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PRESS RELEASE
World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses
Office of Public Information
25 Columbia Heights
Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483
Phone: (718) 560-5000
Web: http://www.jw.org
NOVEMBER 20, 2013 | ARMENIA
Armenia Releases All Imprisoned Jehovah's Witnesses
YEREVAN, Armenia - On November 12, 2013, Armenia released the
remaining 14 Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned for their refusal to join
the military. In total, 28 imprisoned conscientious objectors who are
Jehovah's Witnesses have been released since October 8, 2013. This
signals a change in Armenia's pattern of disregarding the right of
conscientious objection, a policy that led to the imprisonment of over
450 young Witness men over the past 20 years. Now, for the first time
since 1993, there are no Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned in Armenia for
their conscientious objection to military service.
Before the November 12 release, Armenia released eight Witnesses on
October 8 and 9, based on an amnesty that reduced their prison
sentences by six months. Six others were released on October 24. These
six were the first to benefit from amendments adopted on June 8, 2013,
to Armenia's existing law on alternative civilian service. These
amendments allow conscientious objectors to apply to perform
alternative service that is not under military control and supervision
instead of being imprisoned.
Over 90 Witnesses have applied for this new program. On October 23 and
November 12, 2013, the Republican Commission reviewed and approved the
applications of 71 of these young men. The Commission announced its
intention to hear the remaining cases shortly.
David A. Semonian, a spokesman for Jehovah's Witnesses at their world
headquarters in New York, states: `We are pleased that the Armenian
government has released these young men and that this long-standing
issue appears to be resolved.'
Media Contact(s):
International: David A. Semonian, Office of Public Information,
tel. +1 718 560 5000
Armenia: Tigran Harutyunyan, tel. +374 93 900 482
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses
Office of Public Information
25 Columbia Heights
Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483
Phone: (718) 560-5000
Web: http://www.jw.org
NOVEMBER 20, 2013 | ARMENIA
Armenia Releases All Imprisoned Jehovah's Witnesses
YEREVAN, Armenia - On November 12, 2013, Armenia released the
remaining 14 Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned for their refusal to join
the military. In total, 28 imprisoned conscientious objectors who are
Jehovah's Witnesses have been released since October 8, 2013. This
signals a change in Armenia's pattern of disregarding the right of
conscientious objection, a policy that led to the imprisonment of over
450 young Witness men over the past 20 years. Now, for the first time
since 1993, there are no Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned in Armenia for
their conscientious objection to military service.
Before the November 12 release, Armenia released eight Witnesses on
October 8 and 9, based on an amnesty that reduced their prison
sentences by six months. Six others were released on October 24. These
six were the first to benefit from amendments adopted on June 8, 2013,
to Armenia's existing law on alternative civilian service. These
amendments allow conscientious objectors to apply to perform
alternative service that is not under military control and supervision
instead of being imprisoned.
Over 90 Witnesses have applied for this new program. On October 23 and
November 12, 2013, the Republican Commission reviewed and approved the
applications of 71 of these young men. The Commission announced its
intention to hear the remaining cases shortly.
David A. Semonian, a spokesman for Jehovah's Witnesses at their world
headquarters in New York, states: `We are pleased that the Armenian
government has released these young men and that this long-standing
issue appears to be resolved.'
Media Contact(s):
International: David A. Semonian, Office of Public Information,
tel. +1 718 560 5000
Armenia: Tigran Harutyunyan, tel. +374 93 900 482
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress