarov, Yadgarbek Sharipov, and Atamurad Suvhanov had been violated by their jailing (see below).</p> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses filed a complaint with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in May 2020 <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2590">on behalf of 19 current or former jailed conscientious objectors</a>. The 19 men include some of those currently imprisoned in Seydi Labour Camp, plus others who have been released after serving earlier sentences.</p> <p>A Foreign Ministry official refused in August 2020 to explain why the regime is not willing to introduce a civilian alternative service in line with repeated UN recommendations, and why young men continue to be imprisoned. Ata of the Foreign Ministry's International Organisations Department, who refused to give his last name, claimed to Forum 18 in August 2020 that the regime "is dealing with these bodies, including the UN". He also claimed that <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2590">"we are trying to do our best"</a> and said he did not agree that Turkmenistan was failing to implement UN human rights recommendations (see below).</p> <p>On 10 December 2020, four UN human rights Special Procedures including the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention wrote (<a href="https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=25740">AL TKM 2/2020</a>) to Turkmenistan's government expressing "serious concern" about the second sentences handed down in August 2020 to two of the conscientious objectors, Sanjarbek and Eldor Saburov. "We deeply regret the criminalization of conscientious objection," they wrote, adding that Turkmenistan "must provide meaningful alternative service" (see below).</p> <p>The regime did not reply within the requested 60 days, and in its 27 March 2020 report to the Human Rights Committee did not explain why young men with conscientious objections to military service are jailed, and why they cannot perform an alternative civilian service. It merely repeated the regime's claim that <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">defending the country "is the sacred duty of every citizen"</a> (see below).</p> <p>Another Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector former prisoner, Arslan Begenchov, lodged a case to the UN Human Rights Committee in 2018 and is awaiting a decision (see below).</p> <p>Other prisoners of conscience jailed for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief – all of them Muslims – are serving far longer jail terms (see below).</p> <p>The regime admitted to the UN Human Rights Committee in March 2020 that two jailed Muslims – both in their mid-thirties - had died in prison in 2016. It claimed that they had both died of a "chronic illness" (see below).</p> <h2>Latest jailing</h2> <p>Prosecutors in the northern Dashoguz Region brought a second criminal case against Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Rasul Ruslanovich Rozbayev (born 14 August 1999) after he refused the call-up to compulsory military service. Like other Jehovah's Witnesses, he explained his conscientious reasons for refusing military service and offered to perform an alternative, civilian service.</p> <p>In April 2020, after being summoned by Niyazov District Military Conscription Office, Rozbayev submitted a statement refusing military service. He was released but told to come back later. However, on 5 May 2020, the Conscription Office wrote to him stating that he is subject to conscription.</p> <p>At the Conscription Office on 2 November 2020, officials told Rozbayev to return the following day to be enlisted and taken to the army. He did not report to the Conscription Office on 3 November.</p> <p>The Conscription Office then summoned Rozbayev on 5 November 2020. He went with his mother. He was asked to undergo a medical examination at Dashoguz Regional Conscription Office.</p> <p>After sending his written statement by post, Rozbayev and his mother went to the Regional Conscription Office on 12 November 2020. The conscription officer tried to talk him into joining the army. In the end, Rozbayev mistakenly signed a call-up summons, which the authorities view as consent to military service, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18.</p> <p>On 14 November 2020, Rozbayev wrote to the head of the military unit explaining that he had signed the call-up summons mistakenly, and that he would not arrive on 17 November to join the army. In this statement he once again explained why he could not perform military service on grounds of conscience.</p> <p>On 26 November 2020 the Regional Conscription Office replied to his statement in writing, indicating that he is subject to conscription. On 15 January 2021, officials summoned him once again to the Conscription Office, where he explained his position and wrote an explanatory note.</p> <p>On 22 January, the Prosecutor's Office summoned Rozbayev. Officials told him his case had been handed to a prosecutor. Prosecutors brought the case under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>Forum 18 tried to find out why prosecutors bring cases to punish individuals such as Rozbayev who cannot perform military service on grounds of conscience but are ready to perform an alternative, civilian service. An official of Dashoguz Region Military Prosecutor's Office, Ayjemal Hanova, told Forum 18 on 19 March that she could not answer any questions as it does not answer oral questions, only questions submitted in writing.</p> <h2>Rozbayev's trial, conviction</h2> <p>Prosecutors issued the indictment on 28 February. The following day officials told Rozbayev that his case had been handed to Niyazov District Court and asked him to sign a pledge not to leave the town.</p> <p>At his trial at Niyazov District Court on 16 March, Judge Shamurad Gumanov found Rozbayev guilty and jailed him for two years in an ordinary regime labour camp, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18 on 17 March. Nobody except his immediate family was allowed to attend the hearing.</p> <p>Officials arrested Rozbayev in the courtroom at the end of the trial and took him to the Temporary Detention Prison (DZ-E/7) in Dashoguz Region.</p> <p>Forum 18 was unable to reach Niyazov District Court on 19 March.</p> <p>Prisoner of conscience Rozbayev is intending to appeal against his conviction, Jehovah's Witnesses added.</p> <h2>Rozbayev's 2017 conviction</h2> <p>The Military Conscription Office first called up Rozbayev in 2017. After refusing military service, his case was handed to prosecutors. They brought a criminal case against him under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1, which punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime.</p> <p>At his trial in December 2017, the same Judge Gumanov of Niyazov District Court sentenced Rozbayev to two years' corrective labour. Under these sentences, individuals live at home but 20 per cent of their salary is withheld by the state budget. He served his sentence in full, which expired in December 2019.</p> <p>Between 2014 and 2017, the authorities punished conscientious objectors with corrective labour or suspended prison terms, rather than imprisonment. Rozbayev was among the last conscientious objectors to be given a corrective labour sentence before jailings resumed in 2018. On 17 January 2018, a court <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">sentenced Arslan Begenchov to one year's imprisonment</a>, the first of a continuous series of jailings since then.</p> <h2>Seven earlier 2021 trials, convictions, jailings</h2> <p>Courts jailed six Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors in January 2021, <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2632">five of them within the space of two days</a>. As all six had already served an earlier sentence on the same charges, courts handed all of them a two-year jail term, five of them in a strict-regime labour camp.</p> <p>In February, a Judge at Hojambaz District Court in Lebap Region <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2636">sentenced Nazar Palvanovich Alliyev (born 12 December 2000) to the maximum term of two years</a> in a strict-regime labour camp.</p> <p>All seven were jailed under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <h2>Second convictions increasing</h2> <p>A growing number of conscientious objectors are being convicted twice on the same charges when they continue to refuse renewed call-up to compulsory military service after completing their first sentences.</p> <p>Ten of the current conscientious objector prisoners (all of them Jehovah's Witnesses) have been convicted twice of the same "crime" since Turkmenistan <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">restarted jailings of conscientious objectors in January 2018</a>.</p> <p>In its December 2020 letter about the cases of two of those sentenced for a second time, four UN human rights Special Procedures pointed out to Turkmenistan's government that sentencing individuals for the second time for the same "crime" violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (see below).</p> <h2>No alternative to compulsory military service</h2> <p>Turkmenistan offers <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">no alternative to its compulsory military service</a>. Military service for men between the ages of 18 and 27 is generally two years. Article 58 of the 2016 Constitution describes defence as a "sacred duty" of everyone and states that military service is compulsory for men.</p> <p>Young men who refuse military service on grounds of conscience generally face prosecution under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2 punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime "by means of inflicting injury to oneself, or by simulation of illness, by means of forgery of documents, or other fraudulent ways". Punishment is a jail term of one to four years. The first known use of Article 219, Part 2 to punish a conscientious objector was the case of Azat Ashirov, while Serdar Dovletov's case was the second (see below).</p> <p>From 2014, <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">courts punished conscientious objectors with corrective labour or suspended prison terms</a>, rather than imprisonment. However, jailings resumed in January 2018.</p> <p>Courts <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2443">jailed 12 conscientious objectors in 2018, two of them for two years and 10 for one year.</a> Courts <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2522">jailed 7 conscientious objectors in 2019, one of them for four years, one for three years, one for two years and four for one year</a>. Courts jailed 5 conscientious objectors in 2020, four of them for two years and one for one year.</p> <h2>Calls for alternative civilian service ignored</h2> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls to introduce an alternative to compulsory military service. In March 2017, the UN Human Rights Committee <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2320">adopted Concluding Observations on Turkmenistan's human rights record</a> (CCPR/C/TKM/CO/2).</p> <p>The Committee stated: "The State party should revise its legislation without undue delay with a view to clearly recognizing the right to conscientious objection to military service, provide for alternative service of a civilian nature outside the military sphere and not under military command for conscientious objectors, and halt all prosecutions of individuals who refuse to perform military service on grounds of conscience and release those who are currently serving prison sentences."</p> <p>The UN Human Rights Committee has repeatedly called for an alternative civilian service to be introduced. It has issued 13 Decisions in favour of 15 conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses. In its most recent such Decision, published on 17 September 2019 (<a href="https://undocs.org/CCPR/C/126/D/2302/2013">CCPR/C/126/D/2302/2013</a>), it ruled that the right to freedom of religion or belief of former conscientious objectors Juma Nazarov, Yadgarbek Sharipov, and Atamurad Suvhanov had been violated by their jailing.</p> <p><a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1733">Nazarov</a> and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1802">Sharipov were jailed in 2012</a>, and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1817">Suvhanov (for the second time) in 2013</a>. The men had lodged their Human Rights Committee appeals in August 2013.</p> <p>All three men also complained of "inhuman and degrading treatment" after their arrests. The Human Rights Committee <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2519">stressed that Turkmenistan is under an obligation to make reparation to Nazarov, Sharipov and Suvhanov for the violations of their rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including to "expunge their criminal records and to provide them with adequate compensation. The State party is also under an obligation to avoid similar violations of the Covenant in the future"</a>.</p> <p>The Committee's September 2019 Decision urged Turkmenistan to meets its obligations to avoid similar violations such as by changing the law, <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2519">"for instance, by providing the possibility of exemption from service or alternative service of a civilian nature"</a>.</p> <p>Another conscientious objector former prisoner, Arslan Begenchov, lodged a case to the UN Human Rights Committee on 20 June 2018 and is awaiting a decision, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. When <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">sentenced in Charjew to one year's imprisonment in January 2018, Begenchov was the first conscientious objector to be sentenced to prison since 2014</a>.</p> <h2>Ignoring UN special procedures, and Human Rights Committee</h2> <p>On 10 December 2020, four UN human rights Special Procedures wrote to Turkmenistan's government (<a href="https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=25740">AL TKM 2/2020</a>) expressing "serious concern at the conviction and detention of Messrs. Sanjarbek Saburov and Eldor Saburov for their refusal, based on their religious conscience and opinion, to perform military service".</p> <p>The Saburov brothers were <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2590">each jailed in August 2020 for two years</a>. "We also express our serious concern at the fact that the S. A. Niyazov District Court of the Dashoguz Region has yet to share with the family of the two brothers copies of its [August] 2020 decision", the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues wrote.</p> <p>The December 2020 Communication also expressed concern that the Saburov brothers were convicted and punished a second time, "which is a violation of the rule against double jeopardy, or non bis in idem, enshrined in article 14(7) ["Right to equality before courts and tribunals and to fair trial"] of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights".</p> <p>"We deeply regret the criminalization of conscientious objection," the UN human rights Special Procedures wrote. Turkmenistan "must provide meaningful alternative service, that is, it must be <a href="https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=25740">compatible with the reasons for the conscientious objection</a>, of a non-combatant or civilian character, in the public interest and must not be punitive of character".</p> <p>The UN Special Procedures asked the government to comment on the cases and explain why the Saburov brothers were convicted for a second time. "Please provide detailed information on the measures undertaken to ensure that persons, including those who are members of religious or belief minorities, who refuse to perform military service based on their conscience, religion or belief are not criminally prosecuted and punished, and that their right to freedom of religion or belief is respected and protected," they also asked.</p> <p>The regime did not reply to the UN within the requested 60 days. However, in the regime's report to the Human Rights Committee submitted on 27 March 2020, the regime did not explain why young men with conscientious objections to military service are jailed, and why they cannot perform an alternative civilian service. It merely repeated the regime's claim that <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">defending the country "is the sacred duty of every citizen"</a>.</p> <h2>Jehovah's Witnesses push for alternative civilian service</h2> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses have urged Turkmenistan's government to introduce a civilian alternative to compulsory military service. In March 2020, local Jehovah's Witnesses visited the regime's <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">Commission for Work with Religious Organisations and Expert Analysis of Resources Containing Religious Information, Published and Printed Production</a> in the capital Ashgabat.</p> <p>At the Commission, the Jehovah's Witnesses raised the issue of an alternative civilian service, as well as pushing for the government to <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">allow their communities to gain official registration (officials have always rejected such applications)</a>, to end harassment of young Jehovah's Witnesses and to allow a visit by foreign Jehovah's Witnesses.</p> <p>"The meeting was cordial," Jehovah's Witnesses noted, "but the official recommended contacting the appropriate Ministries and commented specifically that he was unable personally to resolve the matter of registration."</p> <p>Forum 18 was unable to reach the Commission's chief specialist Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah or Yusupgeldi Durdiyev, the Cabinet of Ministers official who chairs the Commission. The telephone went unanswered each time Forum 18 called on 19 March 2021. (Both Durdiyev and Nasrullah are former imams.)</p> <h2>Why no alternative civilian service?</h2> <p>Forum 18 was unable to find out why the authorities will not introduce an alternative civilian service and why conscientious objectors who are willing to perform such an alternative service, like the 15 Jehovah's Witness young men, continue to be jailed.</p> <p>On 19 March 2021, the telephone at the office of the regime-appointed Human Rights Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova went unanswered. The telephone of Yusupguly Eshshayev, the regime-appointed Chair of the Mejlis (Parliament) Human Rights Committee, similarly went unanswered each time Forum 18 called the same day.</p> <p>A Foreign Ministry official refused to explain why the regime is not willing to introduce a civilian alternative service in line with repeated UN recommendations, and why young men continue to be imprisoned. Ata (who would not give his last name) of the Foreign Ministry's International Organisations Department claimed to Forum 18 in August 2020 that Turkmenistan <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2590">"is dealing with these bodies, including the UN".</a></p> <p>Ata said he did not agree that Turkmenistan is failing to implement UN human rights recommendations. "Our Department is dealing with difficult issues, including with the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, the World Health Organisation, and the OSCE," he claimed. "We are trying to do our best."</p> <h2>Which labour camp?</h2> <p>Four of the <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2632">five conscientious objectors sentenced to strict regime labour camps in January</a> – Ruslan Artykmuradov, Azamatjan Narkulyev, Maksat Jumadurdiyev and Veniamin Genjiyev - have been transferred to the strict-regime Labour Camp LB-E/11 at Seydi.</p> <p>The conscientious objector sentenced to ordinary regime labour camp in January – Artur Yangibayev – was transferred, as officials <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2632">told him earlier</a>, to the ordinary-regime Labour Camp LB-E/12 at Seydi, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. The eight other conscientious objectors jailed between 2019 and 2020 and still serving sentences are held in this camp (see below).</p> <p>The fifth conscientious objector sentenced to strict regime labour camp in January – Ikhlosbek Rozmetov – remains in the Temporary Detention Prison (DZ-E/7) in Dashoguz Region. It remains unknown if officials will send him to the Labour Camp LB-E/11 at Seydi (located next to the ordinary-regime camp), or to the strict-regime Labour Camp MR-E/16 in Bayramali in Mary Region.</p> <p>While Rasul Rozbayev also remains in the Temporary Detention Prison (DZ-E/7), Nazar Alliyev – sentenced in February – remains in the Temporary Detention Prison (LB-E/9) in Lebap Region. Lebap Regional Court rejected Alliyev's appeal in a 30-minute hearing in his absence on 9 March, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. His mother and a friend were the only outsiders allowed in for the hearing. Alliyev's lawyer also did not take part, for which the Judge issued the lawyer with a reprimand.</p> <p>A prisoner died of coronavirus on 14 August 2020 in the strict-regime Labour Camp LB-E/11, Turkmen.news noted on 24 August 2020. The regime <a href="https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/turkmenistan">claims that the country has no coronavirus infections</a>.</p> <p>Conditions in labour camps <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">where prisoners of conscience are held are harsh</a>. Relatives who want to send food or other parcels to prisoners at either of the Seydi Labour Camps must bring the parcel to the marble arch in the remote village of Uchajy in neighbouring Mary Region, 150 kms (95 miles) away. Three times a month, prison guards collect the parcels to take them to the Labour Camps, Turkmen.news noted. Prisoners complain that parcels often are not handed over, or if they are fresh food has gone off, the news service added. Money can now be sent in parcels, but often is missing when a parcel is handed over.</p> <p>Camp officials are known for high levels of corruption. After prison visits from relatives were banned in March 2020 because of coronavirus, prison guards began offering prisoners to buy food from them to make up for food parcels earlier brought by prisoners' relatives, Turkmen.news noted on 19 November 2020.</p> <p>In a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee, former Jehovah's Witness prisoner of conscience Aibek Salayev stated that <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">conditions in Seydi Labour Camp LB-E/12, where he was held, were "inhuman"</a>.