Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Israel Appeals Tribunal Rules: Desertion from the Eritrean Military is a Valid Claim for Asylum

(15.02.2018) Following an appeal by the Clinic for Refugee Rights in Tel Aviv University, the Appeals Tribunal has ruled today that the appellant, an Eritrean national who had fled the Eritrean Military, has proven that: “There is a well-founded fear of persecution from the authorities of his home country due to a political opinion attributed to him as a result of his fleeing military service.”

Turkey: Trial of Dr. Serdar Küni, Şırnak 2nd heavy penal court

Statement of International Delegation of Trial Monitors

(25.04.2017) [Cizre, Turkey] Dr. Serdar Küni, a medical doctor working in the Cizre office of Human Rights Foundation Turkey, was convicted of section 220/7 of the Turkish Penal Code, “aiding and abetting terrorist organizations”, on 24 April 2017 during the second hearing of his trial. The court sentenced Dr. Kuni to four years, two months imprisonment, but released him from prison pending his appeal. No written judgment to explain the ruling is yet available.

Our conclusions are that the trial proceedings ignored the most basic of international fair trial standards, and failed to take into account the arbitrary nature of the charges against Dr. Küni. Our principal concerns about the trial process are summarised below.

Turkey: Conviction of good medical practice by the Şırnak Local Court on behalf of Serdar Küni MD is unacceptable!

(25.04.2017) The proceeding has shown us clearly that what’s on trial is in fact, the universal ethical principles related to medical practice. Despite immense difficulties, MD. Serdar Küni has been, for many years and in the witness of many, practicing human rights-based medicine in Cizre district of Şırnak, with a strong commitment to the ethical and scientific references of good medical practice. Since the very first day, we know that the real target of this “trial” is national and international law and conventions, universal ethical principles of good medical practice and mainly human conscience.

Munich Administrative Court rejects suit by U.S. AWOL soldier André Shepherd

Observers have impression of bias in asylum proceedings

(18.11.2016) The suit brought against the negative ruling in U.S. AWOL soldier André Shepherd's application for political asylum was rejected in the decision by the Administrative Court published yesterday. Two days ago the Administrative Court had reviewed the case in a five-hour hearing, taking into account a fundamental decision by the European Court of Justice.