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Freedom to Conscientious
Objectors in the Middle East
حركة لا للتجنيد الإجباري
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 Blanc, 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.
Since 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 25, 2013
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