</p> <p>Salayev noted that the Camp was "<a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">known for its overcrowdedness, harsh climatic conditions, scarce supplies of food, medication and personal hygiene products, and for tuberculosis, skin diseases, its very high mortality rate, and physical abuse"</a>. Officials also threatened him with rape in the Camp.</p> <p>The UN Human Rights Committee <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">found that Turkmenistan had violated the rights of Salayev and another Jehovah's Witness former prisoner of conscience Vladimir Nuryllayev.</a> The Views of the Committee on the case (<a href="https://www.undocs.org/CCPR/C/125/D/2448/2014">CCPR/C/125/D/2448/2014</a>) were adopted on 18 April 2019. It stated that Turkmenistan "is also under an obligation to take all steps necessary to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future".</p> <h2>Thirteen conscientious objectors currently in Seydi Labour Camps</h2> <p>Sixteen Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors are known - as of 19 March - to be serving jail terms. Three are in Temporary Detention Prisons waiting to be transferred to labour camps.</p> <p>Nine of the jailed conscientious objectors are currently imprisoned at the <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">harsh ordinary-regime Seydi Labour Camp</a> in the desert in Lebap Region.</p> <p>The address of the ordinary-regime Seydi Labour Camp is:</p> <p>746222 Lebap velayat<br /> Seydi<br /> uchr. LB-E/12<br /> Turkmenistan</p> <p>Four of the jailed conscientious objectors are currently imprisoned at the strict-regime Seydi Labour Camp, which is adjacent to the ordinary-regime camp. The address of the strict-regime labour camp is:</p> <p>746222 Lebap velayat<br /> Seydi<br /> uchr. LB-E/11<br /> Turkmenistan</p> <h2>List of known jailed conscientious objectors</h2> <p>Sixteen conscientious objectors to compulsory military service (listed below in chronological order of sentence) – all of them Jehovah's Witnesses – are known to be jailed. Thirteen are serving prison sentences under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 ("Rejecting call-up to military service"), Ashirov and Dovletov under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2, and Atahanov under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2. Ten are serving second sentences.</p> <p>1) Bahtiyar Amirjanovich Atahanov; born 17 June 2000; sentenced 15 July 2019 Tejen City Court under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2; appeal rejected 20 August 2019 Ahal Regional Court; four years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>2) Azat Gurbanmuhammedovich Ashirov, born 7 January 1999; sentenced 31 July 2019 Abadan District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appeal rejected 3 September 2019 Ashgabat City Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>3) Serdar Nurmuhammedovich Dovletov, born 2 December 1993; sentenced 12 November 2019 Bayramali City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appealed rejected 3 December 2019 Mary Regional Court; three years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>4) Kamiljan Ergashovich Ergashov, born 27 June 2001; sentenced 13 January 2020 Niyazov District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 4 February 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>5) Vepa Bahromovich Matyakubov, born 19 August 1998; sentenced 17 February 2020 Boldumsaz District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 17 March 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>6) Sanjarbek Davranbekovich Saburov, born 12 August 1994; sentenced 6 August 2020 Niyazov District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 1 September 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>7) Eldor Davranbekovich Saburov, born 9 April 1999; sentenced 6 August 2020 Niyazov District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 1 September 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>8) Myrat Baymukhammedovich Orazgeldiyev, born 6 May 2002; sentenced 3 September 2020 Vekilbazar District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 29 September 2020 Mary Regional Court; one year's ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>9) Ruslan Khadynyaz oglu Artykmuradov; born 24 May 2000; sentenced 11 January 2021 Sayat District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>10) Azamatjan Narkulyevich Narkulyev, born 9 November 2000; sentenced 18 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>11) Maksat Jumadurdiyevich Jumadurdiyev, born 15 May 2000; sentenced 18 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>12) Artur Aydogdyyevich Yangibayev, born 22 April 1997; sentenced 18 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>13) Veniamin Muslimovich Genjiyev, born 12 May 2000; sentenced 19 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal lodged to Lebap Regional Court; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>14) Ikhlosbek Valijon oglu Rozmetov, born 26 November 1997; sentenced 19 January 2021 Gurbansoltan eje District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>15) Nazar Palvanovich Alliyev, born 12 December 2000; sentenced 10 February 2021 Hojambaz District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 9 March 2021 Lebap Regional Court; one year's ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>16) Rasul Ruslanovich Rozbayev, born 14 August 1999; sentenced 16 March 2021 Niyazov District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; intends to appeal to Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author-information--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author information</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--authors-and-bios--bio-only.html.twig * paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * paragraph--bio-only.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--authors-and-bios paragraph--id--_79 paragraph--view-mode--bio-only"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-bio--bio-only.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio.html.twig * field--paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--field-bio.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-bio field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Felix Corley, <em>Forum18</em>. This article was first published by <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2646">Forum18</a> on 19 March 2021.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-programmes-projects--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Programmes &amp; Projects</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/1" hreflang="en">Right to Refuse to Kill</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-countries--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-countries.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Countries</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/209" hreflang="en">Turkmenistan</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-theme--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Theme</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">Conscientious objection</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--comment--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--comment.html.twig * field--default--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--comment.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig x field--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--node--comment.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> <section class="comments"> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=42379&amp;2=comment&amp;3=comment" token="hwlNkJFyx4649cTbj9GJuXvVqOFjqrjjTnlQxI_Bj7s"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Mon, 22 Mar 2021 13:16:42 +0000 cmoy 42379 at https://updates.wri-irg.org https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2021/turkmenistan-8-conscientious-objectors-jailed-2021-un-special-procedures-ignored#comments Turkmenistan: Five conscientious objectors jailed in two days https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2021/turkmenistan-five-conscientious-objectors-jailed-two-days <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_1col' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-1col--node--42340.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story.html.twig * ds-1col--node-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="42340" class="node node--type-story node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-image--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image.html.twig * field--expert--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-image.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_desktop/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=HaDv4gHd 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/gif"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v 1x" type="image/gif"/> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> <img src="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v" alt="Turkmenistan map" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> </picture> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="caption"></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node-post-date---custom.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--node-post-date.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <time > 29 Jan 2021</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--dynamic-twig-field:node-author-name-twig---custom.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-dynamic-twig-fieldnode-author-name-twig field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Author(s)</div> <div class="field--item"> <span>Felix Corley, Forum 18</span> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--body--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--story.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Five conscientious objectors to compulsory military service who had already served sentences were jailed again in trials on 18 and 19 January. Courts gave all five two-year terms, four of them in strict-regime labour camp, bringing to six the number jailed so far in 2021. All had offered to perform an alternative civilian service, but Turkmenistan does not offer this. Nine of the 14 known jailed conscientious objectors – all of them Jehovah's Witnesses – are serving second sentences.</p> <p>In a series of trials on 18 and 19 January, courts have jailed five more conscientious objectors, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses. As the five young men had previously served sentences for refusing compulsory service on grounds of conscience, four of the five were given two-year terms in strict regime labour camp. All had offered to perform an alternative civilian service, but Turkmenistan does not offer this. Turkmenistan has rejected repeated United Nations calls to introduce such a service.<br /> Danev District Court in Turkmenistan's eastern Lebap Region sentenced Azamatjan Narkulyev, Maksat Jumadurdiyev and Artur Yangibayev on 18 January. Danev District Court and Gurbansoltan eje District Court in the northern Dashoguz Region sentenced Veniamin Genjiyev and Ikhlosbek Rozmetov on 19 January. Three of these are aged 20, the other two are 23 (see below).</p> <p>Danev District Court jailed four of the five conscientious objectors, a court official told Forum 18 on 26 January. All four have already lodged appeals. Forum 18 was unable to speak to the Judges as they was not in the building, the court official added (see below).</p> <p>The latest sentences came one week after the 11 January jailing of another 20-year-old Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Ruslan Artykmuradov. As he too had already served an earlier sentence on the same charges, a court elsewhere in Lebap Region similarly handed him a two-year strict regime sentence. He is about to be sent to the strict-regime labour camp in Seydi (see below).</p> <p>These new sentences bring to six the number of conscientious objectors to military service known to have been convicted and jailed so far in 2021. This means 14 young conscientious objectors are known to be currently serving jail sentences (see full list below).</p> <p>These new cases bring to 30 the number of known convictions and jailings of conscientious objectors since Turkmenistan <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">resumed such jailings in January 2018</a>. All of them are Jehovah's Witnesses.</p> <p>An increasing number of conscientious objectors to military service are serving second sentences for the same "crime". Nine of the current 14 known conscientious objector prisoners – including all those sentenced in January - are serving second sentences (see below).</p> <p>Six Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors were freed from Seydi Labour Camp in 2020 <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2628">after serving their sentences in full</a>.</p> <p>The telephone of chief specialist Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah at the regime's <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">Commission for Work with Religious Organisations and Expert Analysis of Resources Containing Religious Information, Published and Printed Production</a> had been switched to a fax line on 26 January.</p> <p>The telephones of Yusupgeldi Durdiyev, the Cabinet of Ministers official who chairs the government's Commission controlling religious communities; of the office of the regime-appointed Human Rights Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova; and of Yusupguly Eshshayev, the regime-appointed Chair of the Mejlis (Parliament) Human Rights Committee, went unanswered each time Forum 18 called on 26 January (see below).</p> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses are conscientious objectors to military service and do not undertake any kind of activity supporting any country's military. But they are willing to undertake an alternative, totally civilian form of service, as is <a href="https://www.quno.org/sites/default/files/resources/QUNO%202015%20RB%20Conscientious%20Objection%20FINAL.pdf">the right of all conscientious objectors to military service under international human rights law</a>.</p> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls, for example by <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">the United Nations Human Rights Committee, to introduce a genuine civilian alternative to compulsory military service, to stop prosecuting and punishing conscientious objectors, and to compensate those it has punished</a>.</p> <p>The UN Human Rights Committee has published 13 Decisions in favour of 15 conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses. In its most recent such Decision, published on 17 September 2019 (C/126/D/2302/2013), it ruled that the right to freedom of religion or belief of former conscientious objectors Juma Nazarov, Yadgarbek Sharipov, and Atamurad Suvhanov had been violated by their jailing (see below).</p> <p>Asked why the regime is not willing to introduce a civilian alternative service in line with repeated United Nations (UN) recommendations, and why young men continue to be imprisoned, an official of the Foreign Ministry's International Organisations Department told Forum 18 in August 2020 that Turkmenistan "is dealing with these bodies, including the UN". He said he did not agree that Turkmenistan was failing to implement UN human rights recommendations (see below).</p> <p>Another Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector former prisoner, Arslan Begenchov, lodged a case to the UN Human Rights Committee in 2018 and is awaiting a decision (see below).</p> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses filed a complaint with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention In May 2020 <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2590">on behalf of 19 current or former jailed conscientious objectors</a>. The 19 men include some of those currently imprisoned in Seydi Labour Camp, plus others who have been released after serving earlier sentences.</p> <p>Other prisoners of conscience jailed for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief – all of them Muslims – are serving far longer jail terms (see below).<br />  </p> <h2>Four prosecutions in Danev District</h2> <p>On 30 December 2020, the Prosecutor's Office in Danev District of the eastern Lebap Region <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2630">informed four previously convicted Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors that new cases had been opened against them</a> under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>On 30 December 2020, Danev District Prosecutor's Office also seized the passports of each of the four.</p> <p>The Military Conscription Office summoned Veniamin Muslimovich Genjiyev (born 12 May 2000) in March 2020, nine months after he completed his previous sentence. He submitted a written statement that he was not able to perform military service on grounds of conscience and offering to perform an alternative civilian service. In May 2020 the Military Conscription Office conducted a medical examination. It sent another summons on 12 October 2020 and Genjiyev again sent his written statement. Military Conscription Office staff visited his workplace the following month and then took him to the Regional Military Conscription Office for questioning over several hours. Again he was given a medical examination. Danev District Prosecutor's Office <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2630">summoned Genjiyev on 25 December 2020</a>, where he again had to write an explanation for his refusal to perform military service.</p> <p>Prison officials released Genjiyev on 25 June 2019 after he completed in full his <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2400">one year jail term</a>.</p> <p>The Military Conscription Office summoned Azamatjan Narkulyevich Narkulyev (born 9 November 2000) in May 2020 for a medical examination, four months after he completed his previous sentence. Military Conscription Office staff visited his workplace in November 2020 and then took him to the Regional Military Conscription Office for questioning over several hours. Again he was given a medical examination. Danev District Prosecutor's Office <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2630">summoned him on 25 December 2020</a>, where he again had to write an explanation for his refusal to perform military service.</p> <p>Prison officials released Narkulyev on 7 January 2020 after he completed in full his <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2443">one year jail term</a>.</p> <p>The Military Conscription Office summoned Maksat Jumadurdiyevich Jumadurdiyev (born 15 May 2000) in March 2020. He submitted a written statement that he was not able to perform military service on grounds of conscience and offering to perform an alternative civilian service. In May 2020 the Military Conscription Office conducted a medical examination. He submitted another statement, but the head of the Office refused to accept it, sending him to the Regional Military Conscription Office. After questioning, it sent his case back to Danev District Military Conscription Office, with an instruction to forward his case to the Prosecutor's Office. On 15 December 2020, he passed a medical examination. Danev District Prosecutor's Office <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2630">summoned him on 25 December 2020</a>, where he again had to write an explanation for his refusal to perform military service.</p> <p>Prison officials released Jumadurdiyev on 17 July 2019 after he completed in full his <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2400">one year jail term</a>.</p> <p>The Military Conscription Office summoned Artur Aydogdyyevich Yangibayev (born 22 April 1997) in May 2020 for a medical examination, almost two years after he completed his previous sentence. He passed a medical examination on 15 December 2020. Danev District Prosecutor's Office <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2630">summoned him on 25 December 2020</a>, where he was questioned and had to write an explanation for his refusal to perform military service.</p> <p>In 2018, Yangibayev <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2220">completed a sentence of two years' corrective labour</a>, under which 20 percent of his salary was withheld to the state budget.</p> <h2>Four trials, convictions, jailings in Danev District</h2> <p>The Prosecutor's Office presented all four cases to Danev District Court in January 2021. All four were tried under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>At the end of hearings on 18 January, Judge Shohrat Veljikov sentenced Azamatjan Narkulyev and Artur Yangibayev to the maximum term of two years, Narkulyev in a strict regime labour camp and Yangibayev in an ordinary regime labour camp, an official of Danev District Court told Forum 18 on 26 January. The same day, Judge Bahargul Kadyrova handed Maksat Jumadurdiyev a two-year strict regime labour camp term.</p> <p>At the end of a hearing on 19 January, Judge Veljikov sentenced Veniamin Genjiyev to the same maximum term of two years in a strict regime labour camp, the court official added. Forum 18 was unable to speak to the Judges as they were not in the building, according to the official.</p> <p>The official said all four have lodged appeals against their convictions, which would be handed on to Lebap Regional Court after 28 January.</p> <p>Officials have already told Yangibayev he will be transferred to the ordinary-regime labour camp LB-E/12 at Seydi, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. The other three do not know whether they will be sent to the strict-regime labour camp LB-E/11 at Seydi or to the strict-regime camp MR-E/16 in Bayramali in Mary Region.<br />  </p> <h2>Fifth new trial, conviction, jailing</h2> <p>Ikhlosbek Valijon oglu Rozmetov (born 26 November 1997), who is from Gurbansoltan eje District of the northern Dashoguz Region, received phone calls both in November 2019 and September 2020 from the Military Conscription Office requesting that he come to the office to pick up a military card, but he decided not to go, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18.