Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Turkey and Conscientious Objection: Stop the Civil Death!

Gallery about the action in Frankfurt am Main May 15, 2021

(15.05.2021) Today, about 40 people made a protest action on the square Hauptwache against the persecution of conscientious objectors in Turkey, which still exists. "Conscientious objection is a human right. Turkey must also recognise this!" said Rudi Friedrich of Connection e.V. today. "The Turkish government turns a blind eye to various rulings of the European Court of Human Rights and subjects conscientious objectors in the country to lifelong persecution. This is unacceptable! However, it is an example of the Turkish government’s policy of waging war in neighbouring countries and harshly persecuting criticism and opposition through various criminal offences."

Türkiye/Turkey: Sürgün yolum - My road to exile

Video mit Beran Mehmet İşçı

(09.05.2021) Beran Mehmet İşçı declared his conscientious objector in Turkey 2018 and fled to Germany. In this video he tells about his reasons for refusing the military service and to leave Turkey as well as about his experiences as asylum seeker. The video has been published to the International Day of Conscientious Objection, May 15, 2021.

Turkish with English and German undertitles.

Germany: Against my Conscience

Trailer to Graphic Novel written and drawn by Hannah Brinkmann

(22.01.2021) Hannah Brinkmann’s uncle was forced to serve in the German armed forces in 1973. In the graphic novel “Against My Conscience” she tells his story. The film introduces Hannah Brinkmann’s book based on the images and texts. Hannah Brinkmann is 30, comes from Hamburg and studied graphic novel at the University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg.

German with English undertitles.

Syria: ECJ strengthen conscientious objectors in asylum cases

(19.11.2020) The European Court of Justice decided, that in the context of the civil war in Syria, there is a strong presumption that refusal to perform military service there is connected to a reason which may give rise to entitlement to recognition as a refugee

In a number of situations, such refusal is an expression of political opinions or of religious beliefs, or is motivated by membership of a particular social group.