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The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it

Occupation magazine - Activism Home page  back Print  Send To friend Joint statement: Freedom to Conscientious Objectors in the Middle East Email message from sergeiys@gmail.com Freedom to Conscientious Objectors in the Middle East Joint Statement Together, we in No to Compulsory Military Service (Egypt) and New Profile (Israel) confirm our support of peace and of conscientious objectors in both countries, re-affirming the human right to freedom of conscience, faith and self-determination. We condemn the way both our governments treat conscientious objectors: Natan Blank, Emad El Dafrawi, and Mohammed Fathy. Natan Blanc, 19-year old Israeli conscript who first refused to serve in the Israeli army on November 19, 2012 and since has been in and out of military prison for the last 5 months, and still counting, declared at an alternative beacon lighting ceremony on April 14th 2013: “I refuse because I will not serve in an army that violates human rights regularly. I refuse because I will not serve as a tool to preserve the occupation... I refuse because it is the moral thing to do. I would like to dedicate this beacon to all the Palestinian detainees that are currently held in Administrative Detention… I remember always that while I am here in the spotlight, they are languishing in jail without being convicted of any offence”. In Egypt: Emad el Dafrawi, declared his conscientious objection to military service on April 12, 2012, and Mohamed Fathy Abdo Soliman, 23-years old, declared his conscientious objection to military service on July 20, 2012. Both declared that military service contradicts their belief in peace, and refuse all forms of violence and bearing arms. Both sent letters to the Minister of Defense and other Egyptian officials, asking for exemption from military service and serving a civilian service instead. For nearly a year now they have been living without most of their civil rights. They are not allowed to work, study or travel. They are not even allowed to hold a travel document. The Egyptian state still ignores their suffering. The right to conscientious objection is one of the basic human rights, as the right to freedom of expression and life, and is recognized in international charters on human rights such as The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (both signed and ratified by both Egypt and Israel). Therefore, the movements No to Compulsory Military Service and New Profile call on both governments to respect international laws and meet their obligations to which they committed themselves in view of the international community, and to recognize the right of Natan Blanc, Emad el Dafrawi and Mohamed Fathy to conscientious objection to military service. Cairo – Jerusalem April 28, 2013 ak Links to the latest articles in this section Israelis support Russian opposition to the Ukraine War All to Burin this Friday! Stand with the Palestinians against settler violence! The burial of ashes - an emotionally loaded day