</p> <p>Although Rozmetov had never received any previous summons, on 7 October 2020 officials handed his younger sibling a notification letter indicating that Rozmetov had repeatedly failed to appear at the Military Conscription Office since July 2019. The letter stated that his case would be sent to the Prosecutor's Office if he refused to come.</p> <p>Within days, Rozmetov received a summons and a request to undergo a medical examination. He then mailed his written statement to the Military Conscription Office refusing military service. During the next few weeks, the Military Conscription Office summoned him several times, but he refused to go.</p> <p>On 11 November 2020, Rozmetov received an official response from the district Military Conscription Office stating that he had been found fit and was obliged to perform military service. He again received a summons and he again mailed his written statement.</p> <p>On 24 November 2020, military officers forcefully took Rozmetov from his workplace to the Military Conscription Office. The next day he underwent a full medical examination and was requested to again write an explanatory note of his refusal to perform military service, after which he was released.</p> <p>A Prosecutor interrogated Rozmetov on 9 December 2020. On 31 December, officials informed him that they had opened a case against him under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. The case was handed to Gurbansoltan eje District Court in January 2021.</p> <p>At his trial on 19 January, Judge Merdan Tachmamedov convicted Rozmetov and sentenced him to two years' imprisonment in a strict-regime labour camp, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18.</p> <p>Prison officials released Rozmetov on 11 July 2019 after he completed in full his <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2495">one year jail term</a>.</p> <p>Rozmetov's original trial in July 2018 was held not in a court building but in the conference hall of Gurbansoltan eje District Military Conscription Office in Dashoguz Region. The court verdict <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2402">said that the trial was open, but gave no reason for the decision to hold the trial in the Conscription Office</a>. It is unknown if the trial was meant to send a signal to local young men of what happens to those who refuse compulsory military service. The Regional Court rejected his first appeal the same month.<br />  </p> <h2>2021's first two-year strict-regime jail term</h2> <p>Ruslan Khadynyaz oglu Artykmuradov (born 24 May 2000), who lives in the eastern Lebap Region, was sentenced to two years' strict regime labour camp on 11 January, four weeks after his 15 December 2020 arrest.</p> <p>Judge Chemen Berdyeva of Sayat District Court <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2630">found him guilty under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1</a>. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>Judge Berdyeva handed down the harsher sentence as this is the second time the court has sentenced Artykmuradov to a jail term for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience.</p> <p>On 14 January an official of Sayat District Prosecutor's Office refused to explain to Forum 18 why Artykmuradov was being punished for the second time, simply for offering to do an alternative civilian service rather than military service. The official also refused to identify the prosecutor in the case and put the phone down.</p> <p>Artykmuradov chose not to appeal against his latest conviction and it has now entered legal force.</p> <p>Artykmuradov had <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2628">filed a written statement on 14 December 2020 with Sayat District Military Conscription Office refusing compulsory military service</a>.</p> <p>After holding Artykmuradov since 18 December 2020 at the pre-trial detention prison LB-E/9 in Turkmenabat, the prison authorities are preparing to transfer him to a strict-regime labour camp. The most likely labour camp is at Seydi in Lebap Region, where the strict regime camp LB-E/11 is next to the ordinary regime labour camp LB-E/12 where eight other conscientious objectors jailed between 2019 and 2020 are held (see below).</p> <p>A prisoner died of coronavirus on 14 August 2020 in strict-regime labour camp LB-E/11, Turkmen.news noted on 24 August 2020. Government officials claim that the country has no coronavirus infections.</p> <p>Prison authorities could send Artykmuradov to serve his sentence in the strict-regime labour camp MR-E/16 at Bayramali in Mary Region. Camp officials are known for high levels of corruption. After prison visits from relatives were banned in March 2020 because of coronavirus, prison guards began offering prisoners to buy food from them to make up for food parcels earlier brought by prisoners' relatives, Turkmen.news noted on 19 November 2020.</p> <p>After Artykmuradov refused military service on grounds of conscience after his first call-up in 2018, Prosecutors in Lebap Region brought a case against the then 18-year-old Jehovah's Witness under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1.</p> <p>On 13 August 2018, Sayat District Court found Artykmuradov guilty and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2405">jailed him for one year in an ordinary regime labour camp</a>. Artykmuradov had not been under arrest in the run-up to the trial. He was arrested in the court room after the verdict was handed down.</p> <p>Lebap Regional Court rejected Artykmuradov's appeal on 11 September 2018. He served his sentence in the labour camp at Seydi, where conscientious objectors mostly serve their sentences. He was <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2504">freed on 12 August 2019 at the end of his term</a>.<br />  </p> <h2>Second convictions increasing</h2> <p>A growing number of conscientious objectors are being convicted twice on the same charges when they continue to refuse renewed call-up to compulsory military service after completing their first sentences.</p> <p>Nine of the current conscientious objector prisoners (all of them Jehovah's Witnesses) have been convicted twice of the same "crime" since Turkmenistan <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">restarted jailings of conscientious objectors in January 2018</a>.</p> <p>In January 2018, Koneurgench City Court <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">jailed Kerven Kakabayev (born 9 September 1996) for one year</a>. He is from Koneurgench in the northern Dashoguz Region, and was called up in 2017. This was a year after a <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2196">December 2014 criminal conviction for conscientious objection expired in December 2016. That earlier conviction did not lead to a labour camp sentence</a>.</p> <p>In February 2020, Vepa Bahromovich Matyakubov (born 19 August 1998), a Jehovah's Witness from the northern Dashoguz Region's ethnic Uzbek minority, was <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2547">convicted for a second time for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. He was given a two-year jail term</a>. In <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2318">February 2017 he had been convicted under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 for refusing military service. The sentence allowed him to live at home under restrictions, but during the two years the state took 20 per cent of his wages</a>.</p> <p>Matyakubov's older brother Dovran was convicted and imprisoned twice for his conscientious objection to military service, in December 2010 and again in December 2012. Dovran Matyakubov was <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2009">released from his second sentence under amnesty in October 2014.</a></p> <p>In August 2020, Niyazov District Court in Dashoguz Region jailed two brothers – 26-year-old Sanjarbek Saburov and 21-year-old Eldor Saburov – for two years each for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. On 1 September 2020, Dashoguz Regional Court <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2600">rejected the Saburov brothers' appeals</a>.</p> <p>Sanjarbek Saburov refused military service during the spring 2016 call-up. On 17 July 2016 he was placed in preventive detention while awaiting trial. On 9 August 2016, a Judge <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2220">handed him a two-year suspended sentence. He was released in the courtroom after more than three weeks' detention</a>.</p> <p>In 2017, Eldor Saburov similarly refused to undertake military service on grounds of conscience. On 19 December 2017, Niyazov District Court <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">sentenced him to two years' corrective labour, with 20 per cent of his wages taken by the State</a>.<br />  </p> <h2>No alternative to compulsory military service</h2> <p>Turkmenistan offers <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">no alternative to its compulsory military service</a>. Military service for men between the ages of 18 and 27 is generally two years. Article 58 of the 2016 Constitution describes defence as a "sacred duty" of everyone and states that military service is compulsory for men.</p> <p>Young men who refuse military service on grounds of conscience generally face prosecution under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2 punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime "by means of inflicting injury to oneself, or by simulation of illness, by means of forgery of documents, or other fraudulent ways". Punishment is a jail term of one to four years. The first known use of Article 219, Part 2 to punish a conscientious objector was the case of Azat Ashirov, while Serdar Dovletov's case was the second (see below).</p> <p>From 2014, <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">courts punished conscientious objectors with corrective labour or suspended prison terms</a>, rather than imprisonment. However, jailings resumed in January 2018.</p> <p>Courts <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2443">jailed 12 conscientious objectors in 2018, two of them for two years and 10 for one year.</a> Courts <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2522">jailed 7 conscientious objectors in 2019, one of them for four years, one for three years, one for two years and four for one year</a>. Courts jailed 5 conscientious objectors in 2020, four of them for two years and one for one year.</p> <h2>Calls for alternative civilian service ignored</h2> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls to introduce an alternative to compulsory military service. The most recent call came in the latest United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee Decision, published in September 2019.</p> <p>The Human Rights Committee has issued 13 Decisions in favour of 15 conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses. In its most recent such Decision, published on 17 September 2019 (<a href="https://undocs.org/CCPR/C/126/D/2302/2013">CCPR/C/126/D/2302/2013</a>), it ruled that the right to freedom of religion or belief of former conscientious objectors Juma Nazarov, Yadgarbek Sharipov, and Atamurad Suvhanov had been violated by their jailing.</p> <p><a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1733">Nazarov</a> and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1802">Sharipov were jailed in 2012</a>, and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1817">Suvhanov (for the second time) in 2013</a>. The men had lodged their Human Rights Committee appeals in August 2013.</p> <p>All three men <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2519">also complained of "inhuman and degrading treatment" after their arrests. The Human Rights Committee stressed that Turkmenistan is under an obligation to make reparation to Nazarov, Sharipov and Suvhanov for the violations of their rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including to "expunge their criminal records and to provide them with adequate compensation. The State party is also under an obligation to avoid similar violations of the Covenant in the future".</a></p> <p>The Committee therefore urged Turkmenistan to meets its obligations to avoid similar violations such as by changing the law, "for instance, by providing the possibility of exemption from service or alternative service of a civilian nature".</p> <p>Another conscientious objector former prisoner, Arslan Begenchov, lodged a case to the UN Human Rights Committee on 20 June 2018 and is awaiting a decision, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. When <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">sentenced in Charjew to one year's imprisonment in January 2018, Begenchov was the first conscientious objector to be sentenced to prison since 2014</a>.<br />  </p> <h2>Jehovah's Witnesses push for alternative civilian service</h2> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses have urged Turkmenistan's government to introduce a civilian alternative to compulsory military service. In March 2020, local Jehovah's Witnesses visited the regime's <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">Commission for Work with Religious Organisations and Expert Analysis of Resources Containing Religious Information, Published and Printed Production</a> in the capital Ashgabat.</p> <p>At the Commission, the Jehovah's Witnesses raised the issue of an alternative civilian service, as well as pushing for the government to <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">allow their communities to gain official registration (officials have always rejected such applications)</a>, to end harassment of young Jehovah's Witnesses and to allow a visit by foreign Jehovah's Witnesses.</p> <p>"The meeting was cordial," Jehovah's Witnesses noted, "but the official recommended contacting the appropriate Ministries and commented specifically that he was unable personally to resolve the matter of registration."</p> <p>The telephone of the Commission's chief specialist Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah had been switched to a fax machine when Forum 18 called on 26 January. The telephone of Yusupgeldi Durdiyev, the Cabinet of Ministers official who chairs the Commission, went unanswered the same day. (Both Durdiyev and Nasrullah are former imams.)<br />  </p> <h2>Why no alternative civilian service?</h2> <p>Forum 18 was unable to find out why the authorities will not introduce an alternative civilian service and why conscientious objectors who are willing to perform such an alternative service, like the 10 Jehovah's Witness young men, continue to be jailed.</p> <p>On 26 January, the telephone at the office of the government-appointed Human Rights Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova went unanswered. The telephone of Yusupguly Eshshayev, the regime-appointed Chair of the Mejlis (Parliament) Human Rights Committee, similarly went unanswered each time Forum 18 called the same day.</p> <p>Asked why the regime is not willing to introduce a civilian alternative service in line with repeated United Nations (UN) recommendations, and why young men continue to be imprisoned, Ata (last name unknown) of the Foreign Ministry's International Organisations Department told Forum 18 in August 2020 that Turkmenistan "is dealing with these bodies, including the UN".</p> <p>Ata said he did not agree that Turkmenistan is failing to implement UN human rights recommendations. "Our Department is dealing with difficult issues, including with the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, the World Health Organisation, and the OSCE," he claimed. "We are trying to do our best."<br />  </p> <h2>Eight conscientious objectors currently in Seydi Labour Camp</h2> <p>Fourteen Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors are known - as of 26 January - to be serving jail terms. Eight of them are currently imprisoned at the <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">harsh ordinary-regime Seydi Labour Camp</a> in the desert in Lebap Region.</p> <p>The address of the Seydi Labour Camp is:</p> <p>746222 Lebap velayat<br /> Seydi<br /> uchr. LB-E/12<br /> Turkmenistan</p> <p>In his complaint to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee, former Jehovah's Witness prisoner of conscience Aibek Salayev stated that <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">conditions in Seydi Labour Camp LB-E/12, where he was held, were "inhuman"</a>.</p> <p>Salayev noted that the Camp was "<a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">known for its overcrowdedness, harsh climatic conditions, scarce supplies of food, medication and personal hygiene products, and for tuberculosis, skin diseases, its very high mortality rate, and physical abuse"</a>. Officials also threatened him with rape in the Camp.</p> <p>The UN Human Rights Committee <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">found that Turkmenistan had violated the rights of Salayev and another Jehovah's Witness former prisoner of conscience Vladimir Nuryllayev.</a> The Views of the Committee on the case (<a href="https://www.undocs.org/CCPR/C/125/D/2448/2014">CCPR/C/125/D/2448/2014</a>) were adopted on 18 April 2019. It stated that Turkmenistan "is also under an obligation to take all steps necessary to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future".</p> <p>Relatives who want to send food or other parcels to prisoners at either of the Seydi Labour Camps must bring the parcel to the marble arch in the remote village of Uchajy in neighbouring Mary Region, 150 kms (95 miles) away. Three times a month, prison guards collect the parcels to take them to the Labour Camps, Turkmen.news noted. Prisoners complain that parcels often are not handed over, or if they are fresh food has gone off, the news service added. Money can now be sent in parcels, but often is missing when a parcel is handed over.</p> <h2>List of known jailed conscientious objectors</h2> <p>Fourteen conscientious objectors to compulsory military service (listed below in chronological order of sentence) – all of them Jehovah's Witnesses – are known to be jailed. Eleven are serving prison sentences under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 ("Rejecting call-up to military service"), Ashirov and Dovletov under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2, and Atahanov under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2. Nine are serving second sentences.</p> <p>1) Bahtiyar Amirjanovich Atahanov; born 17 June 2000; sentenced 15 July 2019 Tejen City Court under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2; appeal rejected 20 August 2019 Ahal Regional Court; four years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>2) Azat Gurbanmuhammedovich Ashirov, born 7 January 1999; sentenced 31 July 2019 Abadan District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appeal rejected 3 September 2019 Ashgabat City Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>3) Serdar Nurmuhammedovich Dovletov, born 2 December 1993; sentenced 12 November 2019 Bayramali City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appealed rejected 3 December 2019 Mary Regional Court; three years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>4) Kamiljan Ergashovich Ergashov, born 27 June 2001; sentenced 13 January 2020 Niyazov District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 4 February 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>5) Vepa Bahromovich Matyakubov, born 19 August 1998; sentenced 17 February 2020 Boldumsaz District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 17 March 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>6) Sanjarbek Davranbekovich Saburov, born 12 August 1994; sentenced 6 August 2020 Niyazov District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 1 September 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>7) Eldor Davranbekovich Saburov, born 9 April 1999; sentenced 6 August 2020 Niyazov District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 1 September 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>8) Myrat Baymukhammedovich Orazgeldiyev, born 6 May 2002; sentenced 3 September 2020 Vekilbazar District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 29 September 2020 Mary Regional Court; one year's ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>9) Ruslan Khadynyaz oglu Artykmuradov; born 24 May 2000; sentenced 11 January 2021 Sayat District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; chose not to appeal; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>10) Azamatjan Narkulyevich Narkulyev, born 9 November 2000; sentenced 18 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal lodged to Lebap Regional Court; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>11) Maksat Jumadurdiyevich Jumadurdiyev, born 15 May 2000; sentenced 18 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal lodged to Lebap Regional Court; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>12) Artur Aydogdyyevich Yangibayev, born 22 April 1997; sentenced 18 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal lodged to Lebap Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>13) Veniamin Muslimovich Genjiyev, born 12 May 2000; sentenced 19 January 2021 Danev District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal lodged to Lebap Regional Court; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>14) Ikhlosbek Valijon oglu Rozmetov, born 26 November 1997; sentenced 19 January 2021 Gurbansoltan eje District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; two years' strict regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author-information--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author information</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--authors-and-bios--bio-only.html.twig * paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * paragraph--bio-only.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--authors-and-bios paragraph--id--_73 paragraph--view-mode--bio-only"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-bio--bio-only.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio.html.twig * field--paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--field-bio.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-bio field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Felix Corley, <em>Forum 18</em>. This article was first published on <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2632">Forum 18</a> on 26th January. </p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-programmes-projects--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Programmes &amp; Projects</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/1" hreflang="en">Right to Refuse to Kill</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/465" hreflang="en">Front Page</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-countries--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-countries.