Conscientious objector . Some conscientious objectors consider themselves pacifist, non- interventionist, non- resistant, or antimilitarist. The legal definition and status of conscientious objection has varied over the years and from nation to nation. Religious beliefs were a starting point in many nations for legally granting conscientious objector status. They could refuse military service in exchange. In 1. 75. 7, when the first attempt was made to establish a professional national military reserve, a clause in the Militia Ballot Act allowed Quakers exemption from military service. The document was created by the International Law Commission of the United Nations to recognize the legal principles underlying the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi party members following World War II. They never called me nigger. It is 'The Right to Refuse to Kill.'. It was based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and was originally created in 1. Nations that have signed this treaty are bound by it. Its Article 1. 8 begins: . Some states argue that such limitations . Not every conviction, genuine though it may be, will constitute a sufficient reason for claiming refugee status after desertion or draft- evasion. It is not enough for a person to be in disagreement with his government regarding the political justification for a particular military action. Where, however, the type of military action, with which an individual does not wish to be associated, is condemned by the international community as contrary to basic rules of human conduct, punishment for desertion or draft- evasion could, in the light of all other requirements of the definition, in itself be regarded as persecution. In 1. 92. 3 he selectively refused to serve in the RAF Iraq Command. These specific missions included . For example, the Medieval Orkneyinga Saga mentions that Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney β the future Saint Magnus β had a reputation for piety and gentleness, and because of his religious convictions refused to fight in a Viking raid on Anglesey, Wales, instead staying on board his ship singing psalms. Many conscientious objectors cite religious reasons. Unitarian Universalists object to war in their sixth principle . Members of the Historic Peace Churches such as Quakers, Mennonites, Amish, Old Order Mennonite, Conservative Mennonites and Church of the Brethren object to war from the conviction that Christian life is incompatible with military action, because Jesus enjoins his followers to love their enemies and to refuse violence. Since the American Civil War, Seventh- day Adventists were known as non- combatants, and had done work in hospitals or to give medical care rather than combat roles, and the church has upheld the non- combative position. The early Christians took Jesus at his word, and understood his inculcations of gentleness and non- resistance in their literal sense. A conscientious objector (CO) is an 'individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service' on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and. Today, ALL conscientious objectors are still required to register with the Selective Service System. A conscientious objector is one who is opposed to serving in the.They closely identified their religion with peace; they strongly condemned war for the bloodshed which it involved.βThe Early Christian Attitude to War. After the Roman Empire officially embraced Christianity, the Just War theology was developed in order to reconcile warfare with Christian belief. After Theodosius I made Christianity an official religion of the Empire, this position slowly developed into the official position of the Western Church. In the 1. 1th century, there was a further shift of opinion in the Latin- Christian tradition with the crusades, strengthening the idea and acceptability of Holy War. Objectors became a minority. Some theologians see the loss of a pacifist position as a great failing of the Church; see Constantinian shift and Christian pacifism. The Catholic Church denounced him and the The New York Times described him as a . The lowly Nazarene taught us the doctrine of non- resistance, and so convinced was he of the soundness of that doctrine that he sealed his belief with death on the cross. When human law conflicts with Divine law, my duty is clear. Conscience, my infallible guide, impels me to tell you that prison, death, or both, are infinitely preferable to joining any branch of the Army. In Greece, for example, before the introduction of alternative civilian service in 1. Witnesses were imprisoned, some for three years or even more for their refusal.
