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The European Bureau for the Conscientious Objection (EBCO) has made a call to the European institutions to take more initiatives in support of conscientious objectors around the world.
EBCO Chair Friedhelm Schneider made a speech in Bonn, Germany on the occasion of May 15 International Conscientious Objection Day.
As reported by Deutsche Welle Türkçe, Schneider commented on how the previous year passed for conscientious objectors. Schneider said,
"The ongoing failure of major European institutions in supporting conscientious objectors who are subjected to discrimination and persecution paves the way for a lack of aid in terms of human rights policies."
EBCO Chair Schneider especially raised concerns over the situation in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Greece, Ukraine and Russia.
EBCO Chair Friedhelm Schneider criticized Turkey for still not implementing the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruling on conscientious objector Osman Murat Ülke since 2006.
ECtHR convicted Turkey in 2006
In its ruling dated January 2006, the ECtHR ruled that Turkey violated the European Convention on Human Rights by detaining and prosecuting conscientious objector Osman Murat Ülke for several times.
Concluding that the country violated the Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights governing "the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," the court ruled that Turkey shall pay 11 thousand Euro to Ülke in damages.
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About the EBCOThe European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) was founded in 1979 as an umbrella organisation for national associations of conscientious objectors, with the aim of promoting collective campaigns for the release of the imprisoned conscientious objectors and lobbying the European governments and institutions for the full recognition of the right to conscientious objection to military service. *Source: EBCO official website |
(EKN/SD)