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Countries</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/209" hreflang="en">Turkmenistan</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-theme--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Theme</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">Conscientious objection</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--comment--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--comment.html.twig * field--default--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--comment.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig x field--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--node--comment.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> <section class="comments"> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=42340&amp;2=comment&amp;3=comment" token="SReEI7HO9FsjZV2AIWy0pe5Q-e9l_Ax5yQQLXMVSWME"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Fri, 29 Jan 2021 18:53:45 +0000 cmoy 42340 at https://updates.wri-irg.org https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2021/turkmenistan-five-conscientious-objectors-jailed-two-days#comments Turkmenistan: Conscientious objector jailed, awaiting second trial https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2021/turkmenistan-conscientious-objector-jailed-awaiting-second-trial <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_1col' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-1col--node--42322.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story.html.twig * ds-1col--node-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="42322" class="node node--type-story node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-image--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image.html.twig * field--expert--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-image.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_desktop/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=HaDv4gHd 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/gif"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v 1x" type="image/gif"/> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> <img src="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v" alt="Turkmenistan map" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> </picture> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="caption"></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node-post-date---custom.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--node-post-date.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <time > 07 Jan 2021</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--dynamic-twig-field:node-author-name-twig---custom.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-dynamic-twig-fieldnode-author-name-twig field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Author(s)</div> <div class="field--item"> <span>Felix Corley, Forum 18</span> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--body--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--story.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Arrested in December 2020, 20-year-old Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Ruslan Artykmuradov is awaiting trial in Turkmenabat's Pre-Trial Detention Prison for refusing compulsory military service. He offered to do an alternative civilian service, but Turkmenistan does not offer this, despite repeated United Nations calls. Artykmuradov has already served a one-year jail term on the same charges. If convicted, he will become the 25th conscientious objector known to have been jailed since 2018.</p> <p>Police arrested 20-year-old Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector to military service Ruslan Artykmuradov on 15 December 2020. They transferred him on 18 December to the Pre-Trial Detention Prison in Turkmenabat in the eastern Lebap Region, where he remains awaiting trial for refusing compulsory military service. No trial date has yet been set. He has already served a one-year jail term on the same charges.</p> <p>Prosecutors opened the second criminal case against Artykmuradov in December 2020 after the Military Conscription Office rejected his request to do an alternative civilian service (which does not exist in Turkmenistan). Turkmenistan has rejected repeated United Nations calls to introduce such a service (see below).</p> <p>If convicted, Artykmuradov would become the 25th conscientious objector to military service known to have been convicted and jailed since January 2018. All of them are Jehovah's Witnesses (see below).</p> <p>If he is convicted at his expected trial, Artykmuradov would become the fifth conscientious objector (all of them Jehovah's Witnesses) to be convicted twice of the same "crime" since jailings of conscientious objectors resumed in 2018. Such second convictions may be increasing (see below).</p> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses are conscientious objectors to military service and do not undertake any kind of activity supporting any country's military. But they are willing to undertake an alternative, totally civilian form of service, as is <a href="https://www.quno.org/sites/default/files/resources/QUNO%202015%20RB%20Conscientious%20Objection%20FINAL.pdf">the right of all conscientious objectors to military service under international human rights law</a>..</p> <p>Including Bahtiyar Amirjanovich Atahanov (born 17 June 2000), who has been serving a jail term since July 2019, eight Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors are serving jail terms of between one and four years. All eight are imprisoned in Seydi Labour Camp in the eastern Lebap Region. Three of them are serving second sentences (see full list below).</p> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls, for example by <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">the United Nations Human Rights Committee, to introduce a genuine civilian alternative to compulsory military service, to stop prosecuting and punishing conscientious objectors, and to compensate those it has punished</a>.</p> <p>The official who answered the phone at the office of the regime-appointed Human Rights Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova on 5 January introduced herself, but when Forum 18 asked to speak to Gurbannazarova the official claimed she could not hear Forum 18. Subsequent calls went unanswered (see below).</p> <p>Yusup Durdiyev, the Cabinet of Ministers official who chairs the government's Commission controlling religious communities, introduced himself on the phone on 5 January, but when Forum 18 asked him about the jailed conscientious objectors he claimed he could not hear. Subsequent calls went unanswered (see below).</p> <p>The telephone of the regime-appointed Chair of the Mejlis (Parliament) Human Rights Committee Yusupguly Eshshayev went unanswered on 5 January (see below).</p> <p>The UN Human Rights Committee has published 13 Decisions in favour of 15 conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses. In its most recent such Decision, published on 17 September 2019 (C/126/D/2302/2013), it ruled that the right to freedom of religion or belief of former conscientious objectors Juma Nazarov, Yadgarbek Sharipov, and Atamurad Suvhanov had been violated by their jailing (see below).</p> <p>Asked why the regime is not willing to introduce a civilian alternative service in line with repeated United Nations (UN) recommendations, and why young men continue to be imprisoned, an official of the Foreign Ministry's International Organisations Department told Forum 18 in August 2020 that Turkmenistan "is dealing with these bodies, including the UN". He said he did not agree that Turkmenistan was failing to implement UN human rights recommendations (see below).</p> <p>Another Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector former prisoner, Arslan Begenchov, lodged a case to the UN Human Rights Committee in 2018 and is awaiting a decision (see below).</p> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses filed a complaint with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention In May 2020 on behalf of 19 current or former jailed conscientious objectors. The 19 men include some of those currently imprisoned in Seydi Labour Camp, plus others who have been released after serving earlier sentences (see below).</p> <p>Other prisoners of conscience jailed for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief – all of them Muslims – are serving far longer jail terms (see below).</p> <h2>Refuses military service, ready to do alternative</h2> <p>Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Ruslan Khadynyaz oglu Artykmuradov (born 24 May 2000), who lives in the eastern Lebap Region, is facing criminal prosecution for the second time for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience.</p> <p>Artykmuradov filed a written statement on 14 December 2020 with Sayat District Military Conscription Office refusing compulsory military service. He also filed a motion to Sayat District Prosecutor's Office to terminate the case it had lodged against him under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>Police arrested Artykmuradov on 15 December 2020 and took him to the police station, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. Three days later, officers transferred him to the pre-trial detention prison LB-E/9 (known as Abdy-Shukur) in the regional capital Turkmenabat. He will be held there until his trial, which is expected to take place at Sayat District Court.</p> <p>Sayat District Prosecutor's Office refused to put Forum 18 through to the prosecutor handling Artykmuradov's case or to discuss why he is being prosecuted again.</p> <h2>Earlier conviction</h2> <p>After Artykmuradov refused military service on grounds of conscience after his first call-up in 2018, Prosecutors in Lebap Region brought a case against the then 18-year-old Jehovah's Witness under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1.</p> <p>On 13 August 2018, Sayat District Court found Artykmuradov guilty and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2405">jailed him for one year in an ordinary regime labour camp</a>. Artykmuradov had not been under arrest in the run-up to the trial. He was arrested in the court room after the verdict was handed down.</p> <p>Lebap Regional Court rejected Artykmuradov's appeal on 11 September 2018. He served his sentence in the labour camp at Seydi, where conscientious objectors mostly serve their sentences. He was <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2504">freed on 12 August 2019 at the end of his term</a>.</p> <h2>Second convictions increasing?</h2> <p>Conscientious objectors are often convicted twice on the same charges when they continue to refuse renewed call-up to compulsory military service after completing their first sentences.</p> <p>If he is convicted at his expected trial, Artykmuradov would become the fifth conscientious objector (all of them Jehovah's Witnesses) to be convicted twice of the same "crime" since jailings of conscientious objectors resumed in 2018.</p> <p>In January 2018, Koneurgench City Court <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">jailed Kerven Kakabayev</a> (born 9 September 1996), who is from Koneurgench in the northern Dashoguz Region, for one year. He was called up a year after his earlier criminal conviction expired in December 2016.</p> <p>In February 2020, Vepa Bahromovich Matyakubov (born 19 August 1998), a Jehovah's Witness from the northern Dashoguz Region's ethnic Uzbek minority, was <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2547">convicted for a second time for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. He was given a two-year jail term</a>. In <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2318">February 2017 he had been convicted under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 for refusing military service. The sentence allowed him to live at home under restrictions, but during the two years the state took 20 per cent of his wages</a>.</p> <p>Matyakubov's older brother Dovran was convicted and imprisoned twice for his conscientious objection to military service, in December 2010 and again in December 2012. Dovran Matyakubov was <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2009">released from his second sentence under amnesty in October 2014.</a></p> <p>In August 2020, Niyazov District Court in Dashoguz Region jailed two brothers – 26-year-old Sanjarbek Saburov and 21-year-old Eldor Saburov – for two years each for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. On 1 September 2020, Dashoguz Regional Court <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2600">rejected the Saburov brothers' appeals</a>.</p> <p>Sanjarbek Saburov refused military service during the spring 2016 call-up. On 17 July 2016 he was placed in preventive detention while awaiting trial. On 9 August 2016, a Judge <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2220">handed him a two-year suspended sentence. He was released in the courtroom after more than three weeks' detention</a>.</p> <p>In 2017, Eldor Saburov similarly refused to undertake military service on grounds of conscience. On 19 December 2017, Niyazov District Court <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">sentenced him to two years' corrective labour, with 20 per cent of his wages taken by the State</a>.</p> <h2>No alternative to compulsory military service</h2> <p>Turkmenistan offers <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">no alternative to its compulsory military service</a>. Military service for men between the ages of 18 and 27 is generally two years. Article 58 of the 2016 Constitution describes defence as a "sacred duty" of everyone and states that military service is compulsory for men.</p> <p>Young men who refuse military service on grounds of conscience generally face prosecution under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2 punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime "by means of inflicting injury to oneself, or by simulation of illness, by means of forgery of documents, or other fraudulent ways". Punishment is a jail term of one to four years. The first known use of Article 219, Part 2 to punish a conscientious objector was the case of Azat Ashirov, while Serdar Dovletov's case was the second (see below).</p> <p>From 2014, <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">courts punished conscientious objectors with corrective labour or suspended prison terms</a>, rather than imprisonment. However, jailings resumed in January 2018.</p> <p>Courts <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2443">jailed 12 conscientious objectors in 2018, two of them for two years and 10 for one year.</a> Courts <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2522">jailed 7 conscientious objectors in 2019, one of them for four years, one for three years, one for two years and four for one year</a>. Courts jailed 5 conscientious objectors in 2020, four of them for two years and one for one year.</p> <h2>Calls for alternative civilian service ignored</h2> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls to introduce an alternative to compulsory military service. The most recent call came in the latest United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee Decision, published in September 2019.</p> <p>The Human Rights Committee has issued 13 Decisions in favour of 15 conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses. In its most recent such Decision, published on 17 September 2019 (<a href="https://undocs.org/CCPR/C/126/D/2302/2013">CCPR/C/126/D/2302/2013</a>), it ruled that the right to freedom of religion or belief of former conscientious objectors Juma Nazarov, Yadgarbek Sharipov, and Atamurad Suvhanov had been violated by their jailing.</p> <p><a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1733">Nazarov</a> and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1802">Sharipov were jailed in 2012</a>, and <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1817">Suvhanov (for the second time) in 2013</a>. The men had lodged their Human Rights Committee appeals in August 2013.</p> <p>All three men <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2519">also complained of "inhuman and degrading treatment" after their arrests. The Human Rights Committee stressed that Turkmenistan is under an obligation to make reparation to Nazarov, Sharipov and Suvhanov for the violations of their rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including to "expunge their criminal records and to provide them with adequate compensation. The State party is also under an obligation to avoid similar violations of the Covenant in the future".</a></p> <p>The Committee therefore urged Turkmenistan to meets its obligations to avoid similar violations such as by changing the law, "for instance, by providing the possibility of exemption from service or alternative service of a civilian nature".</p> <p>Another conscientious objector former prisoner, Arslan Begenchov, lodged a case to the UN Human Rights Committee on 20 June 2018 and is awaiting a decision, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. When <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">sentenced in Charjew to one year's imprisonment in January 2018, Begenchov was the first conscientious objector to be sentenced to prison since 2014</a>.</p> <h2>Jehovah's Witnesses push for alternative civilian service</h2> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses have urged Turkmenistan's government to introduce a civilian alternative to compulsory military service. In March 2020, local representatives visited the government's Commission for Work with Religious Organisations and Expert Analysis of Resources Containing Religious Information, Published and Printed Production in the capital Ashgabat.</p> <p>At the Commission, the Jehovah's Witnesses raised the issue of an alternative civilian service, as well as pushing for the government to allow their communities to gain official registration (officials have always rejected such applications), to end harassment of young Jehovah's Witnesses and to allow a visit by foreign Jehovah's Witnesses.</p> <p>"The meeting was cordial," Jehovah's Witnesses noted, "but the official recommended contacting the appropriate Ministries and commented specifically that he was unable personally to resolve the matter of registration."</p> <p>Yusup Durdiyev, the Cabinet of Ministers official who chairs the government's Commission controlling religious communities, introduced himself on the phone on 5 January, but when Forum 18 asked him about the jailed conscientious objectors he claimed he could not hear. Subsequent calls went unanswered. The telephone of Commission specialist Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah went unanswered on 5 January. (Both Durdoyev and Nasrullah are former imams.)</p> <h2>Why no alternative civilian service?</h2> <p>Forum 18 was unable to find out why the authorities will not introduce an alternative civilian service and why conscientious objectors who are willing to perform such an alternative service, like the 10 Jehovah's Witness young men, continue to be jailed.</p> <p>The telephone of the regime-appointed Chair of the Mejlis (Parliament) Human Rights Committee Yusupguly Eshshayev went unanswered on 5 January.</p> <p>The official who answered the phone at the office of the regime-appointed Human Rights Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova on 5 January introduced herself, but when Forum 18 asked to speak to Gurbannazarova the official claimed she could not hear Forum 18. Subsequent calls went unanswered.</p> <p>Asked why the regime is not willing to introduce a civilian alternative service in line with repeated United Nations (UN) recommendations, and why young men continue to be imprisoned, Ata (last name unknown) of the Foreign Ministry's International Organisations Department told Forum 18 in August 2020 that Turkmenistan "is dealing with these bodies, including the UN".</p> <p>Ata said he did not agree that Turkmenistan is failing to implement UN human rights recommendations. "Our Department is dealing with difficult issues, including with the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, the World Health Organisation, and the OSCE," he claimed. "We are trying to do our best."</p> <h2>Many prisoners of conscience</h2> <p>The nine jailed conscientious objectors are among the <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">many people Turkmenistan has jailed for exercising freedom of religion or belief.</a></p> <p>Five Muslims who met to study the works of theologian Said Nursi failed to overturn their 12-year jail terms at Turkmenistan's Supreme Court in July 2018. <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2399">Four of the five are in the top-security prison at Ovadan-Depe</a>, where prisoners have suffered torture and death from abuse or neglect.</p> <p>More than 60 Muslims from in and around the eastern city of Turkmenabat were imprisoned in 2013 and after to punish them for their involvement in a Muslim study group. Most or all the prisoners are believed to be held at Ovadan-Depe. Relatives often have no information as to whether they are still alive. <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2318">Three of the group are known to have died in prison.</a></p> <h2>Eight conscientious objectors currently in Seydi Labour Camp</h2> <p>Eight Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors are known - as of 5 January - to be serving jail terms. All eight are currently imprisoned at the <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">harsh Seydi Labour Camp</a> in the desert in Lebap Region.</p> <p>The address of the Seydi Labour Camp is:</p> <p>746222 Lebap velayat<br /> Seydi<br /> uchr. LB-E/12<br /> Turkmenistan</p> <p>A prisoner died of coronavirus on 14 August 2020 in the neighbouring strict-regime labour camp (LB-E/11), Turkmen.news noted on 24 August 2020. Government officials claim that the country has no coronoavirus infections.</p> <p>In his complaint to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee, former Jehovah's Witness prisoner of conscience Aibek Salayev stated that <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">conditions in Seydi Labour Camp LB-E/12, where he was held, were "inhuman"</a>.