Although some European countries are reintroducing military conscription, issues regarding refusal to serve or alternative civilian service are not being discussed. This was warned by the Evangelical Working Group for Conscientious Objection and Peace — EAK (Evangelische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Kriegsdienstverweigerung und Frieden
) representative, Pastor Sabine Müller-Langsdorf.
At a meeting held in Bonn, representatives of EAK discussed the latest report of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO). According to the report, those who refuse military service in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus are still being persecuted.
According to Pastor Müller-Langsdorf, Germany and other European Union member states must accept and provide shelter to individuals who are under persecution for such reasons.
EBCO in its statement called on all European countries to fully recognize the right to refuse military service, as well as to provide such citizens with an alternative civilian service.
It is worth noting that while some European countries are reinstating conscription, human rights defenders are expressing concern about legal loopholes and restrictions on freedoms in this area.
