Armenië - Gewetensgevangene
HGL 03/98
Weigeren dienstplicht op religieuze gronden: 18 mnd.
Levon Ter-Petrosyan,
President of the Republic of Armenia
375095 g Yerevan
bulv. Marshala Bagramyana 19
Respublika Armeniya
Armenië
(plaats, datum)
Your Excellency,
I respectfully draw your attention to the following.
John Martirosyan, an 18-year old Jehovah’s Witness, has been sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment as a conscientious objector. In the past conscientious objectors have been taken forcibly into military service. Preferring to be tried instead by a civilian court John Martirosyan left home after his eighteenth birthday. Two days later, officers from the Shahumyan District Military Registration and Enlistment Office detained John Martirosyan’s father in a solitary confinement cell, as a hostage to persuade John to present himself for military service. In September a public court sentenced John Martirosyan to 18 months’ imprisonment.
At the time of writing, there were at least four other young men in Armenian prisons for refusing to perform military service.
Your Excellency, as a member of Amnesty International I consider John Martirosyan to be a prisoner of conscience. Therefore I ask you most respectfully to order the immediate and unconditional release of John Martirosyan and all those imprisoned for their refusal on conscientious grounds to perform military service. I also urge you to establish a non-punitive civilian alternative to military service.
I look forward to receiving your response in the near future,
Yours sincerely,
(naam, adres, woonplaats)
Stuur of fax een kopie van uw brief aan:
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
Cheniston Gardens 25-a
London W86TG
Engeland
[fax 00-441719382595]
Zie de inleiding.