</p> <p>Salayev noted that the Camp was "<a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">known for its overcrowdedness, harsh climatic conditions, scarce supplies of food, medication and personal hygiene products, and for tuberculosis, skin diseases, its very high mortality rate, and physical abuse"</a>. Officials also threatened him with rape in the Camp.</p> <p>The UN Human Rights Committee <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">found that Turkmenistan had violated the rights of Salayev and another Jehovah's Witness former prisoner of conscience Vladimir Nuryllayev.</a> The Views of the Committee on the case (<a href="https://www.undocs.org/CCPR/C/125/D/2448/2014">CCPR/C/125/D/2448/2014</a>) were adopted on 18 April 2019. It stated that Turkmenistan "is also under an obligation to take all steps necessary to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future".</p> <p>Relatives who want to send food or other parcels to prisoners at either of the Seydi Labour Camps must bring the parcel to the marble arch in the remote village of Uchajy in neighbouring Mary Region, 150 kms (95 miles) away. Three times a month, prison guards collect the parcels to take them to the Labour Camps, Turkmen.news noted. Prisoners complain that parcels often are not handed over, or if they are fresh food has gone off, the news service added. Money can now be sent in parcels, but often is missing when a parcel is handed over.<br />  </p> <h2>Freed in 2020 after serving full jail terms</h2> <p>Five Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors were freed from Seydi Labour Camp in 2020 after serving their sentences in full:</p> <ul><li>Muhammetali Charygeldiyevich Saparmyradov (born 11 November 1995), freed on 19 March 2020 after completing his <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2483">one-year jail term</a>.</li> <li>Mekan Orazdurdiyevich Annayev (born 22 June 1999), freed on 26 June 2020 after completing his <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2402">two-year jail term</a>.</li> <li>David Andronikovich Petrosov (born 15 May 2001), freed on 30 September 2020 after completing his <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2519">one-year jail term</a>.</li> <li>Selim Yolamanovich Taganov (born 22 March 2001), freed on 3 October 2020 after completing his <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2519">one-year jail term</a>.</li> <li>Eziz Dovletmuradovich Atabayev (born 15 March 1998), freed on 19 December 2020 after completing his <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2443">two-year jail term</a>.<br />  </li> </ul><h2>Further UN complaint</h2> <p>On 20 May 2020, Jehovah's Witnesses <a href="https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2590">filed a complaint with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention</a> on behalf of 19 current or former jailed conscientious objectors. The 19 men are the eight currently imprisoned in Seydi Labour Camp, plus others who have been released after serving earlier sentences.<br />  </p> <h2>List of known jailed conscientious objectors</h2> <p>Nine conscientious objectors to compulsory military service (listed below) – all of them Jehovah's Witnesses – are known to be jailed. Eight are serving prison sentences: five under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 ("Rejecting call-up to military service"), Ashirov and Dovletov under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2, and Atahanov under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2. One other prisoner is awaiting trial.</p> <p>1) Bahtiyar Amirjanovich Atahanov; born 17 June 2000; sentenced 15 July 2019 Tejen City Court under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2; appeal rejected 20 August 2019 Ahal Regional Court; four years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>2) Azat Gurbanmuhammedovich Ashirov, born 7 January 1999; sentenced 31 July 2019 Abadan District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appeal rejected 3 September 2019 Ashgabat City Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>3) Serdar Nurmuhammedovich Dovletov, born 2 December 1993; sentenced 12 November 2019 Bayramali City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appealed rejected 3 December 2019 Mary Regional Court; three years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>4) Kamiljan Ergashovich Ergashov, born 27 June 2001; sentenced 13 January 2020 Niyazov District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 4 February 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>5) Vepa Bahromovich Matyakubov, born 19 August 1998; sentenced 17 February 2020 Boldumsaz District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 17 March 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>6) Sanjarbek Davranbekovich Saburov, born 12 August 1994; sentenced 6 August 2020 Niyazov District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 1 September 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>7) Eldor Davranbekovich Saburov, born 9 April 1999; sentenced 6 August 2020 Niyazov District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 1 September 2020 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp (second sentence).</p> <p>8) Myrat Baymukhammedovich Orazgeldiyev, born 6 May 2002; sentenced 3 September 2020 Vekilbazar District Court, under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 29 September 2020 Mary Regional Court; one year's ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>9) Ruslan Khadynyaz oglu Artykmuradov; born 24 May 2000; arrested 15 December 2020, charged under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 (second sentence if convicted). </p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author-information--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author information</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--authors-and-bios--bio-only.html.twig * paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * paragraph--bio-only.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--authors-and-bios paragraph--id--_66 paragraph--view-mode--bio-only"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-bio--bio-only.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio.html.twig * field--paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--field-bio.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-bio field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Felix Corley, <em>Forum 18</em>. This article was first published on <em><a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2483" rel="noopener noreferrer" tabindex="-1" target="_blank">Forum 18</a></em> on 5th January 2021.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-programmes-projects--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Programmes &amp; Projects</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/1" hreflang="en">Right to Refuse to Kill</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/465" hreflang="en">Front Page</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-countries--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-countries.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Countries</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/209" hreflang="en">Turkmenistan</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-theme--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Theme</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">Conscientious objection</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--comment--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--comment.html.twig * field--default--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--comment.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig x field--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--node--comment.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> <section class="comments"> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=42322&amp;2=comment&amp;3=comment" token="kOemv2PTojXMe4R78V-ViJjWJ2IblORZ-wC0bnILt4Q"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Thu, 07 Jan 2021 16:06:30 +0000 cmoy 42322 at https://updates.wri-irg.org https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2021/turkmenistan-conscientious-objector-jailed-awaiting-second-trial#comments Prisoners for peace list: 2020 https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2020/prisoners-peace-list-2020 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_1col' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-1col--node--42290.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story.html.twig * ds-1col--node-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="42290" class="node node--type-story node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-image--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image.html.twig * field--expert--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-image.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_desktop/public/2020-11/screenshot_2020-11-27_at_20.42.36.png?itok=j7mVgq4H 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/png"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2020-11/screenshot_2020-11-27_at_20.42.36.png?itok=2TrQhfag 1x" type="image/png"/> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> <img src="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2020-11/screenshot_2020-11-27_at_20.42.36.png?itok=2TrQhfag" alt="WRI logo grey" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> </picture> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="caption"></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node-post-date---custom.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--node-post-date.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <time > 27 Nov 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--body--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--story.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Last Updated: 9 December, 2020</p> <p>Below is a list of some of those currently in prison for their work for peace. Write to them on 1st December, <em><a href="https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2020/prisoners-peace-day-1st-december">Prisoners for Peace Day</a></em>, help us grow our solidarity!</p> <p>We include those whose addresses we can obtain, and who are happy to have their names and stories made public. In some cases, nicknames are used and 'care of' (c/o) addresses given, where that person is happy to be contacted, but does not want their contact details spread publicly.</p> <h2>Ambazonia</h2> <p>Here some of the prisoners for the expression of their conscientiously held belief that the fundamental human rights of the people of Ambazonia, formerly the United Nations Trust Territory of Southern Cameroons under United Kingdom administration, needs to be respected by all — including the French neo-colonial regime in Cameroon and its allies.</p> <ul><li><strong>Mancho Bibixy</strong> (Sep ’16 —)</li> <li><strong>Tsi Conrad</strong> (Sep ’16 —)</li> <li><strong>Tha Emile Angwe</strong> (Sep ’16 —)</li> <li><strong>Aselech Martin</strong> (Sep ’16 —)</li> <li><strong>Tamngwa Martin </strong>(Sep ’16 —)</li> <li><strong>Mr. Wilfred Tassang </strong>(5 Jan ’19 —)</li> <li><strong>Profesor Augustine Awasum</strong> (5 Jan ’19 —)</li> <li><strong>Dr. Cornelius Njikimpi Kwanga</strong> (5 Jan ’19 —)</li> <li><strong>Dr. Henry Kimeng </strong>(5 Jan ’19 —)</li> <li><strong>Dr. Fidelis Ndeh-Che</strong> (5 Jan ’19 —)</li> <li><strong>Dr. Egbe Ogork</strong> (5 Jan ’19 —)</li> <li><strong>Barrister Shufai Berinyuy</strong> (5 Jan ’19 —)</li> <li><strong>Barrister Eyambe Elias </strong>(5 Jan ’19 —)</li> <li><strong>Dr. Nfor Ngalla Nfor </strong>(5 Jan ’19 —)</li> </ul><p><strong>For all above, write to: Prison Principale Kondengui Yaoundé, B. P 100, YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon</strong></p> <h2>Eritrea</h2> <p>Eritrea continues to imprison conscientious objectors. The below are all Jehovah's Witness, imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.</p> <p>Eritrea's military service is indefinite, for men and women, and starts in the final two years of high school, which is in a military camp.</p> <ul><li><strong>Henok Ghebru</strong> (01 Feb ‘05 —)</li> <li><strong>Yosief Fessehaye</strong> (01 Oct ‘06 —)</li> <li><strong>Samuel Ghirmay</strong> (01 Mar ‘09 —)</li> <li><strong>Bereket Habteyesus </strong>(26 May ‘14 —)</li> <li><strong>Yosief Tesfamariam </strong>(01 May ‘12 —)</li> <li><strong>Samuol Dawit </strong>(09 Apr ‘16 —)</li> </ul><p><strong>For all above, write to: Mai Serwa Prison, Asmara, Eritrea</strong></p> <h2>South Korea</h2> <p>Despite the recognition of the right to conscientious objection, there are still conscientious objectors in prison in South Korea. This year, along with 5 COs currently in prison, there is also a peace activist, Song Kang- ho, who was sentenced to 2 years for his nonviolent protest against the construction of a naval base on Jeju Island, South Korea.</p> <ul><li><strong>H.H Park </strong>(expected release date 03 Dec ‘21) Write to: <strong>P.O Box 17, Dongsuwonucheguk Gyeonggi- do, 442-190 Republic of Korea </strong></li> <li><strong>J.S Bang</strong> (expected release date 10 Sep ’21) Write to: <strong>P.O. Box 20, Gunpo, Gyeonggi- do, 437-050, Republic of Korea</strong></li> <li><strong>Jong-hoon Eun</strong> (30 Sep 2019 — 30 Mar ‘21) write to: <strong>127, Halmi-ro, Okgu-eup, Gunsan- si, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea (zip code: 54172) </strong></li> <li><strong>Kang-Ho Song</strong> (23 Sep 2021 —) Write to: <strong>Jeju Post Office PO Box 161, Jeju City, Jeju Island, South Korea, (zip code: 63166)</strong></li> <li><strong>S.B Yoo</strong> (Expected release date 27 Oct ’21) Write to: <strong>238-12, Seokgyo-ri, Mado- myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea </strong></li> <li><strong>Sang-yoon Song</strong> (21 Aug ‘19 — 28 Feb ’21) Write to: <strong>107, Yanghwa-ro, Ganam-eup, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea (zip code: 12655)</strong></li> <li><strong>S.H. Ahn </strong>(expected release date 23 Apr '22). Write to: <strong>Chuncheon Correctional Institution, Box 69 P.O. Chuncheonucheguk Chuncheon-si Gangwon-do, 200-710, Republic of Korea</strong></li> </ul><h2><strong>USA</strong></h2> <p>In October 24, 2019 seven peace activists were found guilty and charged with a range of crimes, including trespassing, depredation of government property for their protest actions at Kings Bay nuclear submarine base in Georgia on April 4, 2018.</p> <p>This year <strong>Carmen Trotta</strong>, <strong>Clare Grady</strong>, <strong>Elizabeth McAlister</strong>, <strong>Martha Hennessy</strong> and <strong>Patrick O'Neill</strong> were sentenced individually and virtually to serve in prison between 10 to 33 months. <strong>Mark Colville</strong> has not been sentenced as he refuse to give up his right to appear in person in court and until is safe to do so.</p> <p><strong>Fr. Steve Kelly</strong> sentenced to 33 months (which he had already serve) remains in jail in Brunswick waiting to be transported by the U.S. marshals to Tacoma, Washington for a probation violation from a prior trespass conviction at the West Coast Trident base. He refused to comply with supervised probation and was then arrested at Kings Bay.</p> <p><strong>To know how you can support these peace activists and other updates go to: kingsbayplowshares7.org</strong></p> <p><strong>To check Stephen Kelly's address and mail instructions, go to www.nukeresister.org/inside- out/.</strong></p> <h2><strong>Singapore</strong></h2> <p>Singapore does not recognise the right to conscientious objection. Conscientious objectors usually serve two terms in prison, the first up to 15 months and the second up to 24 months - which means that they can serve up to 39 months behind bars. Bellow all Jehovah's Witness, imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.</p> <ul><li><strong>Donovan Yong</strong> (expected release date 31 Dec ‘20)</li> <li><strong>Edrenz James Do Ramos </strong>(expected release date 12 Aug ’21)</li> <li><strong>Ganesh Aravind </strong>(expected release date 12 Aug ’21)</li> <li><strong>Joshua Soon </strong>(Awaiting 2nd martial court)</li> <li><strong>Kang Yu Ho</strong> (Benedict) (expected release date 02 Apr '21)</li> <li><strong>Lie Hao Norman Sek </strong>(expected release date 30 Sep '21)</li> <li><strong>Raj s/o Rajamogn Rohan</strong> (expected release date 12 Aug ’21)</li> <li><strong>Shao Qi Koh </strong>(expected release date 30 Sep '21)</li> <li><strong>Shawn Jonathan Kumar </strong>(expected release date 31 Dec ’20)</li> <li><strong>Yi Jie Lucas Lee </strong>(expected release date 30 Sep '21)</li> <li><strong>Nicholas Ang</strong> (Awaiting 2nd martial court)</li> <li><strong>Ca Leb (Azariah) Wa </strong>(Awaiting 2nd martial court)</li> </ul><p>For all above, write to: <strong>Singapore Armed Forces Detention Barracks, 402 Lor Kebasi, 688791, Singapore</strong></p> <h2><strong>Tajikistan</strong></h2> <p>In Tajikistan, military service of two years is compulsory for almost all able-bodied young men between the ages of 16 and 27. There is no law regulating alternative service for conscientious objectors and those unable to serve in the armed forces on grounds of conscience face prosecution.</p> <ul><li><strong>Rustamjon Norov</strong>, 22-year-old conscientious objector, is in prison at the moment and facing prosecution for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. He faces two to five years' imprisonment if convicted. Write to: <strong>Ya/T 9/2 Investigation Prison, Khujand, Sugd Region, Tajikistan</strong></li> </ul><h2><strong>Israel</strong></h2> <p>Starting from August, 19 year-old refuser <strong>Hallel Rabin</strong> has spent more than 50 days in military prison in 4 separate terms. She was imprisoned for her refusal to be enlisted. Hallel has recently been released and exempted from military service. However, there might be other Israeli COs jailed for their refusal to be conscripted in the coming weeks and months</p> <p>For up-to-date info on how to write to COs in prison in Israel, please check our <a href="https://www.wri-irg.org/en/programmes/co_alerts">Conscientious Objection Action Alerts</a>.</p> <h2>Turkmenistan</h2> <p>In Turkmenistan, military service is compulsory for men between 18 and 27, and it is generally two years. Despite repeated calls by the United Nations, the Turkmenistan state doesn't offer any civilian alternative to military service. This year nine conscientious objectors are known to be in prison.</p> <ul><li><strong>Eldor Saburov</strong> (expected release some time in 2022)</li> <li><strong>Azat Ashirov</strong> (31 Jul ‘19 — 31 Jul ‘21)</li> <li><strong>Bahtiyar Atahanov</strong> (15 Jul ‘19 — 31 Jul ‘23)</li> <li><strong>Eziz Atabayev</strong> (19 Dec ‘18 — 31 Dec ‘20)</li> <li><strong>Kamiljan Ergashov </strong>(expected release some time in 2022)</li> <li><strong>Myrat Orazgeldiyev </strong>(expected release some time in 2021)</li> <li><strong>Sanjarbek Saburov</strong> (expected release some time in 2022)</li> <li><strong>Serdar Dovletov</strong> (expected release some time in 2022)</li> <li><strong>Vepa Matyakubov</strong> (expected release some time in 2022)</li> </ul><p>For all above, write to: <strong>Seydi Labour Camp, 746222 Lebap velayat, Seydi, uchr. LB-E/12, Turkmenistan</strong></p> <h2><strong>Finland</strong></h2> <p>In Finland, there is conscription for all citizens assigned as male at birth. The right to conscientious objection is recognised but the length of alternative civilian service is punitive. For decades, many Finnish conscientious objectors have declared 'total objection', refusing the conscription system altogether (including alternative service), emphasising the system's militaristic content or referring to their religious beliefs. Many total objectors have served time behind bars or in house arrest due to their refusal. Matias Selin, a Jehovah's Witness, is one them who is serving a house arrest due to his total objection at the moment.</p> <ul><li>Matias Selin (07 Sep '20 - 26 Feb '21). Write to: <strong>Aseistakieltäytyjäliitto, Matias Selin, Rauhanasema, Veturitori 3, 00520 Helsinki, FINLAND</strong></li> </ul></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-programmes-projects--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Programmes &amp; Projects</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/1" hreflang="en">Right to Refuse to Kill</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/2" hreflang="en">Prisoners for Peace</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/465" hreflang="en">Front Page</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-countries--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-countries.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Countries</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/164" hreflang="en">Eritrea</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/169" hreflang="en">Korea, South</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/216" hreflang="en">United States of America</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/209" hreflang="en">Turkmenistan</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/177" hreflang="en">Tajikistan</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/699" hreflang="en">Ambazonia</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/102" hreflang="en">Singapore</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/228" hreflang="en">Israel</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-theme--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Theme</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">Conscientious objection</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--comment--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--comment.html.twig * field--default--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--comment.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig x field--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--node--comment.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> <section class="comments"> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=42290&amp;2=comment&amp;3=comment" token="lNzuIyR67gvRP3JWW4dzKmZtafS8zM2ahlKBmecUo7s"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Fri, 27 Nov 2020 19:19:51 +0000 cmoy 42290 at https://updates.wri-irg.org https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2020/prisoners-peace-list-2020#comments Turkmenistan: Conscientious objector jailed after second conviction https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2020/turkmenistan-conscientious-objector-jailed-after-second-conviction <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_1col' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-1col--node--42050.