In Armenia, young Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned (and remain in prison) because of their conscientious objection to military service. The government of South Korea also imprisons hundreds for refusing the draft. In Switzerland, virtually every Jehovah's Witness is exempted from military service. The Finnish government exempts Jehovah's Witnesses from the draft completely. During World War II in Germany, many SDA conscientious objectors were sent to concentration camps or mental institutions; some were executed. Some Seventh- day Adventists volunteered for the US Army's Operation Whitecoat, participating in research to help others. The Church preferred to call them . Over 2,2. 00 Seventh- day Adventists volunteered in experiments involving various infectious agents during the 1. Fort Detrick, MD. The 1. 4th Dalai Lama has stated that war . Hindu beliefs do not go against the concept of war, as seen in the Gita. Both Sikhs and Hindus believe war should be a last resort and should be fought to sustain life and morality in society. The threefold law may also be grounds for objection. He was declared Blessed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2. While conscientious objection is usually the refusal to collaborate with military organizations, as a combatant in war or in any supportive role, some advocate compromising forms of conscientious objection. One compromising form is to accept non- combatant roles during conscription or military service. Alternatives to military or civilian service include serving an imprisonment or other punishment for refusing conscription, falsely claiming unfitness for duty by feigning an allergy or a heart condition, delaying conscription until the maximum drafting age, or seeking refuge in a country which does not extradite those wanted for military conscription. Avoiding military service is sometimes labeled draft dodging, particularly if the goal is accomplished through dishonesty or evasive maneuvers. However, many people who support conscription will distinguish between . Their objection is in being part in any military capacity whether noncombatant or regular service. During World War II and the Korean, Vietnam war eras they served in many such capacities in alternative I- W service programs initially through the Mennonite Central Committee and now through their own alternatives. Among the roughly one- hundred countries that have conscription, only thirty countries have some legal provisions, 2. Europe. In Europe, most countries with conscription more or less fulfill international guidelines on conscientious objection legislation (except for Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Finland and Russia) today. In many countries outside Europe, especially in armed conflict areas (Democratic Republic of the Congo), conscientious objection is punished severely. Civilian service was possible since 1. Objectors could apply for the status of conscience objector. When granted, they did an alternative service with the civil service or with a socio- cultural organisation. The former would last 1. Women could not get this status either. With pressure of public opinion, the Canadian government barred entry of additional Mennonite and Hutterite immigrants, rescinding the privileges of the Order in Council. Over 9. 5% chose the latter and were placed in Alternative Service camps. After May 1. 94. 3, as the labour shortage developed within the nation and another Conscription Crisis burgeoned, men were shifted into agriculture, education and industry. The 1. 0,7. 00 Canadian objectors were mostly Mennonites (6. Dukhobors (2. 0%). Those who didn't sign were imprisoned. Both numbers were tiny. After the communist party lost its power in 1. As of 2. 00. 6, both the Czech Republic and Slovakia have abolished conscription. During the Finnish Civil War in 1. In 1. 92. 2, the option of noncombatant military service was introduced, but service in the military remained compulsory on pain of imprisonment. After the struggle of pacifist Arndt Pekurinen a law was passed providing for a peacetime- only alternative to military service, or civilian service(Finnish siviilipalvelus). During the Winter War, Pekurinen and other conscientious objectors were imprisoned, and Pekurinen was eventually executed at the front in 1. Continuation War. To qualify for civilian service, an objector had to explain his conviction before a board of inspection that included military officers and clergymen. In 1. 98. 7, the duration of the service was shortened to 1. In 2. 00. 8, the term was further shortened to 1. Today, a person subject to conscription may apply for civilian service at any time before or during his military service, and the application is accepted as a matter of course. A female performing voluntary military service can quit her service anytime during the first 4. They may be called to serve in various duties with the rescue services or other necessary work of a non- military nature. Persons who declare themselves to be conscientious objectors only after a crisis has started must, however, prove their conviction before a special board. Before the new legislation, the right to conscientious objection was acknowledged only in peacetime. The changes to the service term and to the legal status of objectors during a crisis situation were made as a response to human rights concerns voiced by several international bodies. These organisations had demanded Finland to take measures to improve its legislation concerning conscientious objectors, which they considered discriminatory. None of these organisations have yet raised concerns on the current legislation. This is not registered into the person's criminal record. In theory, objectors would be drafted and then court- martialled for desertion.
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