Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Eritrea: Stop National Service Slavery

Campaign just launched

(01.01.2014) The Stop National Service Slavery in Eritrea Campaign launches today (January 1st) in Sweden, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, UK and Italy. The campaign links Eritrean born activists across Europe and will call upon local governments to recognize the oppressive regime in Eritrea, which according to Human Rights Watch is responsible for the mass exodus of 18,000 citizens annually, who risk their lives trying to escape.

AWOL U.S. soldier at the European Court of Justice

Asylum application of André Shepherd will be heard in Luxemburg

(10.09.2013) Several days ago the Munich Administrative Court issued a formal decision to request that the European Court of Justice in Luxemburg clarify several fundamental questions pertaining to the asylum request case of the American deserter André Shepherd. The Court of Justice is asked to examine “the degree to which an involvement in military hostilities is necessary, in order to offer the right of refugee status to a military deserter, who will be punished for his desertion”. The case before the Munich Administrative Court has been postponed until the European Court of Justice issues a decision on these matters.

Greece: New trial for 44 year-old conscientious objector by military court

(06.03.2013) Amnesty International, the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection and War Resisters’ International condemn the new prosecution of 44-year-old Nikolaos Karanikas, conscientious objector on ideological grounds. Three years after their previous joint public statement, the three international organisations are asking again that the greek authorities comply with the European and international standards and recommendations, and to end immediately all the prosecutions, prison sentences, administrative fines (of 6,000 Euros) and discriminations against conscientious objectors, whatever their motivation.

Asylum application by AWOL U.S. GI André Shepherd to be submitted to European Court of Justice

Hearing at Munich Administrative Court is cancelled

(18.01.2013) Yesterday, the Munich Administrative Court informed counsel for the AWOL U.S. soldier André Shepherd, attorney Reinhard Marx, that the hearing on his asylum application scheduled for next Wednesday has been cancelled. The Munich Administrative Court will submit a request for a preliminary ruling to the European Court of Justice in Luxemburg, and will therefore suspend the proceedings, thus agreeing to a motion by attorney Marx.