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story.html.twig * ds-1col--node-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="42050" class="node node--type-story node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-image--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image.html.twig * field--expert--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-image.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_desktop/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=HaDv4gHd 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/gif"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v 1x" type="image/gif"/> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> <img src="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v" alt="Turkmenistan map" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> </picture> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="caption"></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node-post-date---custom.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--node-post-date.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <time > 03 Mar 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--dynamic-twig-field:node-author-name-twig---custom.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-dynamic-twig-fieldnode-author-name-twig field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Author(s)</div> <div class="field--item"> <span>Felix Corley, Forum 18</span> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--body--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--story.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p> </p> <p>A Dashoguz Region court jailed Jehovah's Witness Vepa Matyakubov for two years on 17 February, his second criminal conviction for refusing military service on grounds of conscience. He had offered to do an alternative civilian service but Turkmenistan does not offer this. He is likely to join nine other jailed conscientious objectors in Seydi labour camp, known for harsh conditions and torture.</p> <p>On 17 February, a court in Dashoguz Region of northern Turkmenistan jailed 21-year-old Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Vepa Matyakubov for two years for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. This is his second criminal conviction on the same charges.</p> <p>Matyakubov is the second conscientious objector to military service known to have been jailed so far in 2020. His is the 21st known criminal conviction for conscientious objection since January 2018.</p> <p>Matyakubov is appealing against his conviction to Dashoguz Regional Court, though courts and prisons often obstruct such appeals.</p> <p>Jehovah's Witnesses are conscientious objectors to military service and their beliefs do not allow them to undertake any kind of activity supporting any country's military. But they are willing to undertake an alternative, totally civilian form of service, as is <a href="http://www.osce.org/odihr/31393">the right of all conscientious objectors to military service under international human rights law</a>.</p> <p>The sentence handed down to Matyakubov brings to 10 the number of conscientious objectors to compulsory military service known to be serving sentences. All of them are Jehovah's Witnesses (see full list below).</p> <p>Including two who have been serving jail terms since 2018, 10 Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors are known - as of 25 February 2020 - to be serving jail terms of between one and four years. Nine of them are imprisoned at the Labour Camp at Seydi in the eastern Lebap Region (see full list below).</p> <p>Matyakubov is still being held at the pre-trial detention prison in the city of Dashoguz, 450 kms (280 miles) north of the capital Ashgabat. He is expected to be transferred to the labour camp at Seydi, where the other nine jailed conscientious objectors are all being held.</p> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls, for example by <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">the United Nations Human Rights Committee, to introduce a genuine civilian alternative to compulsory military service, to stop prosecuting and punishing conscientious objectors, and to compensate those it has punished</a>.</p> <p>The man who answered the phone of the deputy head of Dashoguz Region's Military Prosecutor's Office put the phone down when Forum 18 began to ask about Matyakubov's prosecution.</p> <p>Forum 18 could not immediately reach any other officials to find out why Matyakubov was jailed and the regime is not willing to introduce a civilian alternative service.</p> <p>The United Nations Human Rights Committee has published 13 Decisions in favour of 15 conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses.</p> <p>Another Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector former prisoner, Arslan Begenchov, lodged a case to the UN Human Rights Committee in 2018 and is awaiting a decision.</p> <p>Other prisoners of conscience jailed for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief – all of them Muslims – are serving far longer jail terms.</p> <h3>The right to conscientious objection is not recognised</h3> <p>Turkmenistan offers <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">no alternative to its compulsory military service</a>. Military service for men between the ages of 18 and 27 is generally two years. Article 58 of the 2016 Constitution describes defence as a "sacred duty" of everyone and states that military service is compulsory for men.</p> <p>Young men who refuse military service on grounds of conscience generally face prosecution under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>From 2014, <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">courts punished conscientious objectors with corrective labour or suspended prison terms</a>, rather than imprisonment. However, jailings resumed in January 2018.</p> <p>Courts <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2443">jailed 12 conscientious objectors in 2018, two of them for two years and 10 for one year.</a> Courts <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2522">jailed 7 conscientious objectors in 2019, one of them for four years, one for three years, one for two years and four for one year.</a></p> <h3>List of known jailed conscientious objectors</h3> <p>Ten conscientious objectors to compulsory military service (listed below) – all of them Jehovah's Witnesses – are known to be serving prison sentences. Seven were jailed under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 ("Rejecting call-up to military service"), Ashirov and Dovletov under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2, and Atahanov under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2:</p> <p>1) Mekan Orazdurdiyevich Annayev; born 22 June 1999; sentenced 26 June 2018 Turkmenbashi City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; no appeal to Balkan Region Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>2) Eziz Dovletmuradovich Atabayev; born 15 March 1998; sentenced 19 December 2018 Dashoguz City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 15 January 2019 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>3) Muhammetali Charygeldiyevich Saparmyradov; born 11 November 1995; sentenced 19 March 2019 Bayramaly City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; no appeal to Mary Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>4) Bahtiyar Amirjanovich Atahanov; born 17 June 2000; sentenced 15 July 2019 Tejen City Court under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2; appeal rejected 20 August 2019 Ahal Regional Court; four years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>5) Azat Gurbanmuhammedovich Ashirov, born 7 January 1999; sentenced 31 July 2019 Abadan District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appeal rejected 3 September 2019 Ashgabat City Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>6) David Andronikovich Petrosov, born 15 May 2001; sentenced 30 September 2019 Ashgabat's Kopetdag District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 29 October 2019 Ashgabat City Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>7) Selim Yolamanovich Taganov, born 22 March 2001; sentenced 3 October 2019 Ashgabat's Berkararlyk District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 29 October 2019 Ashgabat City Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>8) Serdar Nurmuhammedovich Dovletov, born 2 December 1993; sentenced 12 November 2019 Bayramali City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appealed rejected 3 December 2019 Mary Regional Court; three years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>9) Kamiljan Ergeshovich Ergashov, born 27 June 2001; sentenced 13 January 2020 Niyazov District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>10) Vepa Bahromovich Matyakubov, born 19 August 1998; sentenced 17 February 2020 Boldumsaz District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal lodged to Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author-information--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author information</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--authors-and-bios--bio-only.html.twig * paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * paragraph--bio-only.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--authors-and-bios paragraph--id--_35 paragraph--view-mode--bio-only"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-bio--bio-only.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio.html.twig * field--paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--field-bio.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-bio field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>This is a shortened version of an article by Felix Corley, first published on <a href="http://www.forum18.org/"><em>Forum 18</em></a> on 25 February 2020. You can read the full article <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2547">here</a>.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-programmes-projects--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Programmes &amp; Projects</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/1" hreflang="en">Right to Refuse to Kill</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-countries--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-countries.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Countries</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/209" hreflang="en">Turkmenistan</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-theme--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Theme</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">Conscientious objection</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--comment--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--comment.html.twig * field--default--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--comment.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig x field--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--node--comment.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> <section class="comments"> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=42050&amp;2=comment&amp;3=comment" token="-r8LoUvnfCEhFqgJ1UoEQVtY3QmdADgu0QfWjb3rTnE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Tue, 03 Mar 2020 18:17:17 +0000 cmoy 42050 at https://updates.wri-irg.org https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2020/turkmenistan-conscientious-objector-jailed-after-second-conviction#comments Turkmenistan: Two more conscientious objector imprisoned https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2019/turkmenistan-two-more-conscientious-objector-imprisoned <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_1col' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-1col--node--41866.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story.html.twig * ds-1col--node-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="41866" class="node node--type-story node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-image--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image.html.twig * field--expert--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-image.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_desktop/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=HaDv4gHd 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/gif"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v 1x" type="image/gif"/> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> <img src="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v" alt="turkmenistan map" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> </picture> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="caption"></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node-post-date---custom.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--node-post-date.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <time > 06 Nov 2019</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--dynamic-twig-field:node-author-name-twig---custom.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-dynamic-twig-fieldnode-author-name-twig field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Author(s)</div> <div class="field--item"> <span>Felix Corley, Forum 18</span> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--body--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--story.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><em>On 29 October, Ashgabad City Court rejected appeals of two 18-year-old Jehovah's Witnesses, David Petrosov and Selim Taganov, against their one-year jail terms for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. Nine conscientious objectors are now jailed, six of them in 2019. The United Nations ruled that Turkmenistan violated the rights of three more conscientious objectors jailed in 2013.</em></p> <p>In late September and early October, courts in Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabad jailed two more young Jehovah's Witnesses for one year each for refusing to conduct compulsory military service. David Petrosov and Selim Taganov, who are both 18, had told Military Conscription Offices that they were willing to perform an alternative, civilian service. The men are still in the Yashlyk Investigation Prison, but are expecting to be sent to labour camp.</p> <p>In separate hearings on 29 October, Ashgabad City Court rejected Petrosov and Taganov's appeals against their convictions and one-year jail terms (see below).</p> <p>The sentences handed down to Petrosov and Taganov bring to six the number of conscientious objectors to compulsory military service known to have been convicted and jailed in 2019 so far (all of them Jehovah's Witnesses).</p> <p>Including three who were jailed in 2018, nine Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors are known - as of 6 November - to be serving jail terms of between one and four years. Seven of them are imprisoned at the Labour Camp at Seydi in the eastern Lebap Region (see full list below).</p> <p>Petrosov and Taganov are believed still to be held at the pre-trial detention prison at Yashlyk, 40 kms (25 miles) south-east of Ashgabad. They are expected to be transferred to the labour camp at Seydi (see below).</p> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls, for example by <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">the United Nations Human Rights Committee, to introduce a genuine civilian alternative to compulsory military service, to stop prosecuting and punishing conscientious objectors, and to compensate those it has punished</a>.</p> <p>Forum 18 could not immediately reach any officials to find out why the regime is not willing to introduce a civilian alternative service. In particular, the specialist at the government's Commission for Work with Religious Organisations and Expert Analysis of Resources Containing Religious Information, Published and Printed Production, Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah, did not answer his phone. The 71-year-old Nasrullah was jailed by former President Saparmurat Niyazov in March 2004, but freed by his successor in August 2007 (see below).</p> <p>On 17 September, the United Nations Human Rights Committee published its Decision that the human rights of former conscientious objector prisoners Juma Nazarov, Yadgarbek Sharipov and Atamurad Suvhanov had been violated. The Committee reprimanded Turkmenistan for failing to engage with its consideration of the cases (see below).</p> <p>This brings to 13 the number of Human Rights Committee Decisions in favour of 15 conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses (see below).</p> <p>Another Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector former prisoner, Arslan Begenchov, lodged a case to the UN Human Rights Committee in 2018 and is awaiting a decision (see below).</p> <p>Other prisoners of conscience jailed for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief – all of them Muslims – are serving far longer jail terms (see below).</p> <h2>No alternative to compulsory military service</h2> <p>Turkmenistan offers <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">no alternative to its compulsory military service</a>. Military service for men between the ages of 18 and 27 is generally two years. Article 58 of the 2016 Constitution describes defence as a "sacred duty" of everyone and states that military service is compulsory for men.</p> <p>Young men who refuse military service on grounds of conscience generally face prosecution under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2 punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime "by means of inflicting injury to oneself, or by simulation of illness, by means of forgery of documents, or other fraudulent ways". Punishment is a jail term of one to four years. The first known use of Article 219, Part 2 to punish a conscientious objector is the case of Azat Ashirov (see below).</p> <p>In May 2019, the Military Conscription office in Turkmenabad forcibly conscripted Jehovah's Witness Bahtiyar Atahanov, despite his written declaration that he could not serve in the armed forces because of his religious convictions.</p> <p>In what appears to have been a show trial, on 15 July a Judge from Tejen City Court came to the military unit and <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2495">sentenced Atahanov to four years' imprisonment</a> under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2. This punishes "Refusing to perform the duties of military service by simulating illness or other means with the aim of complete freeing from performing the duties of military service" with a jail term of up to seven years. He lost his appeal on 20 August (see below).</p> <p>From 2014, <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">courts punished conscientious objectors with corrective labour or suspended prison terms</a>, rather than imprisonment. However, jailings resumed in January 2018. Courts <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2443">jailed 12 conscientious objectors in 2018, two of them for two years and 10 for one year.</a></p> <h2>Calls for alternative civilian service ignored</h2> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls to introduce an alternative to compulsory military service. The most recent call came in the latest United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee Decision, published in September.</p> <p>The UN Committee has issued 13 Decisions in favour of 15 conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses. In its most recent such Decision, published on 17 September 2019 (CCPR/C/126/D/2302/2013), it ruled that the right to freedom of religion or belief of former conscientious objectors Juma Nazarov, Yadgarbek Sharipov and Atamurad Suvhanov had been violated by their jailing.</p> <p>Nazarov and Sharipov had been jailed in 2012, and Suvhanov (for the second time) in 2013. The men had lodged their Human Rights Committee appeals in August 2013.</p> <p>All three men also complained of "inhuman and degrading treatment" after their arrests.</p> <p>Sharipov told the UN Committee that in "temporary quarantine" detention following sentencing in Dashoguz in December 2012, "he was treated 'terribly, beaten up and humiliated' for his convictions every day during his 10-day detention".</p> <p>In a 21 March 2013 submission to the UN Committee, Suvhanov's brother noted that when he saw Atamurad two days earlier in the Investigation Prison in Dashoguz, "it was clear to him that his brother was treated 'horribly', was beaten, and 'humiliated for his convictions'. [Suvhanov] also knew that the conversation with his brother has been monitored. He told his brother that he will not be sent to prison colony anytime soon, because the authorities needed to 'break' him."</p> <p>Neither Sharipov nor Suvhanov lodged official complaints about the beatings "due to the fear of retaliation and further physical abuse by the prison authorities", the UN Committee noted.</p> <p>However, the UN Committee ruled that the three men had not been able to document their maltreatment sufficiently to allow a finding that their right not to be tortured had been violated.</p> <p>One of the UN Committee members, French law professor Hélène Tigroudja, argued that the men's prison conditions were enough to justify a finding also that their right not to be tortured had been violated.</p> <p>Professor Tigroudja pointed out that the Seydi Labour Camp where Nazarov, Sharipov and Suvhanov had served their sentences, "is situated in a desert, with extreme climatic conditions both in winter and in summer, with deplorable hygiene and living conditions, without the possibility of access to such bodies as the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross] and, above all, with the complete impossibility for detainees to complain about their treatment without the threat of retaliation". She also noted that sick prisoners – including those who have contracted tuberculosis – are not held separately from other prisoners.</p> <p>The Human Rights Committee condemned Turkmenistan's government for failing to submit its "detailed observations on the admissibility and merits" of the appeal submitted by Nazarov, Sharipov and Suvhanov, despite repeated requests. The Committee pointed out that Turkmenistan is "required to submit to the Committee written explanations or statements clarifying the matter and indicating the measures, if any, that have been taken by the State to remedy the situation".</p> <p>The UN Committee stressed that Turkmenistan is under an obligation to make reparation to Nazarov, Sharipov and Suvhanov for the violations of their rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including to "expunge their criminal records and to provide them with adequate compensation. The State party is also under an obligation to avoid similar violations of the Covenant in the future."</p> <p>The Committee therefore urges Turkmenistan to meets its obligations to avoid similar violations such as by changing the law, "for instance, by providing the possibility of exemption from service or alternative service of a civilian nature".</p> <p>Another conscientious objector former prisoner, Arslan Begenchov, lodged a case to the UN Human Rights Committee on 20 June 2018 and is awaiting a decision, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. When sentenced in Charjew to one year's imprisonment in January 2018, Begenchov was the first conscientious objector to be sentenced to prison since 2014.</p> <h2>Why no alternative civilian service?</h2> <p>Forum 18 was unable to find out why the authorities will not introduce an alternative civilian service and why conscientious objectors who are willing to perform such an alternative service, like Petrosov and Taganov and the other seven Jehovah's Witness young men, continue to be jailed.</p> <p>The telephones of the regime-appointed Chair of the Mejlis (Parliament) Human Rights Committee Yusupguly Eshshayev and the regime-appointed Human Rights Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova went unanswered each time Forum 18 called on 5 and 6 November.</p> <p>The man who answered the phone at the government's Commission for Work with Religious Organisations and Expert Analysis of Resources Containing Religious Information, Published and Printed Production referred Forum 18 to the Commission's specialist, Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah. However, his phone also went unanswered on 5 and 6 November.</p> <p>The former specialist of the Commission, Gurbanberdy Nursakhatov, was arrested and sentenced for reportedly taking bribes from those seeking to go on the haj pilgrimage to Mecca, state media cited officials as announcing at a government meeting on 13 September. He appeared in handcuffs that evening on state television making a tearful confession.</p> <p>Two officials from the Muslim Board – Rovshen Allaberdiyev (a 42-year-old former Chief Mufti) and Mukhammetmurad Gurbangeldiyev - were tried and convicted with Nursakhatov, according to state media.</p> <p>Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah, who is 71, was Chief Mufti and Deputy Chair of the government's then Council (Gengeshi) for Religious Affairs under the previous president Saparmurad Niyazov. Niyazov dismissed him in January 2003 and had him <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=271">sentenced to 22 years' imprisonment in March 2004</a>, ostensibly for alleged participation in the November 2002 failed coup attempt.</p> <p>Niyazov's successor as president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1006">pardoned Nasrullah in August 2007 and he was freed.</a></p> <h2>Many prisoners of conscience</h2> <p>The nine jailed conscientious objectors are among the <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">many people Turkmenistan has jailed for exercising freedom of religion or belief.</a></p> <p>Five Muslims who met to study the works of theologian Said Nursi failed to overturn their 12-year jail terms at Turkmenistan's Supreme Court in July 2018. <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2399">Four of the five are in the top-security prison at Ovadan-Depe</a>, where prisoners have suffered torture and death from abuse or neglect.</p> <p>Dozens of Muslims from in and around the eastern city of Turkmenabad were imprisoned in 2013 and after to punish them for their involvement in a Muslim study group. Most or all the prisoners are believed to be held at Ovadan-Depe. Relatives often have no information as to whether they are still alive. <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2318">Three of the group are known to have died in prison.</a></p> <h2>Ashgabad call-ups, arrests, convictions</h2> <p>As part of the regular call-up, the Military Conscription Office called up Ashgabad resident David Andronikovich Petrosov (born 15 May 2001). He told the Conscription Office he could not perform military service because of his religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness and expressed a willingness to perform an alternative, civilian service.</p> <p>Prosecutors brought a case against Petrosov under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. The case was handed to Ashgabad's Kopetdag District Court. On 30 September, a judge at the court convicted him and handed down a one-year ordinary regime jail term.</p> <p>Petrosov appealed against his conviction and punishment. However, on 29 October Ashgabad City Court rejected his appeal, the Court chancellery told Forum 18 on 6 November.</p> <p>As part of the regular call-up, the Military Conscription Office called up another Ashgabad resident Selim Yolamanovich Taganov (born 2001). He told the Conscription Office he could not perform military service because of his religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness and expressed a willingness to perform an alternative, civilian service.</p> <p>Prosecutors brought a case against Taganov under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. The case was handed to Ashgabad's Berkararlyk District Court. On 3 October, a judge at the court convicted him and handed down a one-year ordinary regime jail term.</p> <p>Taganov appealed against his conviction and punishment. However, on 29 October Ashgabad City Court also rejected his appeal, the Court chancellery told Forum 18 on 6 November.</p> <p>Petrosov and Taganov are being held at the pre-trial detention prison (AH-D/1) at Yashlyk, 40 kms (25 miles) south-east of the capital Ashgabad, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. Now their appeals have been rejected, they are expected to be transferred to the labour camp at Seydi.</p> <h2>Appeals against July convictions rejected</h2> <p>Two young Jehovah's Witnesses jailed in July for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience have failed to overturn their sentences on appeal.</p> <p>On 15 July, Tejen City Court <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2495">sentenced Bahtiyar Amirjanovich Atahanov to four years' ordinary regime labour camp</a> under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2.</p> <p>Ahal Regional Court rejected Atahanov's appeal on 20 August, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18.</p> <p>On 31 July, Abadan District Court <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2504">sentenced Azat Gurbanmuhammedovich Ashirov to two years' ordinary regime labour camp</a> under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2.</p> <p>After his conviction, Ashirov appealed to Ashgabad City Court. On 8 August, the court informed his mother by phone that it had received his appeal. "Unfortunately, his mother never received the delivery notification from the post office," Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. This means she had no information about whether or not the appeal had been heard and, if so, when.</p> <p>Ashgabad City Court rejected Ashirov's appeal on 3 September, court chancellery officials told Forum 18. They were unable to say why his mother had not received written notification of the appeal hearing date or whether Ashirov himself had been present for the hearing.</p> <p>Both Atahanov and Ashirov have been transferred to the labour camp at Seydi, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18.</p> <h2>Seven jailed conscientious objectors in Seydi Labour Camp</h2> <p>Petrosov and Taganov's jailing brings to nine the number of Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors known - as of 6 November - to be serving jail terms. Seven of them are imprisoned at the harsh Seydi Labour Camp in the desert in Lebap Region.</p> <p>The address of the Seydi Labour Camp is:</p> <p>746222 Lebap velayat<br /> Seydi<br /> uchr. LB-E/12<br /> Turkmenistan</p> <p>In his complaint to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee, former Jehovah's Witness prisoner of conscience Aibek Salayev complained that conditions in the Seydi Labour Camp where he was held were "inhuman".</p> <p>Salayev noted that the Camp was "known for its overcrowdedness, harsh climatic conditions, scarce supplies of food, medication and personal hygiene products, and for tuberculosis, skin diseases, its very high mortality rate, and physical abuse". Officials also threatened him with rape in the Camp.</p> <p>The UN Human Rights Committee <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">ruled that the Turkmen authorities had violated the rights of Salayev and another Jehovah's Witness former prisoner of conscience Vladimir Nuryllayev.</a> The UN published the Decision (CCPR/C/125/D/2448/2014) on 18 April 2019.</p> <h2>List of known jailed conscientious objectors</h2> <p>Nine conscientious objectors to compulsory military service (listed below) – all of them Jehovah's Witnesses – are known to be serving prison sentences. Seven were jailed under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 ("Rejecting call-up to military service"), Ashirov under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2, and Atahanov under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2:</p> <p>1) Mekan Orazdurdiyevich Annayev; born 22 June 1999; sentenced 26 June 2018 Turkmenbashi City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; no appeal to Balkan Region Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>2) Gurbangylych Dovletovich Muhammetgulyyev; born 15 March 2000; sentenced 28 November 2018 Mary City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; no appeal to Mary Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>3) Eziz Dovletmuradovich Atabayev; born 15 March 1998; sentenced 19 December 2018 Dashoguz City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 15 January 2019 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>4) Azamatjan Narkulyevich Narkulyev; born 9 November 2000; sentenced 7 January 2019 Danew District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; no appeal to Lebap Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>5) Muhammetali Charygeldiyevich Saparmyradov; born 11 November 1995; sentenced 19 March 2019 Bayramaly City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; no appeal to Mary Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>6) Bahtiyar Amirjanovich Atahanov; born 17 June 2000; sentenced 15 July 2019 Tejen City Court under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2; appeal rejected 20 August 2019 Ahal Regional Court; four years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>7) Azat Gurbanmuhammedovich Ashirov, born 7 January 1999; sentenced 31 July 2019 Abadan District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appeal rejected 3 September 2019 Ashgabad City Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>8) David Andronikovich Petrosov, born 15 May 2001; sentenced 30 September 2019 Ashgabad's Kopetdag District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 29 October 2019 Ashgabad City Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>9) Selim Yolamanovich Taganov, born 2001; sentenced 3 October 2019 Ashgabad's Berkararlyk District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 29 October 2019 Ashgabad City Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author-information--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author information</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--authors-and-bios--bio-only.html.twig * paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * paragraph--bio-only.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--authors-and-bios paragraph--id--_19 paragraph--view-mode--bio-only"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-bio--bio-only.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio.html.twig * field--paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--field-bio.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-bio field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Felix Corley, <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2519"><em>Forum 18</em></a>. <em>This article was first published on <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2519">Forum 18</a> on 6th November 2019.</em></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-programmes-projects--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Programmes &amp; Projects</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/1" hreflang="en">Right to Refuse to Kill</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/465" hreflang="en">Front Page</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-countries--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-countries.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Countries</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/209" hreflang="en">Turkmenistan</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-theme--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Theme</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">Conscientious objection</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--comment--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--comment.html.twig * field--default--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--comment.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig x field--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--node--comment.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> <section class="comments"> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=41866&amp;2=comment&amp;3=comment" token="4hnxPynf8vHzoNQjmVaouAPxvz2uTO1Lfx541gifkAk"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Wed, 06 Nov 2019 15:55:48 +0000 cmoy 41866 at https://updates.wri-irg.org https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2019/turkmenistan-two-more-conscientious-objector-imprisoned#comments Turkmenistan: Fourth conscientious objector jailed in 2019 https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2019/turkmenistan-fourth-conscientious-objector-jailed-2019 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_1col' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-1col--node--41799.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story.html.twig * ds-1col--node-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="41799" class="node node--type-story node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-image--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image.html.twig * field--expert--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-image.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_desktop/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=HaDv4gHd 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/gif"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v 1x" type="image/gif"/> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> <img src="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v" alt="Turkmenistan map" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> </picture> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="caption"></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node-post-date---custom.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--node-post-date.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <time > 17 Sep 2019</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--dynamic-twig-field:node-author-name-twig---custom.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-dynamic-twig-fieldnode-author-name-twig field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Author(s)</div> <div class="field--item"> <span>Felix Corley</span> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--body--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--story.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><em>An Ashgabad court jailed 20-year-old Jehovah's Witness Azat Ashirov for two years on 31 July for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. He had set out his objections in writing and offered to perform an alternative civilian service. Instead, prosecutors claimed he had evaded his obligation fraudulently. Seven Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors are now jailed, four of them in 2019.</em></p> <p>In the fourth known jailing of a conscientious objector in 2019, 20-year-old Jehovah's Witness Azat Ashirov was jailed for two years by a court in Abadan in the capital Ashgabad in late July. However, unlike with previous conscientious objectors, prosecutors claimed he had evaded his obligation fraudulently. Ashirov rejects the charges. He had written to the Military Conscription Office setting out his religious objections to performing compulsory military service and offering to perform an alternative civilian service.</p> <p>Ashirov's jailing brings to seven the number of Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors known - as of 5 September - to be serving jail terms of between one and four years. Six of them are imprisoned at the Labour Camp at Seydi in the eastern Lebap Region (see below).</p> <p>Ashirov is awaiting his appeal hearing. He is believed still to be held at the pre-trial detention prison at Yashlyk, 40 kms (25 miles) south-east of the capital Ashgabad. He is expected to be transferred to the labour camp at Seydi (see below).</p> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls to introduce an alternative to compulsory military service (see below).</p> <p>Other prisoners of conscience jailed for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief – all of them Muslims – are serving far longer jail terms (see below).</p> <h2>No alternative to compulsory military service</h2> <p>Turkmenistan offers <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">no alternative to its compulsory military service</a>. Military service for men between the ages of 18 and 27 is generally two years. Article 58 of the 2016 Constitution describes defence as a "sacred duty" of everyone and states that military service is compulsory for men.</p> <p>Young men who refuse military service on grounds of conscience generally face prosecution under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2 punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime "by means of inflicting injury to oneself, or by simulation of illness, by means of forgery of documents, or other fraudulent ways". Punishment is a jail term of one to four years. The first known use of Article 219, Part 2 to punish a conscientious objector is the case of Azat Ashirov (see below).</p> <p>In May 2019, the Military Conscription office in Turkmenabad forcibly conscripted Jehovah's Witness Bahtiyar Atahanov, despite his written declaration that he could not serve in the armed forces because of his religious convictions.</p> <p>In what appears to have been a show trial, on 15 July a Judge from Tejen City Court came to the military unit and <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2495">sentenced Atahanov to four years' imprisonment</a> under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2. This punishes "Refusing to perform the duties of military service by simulating illness or other means with the aim of complete freeing from performing the duties of military service" with a jail term of up to seven years.</p> <p>From 2014, <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">courts punished conscientious objectors with corrective labour or suspended prison terms</a>, rather than imprisonment. However, jailings resumed in January 2018. Courts <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2443">jailed 12 conscientious objectors in 2018, two of them for two years and 10 for one year.</a></p> <h2>Calls for alternative civilian service ignored</h2> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored repeated international calls to introduce an alternative to compulsory military service.</p> <p>The United Nations Human Rights Committee has issued 11 decisions in favour of conscientious objectors from Turkmenistan, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses. In its most recent such decision, published on 4 April 2019 (CCPR/C/125/D/2316/2013), it <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">ruled that the human rights of former conscientious objector Arslan Dawletow (Dovletov), who was jailed for 18 months from December 2012, had been violated.</a></p> <p>Forum 18 was unable to find out why the authorities will not introduce an alternative civilian service and why conscientious objectors who are willing to perform such an alternative service, like Ashirov and the other six Jehovah's Witness young men, continue to be jailed.</p> <p>The telephones of the regime-appointed Chair of the Mejlis (Parliament) Human Rights Committee Yusupguly Eshshayev, the regime-appointed Human Rights Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova, and Gurbanberdy Nursakhatov, a Deputy Chair of the government's Commission for Work with Religious Organisations and Expert Analysis of Resources Containing Religious Information, Published and Printed Production, went unanswered each time Forum 18 called on 4 and 5 September.</p> <h2>Many prisoners of conscience</h2> <p>The seven jailed conscientious objectors are among the <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">many people Turkmenistan has jailed for exercising freedom of religion or belief.</a></p> <p>Five Muslims who met to study the works of theologian Said Nursi failed to overturn their 12-year jail terms at Turkmenistan's Supreme Court in July 2018. <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2399">Four of the five are in the top-security prison at Ovadan-Depe</a>, where prisoners have suffered torture and death from abuse or neglect.</p> <p>Dozens of Muslims from in and around the eastern city of Turkmenabad were imprisoned in 2013 and after to punish them for their involvement in a Muslim study group. Most or all the prisoners are believed to be held at Ovadan-Depe. Relatives often have no information as to whether they are still alive. <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2318">Three of the group are known to have died in prison.</a></p> <h2>Call-up, trial, jail term</h2> <p>In the spring 2019 call-up, the Military Conscription Office called up Jehovah's Witness Azat Gurbanmuhammedovich Ashirov (born 7 January 1999) for compulsory military service. Like all the other Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors, he submitted a written declaration explaining his reasons for being unable to perform compulsory military service and setting out his readiness to perform an alternative civilian service.</p> <p>However, officials rejected Ashirov's request for an alternative civilian service. They claimed he had used fraudulent methods to evade his obligation to perform compulsory military service. Prosecutors at Abadan District Prosecutors' Office prepared a case against him under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2, which punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime "by means of inflicting injury to oneself, or by simulation of illness, by means of forgery of documents, or other fraudulent ways".</p> <p>The Prosecutor's Office then presented the case to Ashgabad's Abadan District Court. Ashirov rejected the charges against him. However, on 31 July, the Judge convicted him and handed down a two-year ordinary regime prison sentence, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18.</p> <p>In early August, Ashirov lodged his appeal against his conviction, which is due to be heard at Ashgabad City Court. Abadan District Court confirmed to his mother on about 22 August that it had received the appeal, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. No date has yet been set for the appeal.</p> <p>Ashirov is being held at the pre-trial detention prison (AH-D/1) at Yashlyk, 40 kms (25 miles) south-east of the capital Ashgabad. He is expected to be transferred to the labour camp at Seydi.</p> <h2>Six jailed conscientious objectors in Seydi Labour Camp</h2> <p>Ashirov's jailing brings to seven the number of Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors known - as of 5 September - to be serving jail terms. Six of them are imprisoned at the harsh Seydi Labour Camp in the desert in Lebap Region.</p> <p>The address of the Seydi Labour Camp is:</p> <p>746222 Lebap velayat<br /> Seydi<br /> uchr. LB-E/12<br /> Turkmenistan</p> <p>In his complaint to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee, former Jehovah's Witness prisoner of conscience Aibek Salayev complained that conditions in the Seydi Labour Camp where he was held were "inhuman".</p> <p>Salayev noted that the Camp was "known for its overcrowdedness, harsh climatic conditions, scarce supplies of food, medication and personal hygiene products, and for tuberculosis, skin diseases, its very high mortality rate, and physical abuse". He was also threatened by officials with rape in the Camp.</p> <p>The UN Human Rights Committee <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2476">ruled that the Turkmen authorities had violated the rights of Salayev and another Jehovah's Witness former prisoner of conscience Vladimir Nuryllayev.</a> The UN published the Decision (CCPR/C/125/D/2448/2014) on 18 April 2019.</p> <h2>Freed on completing sentences</h2> <p>Four Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors are known to have been freed from Seydi Labour Camp in August 2019 <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2495">after completing their full one year jail terms</a>:</p> <p>Isa Muslimovich Sayayev (born 14 May 1994) was freed on 9 August 2019, exactly one year since he was jailed by Koneurgench City Court.</p> <p>Ruslan Khadynyaz oglu Artykmuradov (born 24 May 2000) was freed on 12 August 2019, one day short of a year since he was jailed by Sayat District Court.</p> <p>Sokhbet Rejepmyradovich Agamyradov (born 4 January 2000) was freed on 27 August 2019, exactly one year since he was jailed by Mary City Court.</p> <p>Serdar Annamyradovich Atayev (born 9 June 2000) was freed on 28 August 2019, exactly one year since he was jailed by Mary City Court.</p> <h2>List of known jailed conscientious objectors</h2> <p>Seven conscientious objectors to compulsory military service (listed below) – all of them Jehovah's Witnesses – are known to be serving prison sentences. Five were jailed under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 ("Rejecting call-up to military service"), Ashirov under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2, and Atahanov under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2:</p> <p>1) Mekan Orazdurdiyevich Annayev; born 22 June 1999; sentenced 26 June 2018 Turkmenbashi City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; no appeal to Balkan Region Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>2) Gurbangylych Dovletovich Muhammetgulyyev; born 15 March 2000; sentenced 28 November 2018 Mary City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; no appeal to Mary Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>3) Eziz Dovletmuradovich Atabayev; born 15 March 1998; sentenced 19 December 2018 Dashoguz City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; appeal rejected 15 January 2019 Dashoguz Regional Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>4) Azamatjan Narkulyevich Narkulyev; born 9 November 2000; sentenced 7 January 2019 Danew District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; no appeal to Lebap Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>5) Muhammetali Charygeldiyevich Saparmyradov; born 11 November 1995; sentenced 19 March 2019 Bayramaly City Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1; no appeal to Mary Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>6) Bahtiyar Amirjanovich Atahanov; born 17 June 2000; sentenced 15 July 2019 Tejen City Court under Criminal Code Article 344, Part 2; appeal lodged to Ahal Regional Court; four years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>7) Azat Gurbanmuhammedovich Ashirov, born 7 January 1999; sentenced 31 July 2019 Abadan District Court under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 2; appeal lodged to Ashgabad City Court; two years' ordinary regime labour camp.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author-information--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author information</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--authors-and-bios--bio-only.html.twig * paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * paragraph--bio-only.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--authors-and-bios paragraph--id--_15 paragraph--view-mode--bio-only"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-bio--bio-only.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio.html.twig * field--paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--field-bio.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-bio field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Felix Corley, <a href="http://www.forum18.org/"><em>Forum 18</em></a></p> <p><em>This article was first published on <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2504">Forum 18</a> on 5th September 2019.</em></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-programmes-projects--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Programmes &amp; Projects</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/1" hreflang="en">Right to Refuse to Kill</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/465" hreflang="en">Front Page</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-countries--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-countries.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Countries</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/209" hreflang="en">Turkmenistan</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-theme--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Theme</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">Conscientious objection</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--comment--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--comment.html.twig * field--default--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--comment.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig x field--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--node--comment.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> <section class="comments"> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=41799&amp;2=comment&amp;3=comment" token="k5pseOsnqhXv7sSChqiSXfRQDdPP_DYVXTH_DJq6k1E"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Tue, 17 Sep 2019 14:54:01 +0000 cmoy 41799 at https://updates.wri-irg.org https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2019/turkmenistan-fourth-conscientious-objector-jailed-2019#comments Turkmenistan: Second conscientious objector jailing in 2019 https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2019/turkmenistan-second-conscientious-objector-jailing-2019 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_1col' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-1col--node--41766.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node-story.html.twig * ds-1col--node-rss.html.twig * ds-1col--node.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig x ds-1col.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="41766" class="node node--type-story node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-image--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-image.html.twig * field--expert--field-image--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-image.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-image--story.html.twig * field--node--field-image.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_desktop/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=HaDv4gHd 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/gif"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v 1x" type="image/gif"/> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> <img src="/sites/default/files/public_files/styles/single_page_mobiles_and_tablets/public/2018-03/turkmenistan-map.gif?itok=cEpFZL8v" alt="Turkmenistan map" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> </picture> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <div class="caption"></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node-post-date---custom.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--node-post-date.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date--story.html.twig * field--node--node-post-date.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--node-post-date.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <time > 14 Jun 2019</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--dynamic-twig-field:node-author-name-twig---custom.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig--story.html.twig * field--node--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--dynamic-twig-field--node-author-name-twig.html.twig * field--ds.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-dynamic-twig-fieldnode-author-name-twig field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Author(s)</div> <div class="field--item"> <span>Felix Corley</span> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--body--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--body--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--story.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The 23-year-old Jehovah's Witness Muhammetali Saparmyradov was jailed for one year in March for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. He has joined 11 other jailed conscientious objectors in the labour camp in Seydi. Labour camp officials refused to discuss their prison conditions with Forum 18.</p> <p>Another conscientious objector to Turkmenistan's compulsory military service has been jailed. A court in the south-eastern town of Bayramaly sentenced 23-year-old Muhammetali Saparmyradov to one year's imprisonment in March. He has since joined 11 other jailed conscientious objectors in the labour camp in Seydi in eastern Turkmenistan. All are Jehovah's Witnesses.</p> <p>Saparmyradov is the second Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector known to have been jailed so far in 2019. Eleven are known to have been jailed in 2018, 10 of whom are still serving their sentences (see below).</p> <p>The 12 Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned for their conscientious objection to military service - all aged between 18 and 25 – are serving one or two year jail terms (see full list below)</p> <p>Turkmenistan offers no alternative service for those unable to perform compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. The United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe have repeatedly called for the government to introduce such an alternative (see below).</p> <p>Turkmenistan has ignored 11 United Nations Human Rights Committee Decisions – the most recent published in April - that jailing conscientious objectors violated their rights. It also ignored another Decision published in April that the rights of two Jehovah's Witnesses jailed on fabricated pornography charges were violated (see below).</p> <h2>Conscientious objector jailed in Bayramaly</h2> <p>Muhammetali Charygeldiyevich Saparmyradov (born 11 November 1995) is a Jehovah's Witness from Bayramaly in Mary Region, east of the capital Ashgabad. He refused his regular call-up to compulsory military service.</p> <p>Prosecutors then brought a case against Saparmyradov under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 ("Rejecting call-up to military service"). They handed his case to Bayramaly City Court. At his trial on 19 March, the Judge sentenced him to one year's ordinary regime labour camp, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18.</p> <p>As Saparmyradov had not been held in pre-trial detention, he was arrested immediately after the court hearing.</p> <p>Saparmyradov and his mother decided not to appeal against his conviction, Jehovah's Witnesses added.</p> <p>The authorities then transferred Saparmyradov to serve his sentence at the ordinary regime labour camp in the desert near Seydi, in Lebap Region. (The prison now seems to use the designation LB-E/12, not LB-K/12.) Many other prisoners of conscience jailed to punish them for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief have been held in the camp, <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2244">where torture is said to be routine and prisoners are denied their freedom of religion and belief and other rights.</a></p> <p>The address of the Seydi Labour Camp is:</p> <p>746222 Lebap velayat<br /> Seydi<br /> uchr. LB-E/12<br /> Turkmenistan</p> <p>Saparmyradov was the second conscientious objector known to have been jailed in 2019. The first, Azamatjan Narkulyev, <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2443">was given a one-year jail term on 7 January.</a></p> <h2>No conscientious objection, no alternative service</h2> <p>In defiance of repeated calls by the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Turkmenistan offers no alternative to its compulsory military service. Military service for men between the ages of 18 and 27 is generally two years. <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2400">Call-up is decreed each spring and autumn.</a></p> <p>Young men who refuse military service on grounds of conscience face prosecution under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1. This punishes refusal to serve in the armed forces in peacetime with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or two years' corrective labour.</p> <p>From 2014, courts punished conscientious objectors with corrective labour or suspended prison terms, rather than imprisonment. However, jailings resumed with <a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2363">two prison terms in January 2018.</a></p> <h2>List of known jailed conscientious objectors</h2> <p>Twelve conscientious objectors to compulsory military service (listed below) – all of them Jehovah's Witnesses – are known to be serving prison sentences under Criminal Code Article 219, Part 1 ("Rejecting call-up to military service"):</p> <p>1) Mekan Orazdurdiyevich Annayev; born 22 June 1999; sentenced 26 June 2018 Turkmenbashi City Court; no appeal to Balkan Region Court; two year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>2) Ikhlosbek Valijon oglu Rozmetov; born 26 November 1997; sentenced 11 July 2018 Gurbansoltan eje District Court; appeal rejected 23 July 2018 Dashoguz Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>3) Veniamin Muslimovich Genjiyev; born 12 May 2000; sentenced 17 July 2018 Danew District Court; no appeal to Lebap Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>4) Maksat Jumadurdiyevich Jumadurdiyev; born 15 May 2000; sentenced 17 July 2018 Danew District Court; no appeal to Lebap Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>5) Isa Muslimovich Sayayev; born 14 May 1994; sentenced 9 August 2018 Koneurgench City Court; appeal rejected 11 September 2018 Dashoguz Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>6) Ruslan Khadynyaz oglu Artykmuradov; born 24 May 2000; sentenced 13 August 2018 Sayat District Court; appeal rejected 11 September 2018 Lebap Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>7) Sokhbet Rejepmyradovich Agamyradov; born 4 January 2000; sentenced 27 August 2018 Mary City Court; appeal lodged to Mary Regional Court but city court refuses to hand it on; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>8) Serdar Annamyradovich Atayev; born 9 June 2000; sentenced 28 August 2018 Mary City Court; appeal lodged to Mary Regional Court but city court refuses to hand it on; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>9) Gurbangylych Dovletovich Muhammetgulyyev; born 15 March 2000; sentenced 28 November 2018 Mary City Court; no appeal to Mary Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>10) Eziz Dovletmuradovich Atabayev; born 15 March 1998; sentenced 19 December 2018 Dashoguz City Court; appeal rejected 15 January 2019 Dashoguz Regional Court; two year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>11) Azamatjan Narkulyevich Narkulyev; born 9 November 2000; sentenced 7 January 2019 Danew District Court; no appeal to Lebap Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> <p>12) Muhammetali Charygeldiyevich Saparmyradov; born 11 November 1995; sentenced 19 March 2019 Bayramaly City Court; no appeal to Mary Regional Court; one year ordinary regime labour camp.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-author-information--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--field-author-information.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information--story.html.twig * field--node--field-author-information.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-author-information.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author-information field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author information</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--authors-and-bios--bio-only.html.twig * paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * paragraph--bio-only.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--authors-and-bios paragraph--id--_13 paragraph--view-mode--bio-only"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-bio--bio-only.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-bio.html.twig * field--paragraph--authors-and-bios.html.twig * field--field-bio.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-bio field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Felix Corley, <em>Forum 18</em>. This is the shortened version of an article first published on <em><a href="http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2483">Forum 18</a></em> on 3rd June 2019.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/paragraphs/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-programmes-projects--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects--story.html.twig * field--node--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-programmes-projects.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Programmes &amp; Projects</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/1" hreflang="en">Right to Refuse to Kill</a></span> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/465" hreflang="en">Front Page</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-countries--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-countries.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-countries--story.html.twig * field--node--field-countries.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-countries.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Countries</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/209" hreflang="en">Turkmenistan</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--field-theme--rss.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--story.html.twig * field--expert--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--expert--story.html.twig * field--expert--field-theme.html.twig * field--expert.html.twig * field--ds-field-expert.html.twig * field--node--field-theme--story.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <div class="field--label tags--label field-label-above">Theme</div> <div class="wri-main--tags"> <span class="rel-tag" > <a href="/en/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">Conscientious objection</a></span> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-field-expert.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--comment--rss.html.twig * field--default--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--node--story.html.twig * field--default--node--comment.html.twig * field--default--comment--story.html.twig * field--default--story.html.twig * field--default--comment.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig x field--node--comment--story.html.twig * field--node--comment.html.twig * field--node--story.html.twig * field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> <section class="comments"> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=41766&amp;2=comment&amp;3=comment" token="T6G_Sin2-y46oBwRKoFiAAZq9q7l5vXPYQ3tIchKcc8"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/wri_main/templates/field/field--node--comment--story.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-1col.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Thu, 13 Jun 2019 23:18:29 +0000 cmoy 41766 at https://updates.wri-irg.org https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2019/turkmenistan-second-conscientious-objector-jailing-2019#comments