Further information on UA 311/94 (EUR 17/13/94, 25 August) - Cyprus: conscientious objection: Georgios Louka Karamanos, Alvertos Louka Karamanos, Georgios Costa Antoniou, Andreas Ionathan Charalambous, Andreas Panayioti Georgiou, Panayiotis Dimitris Talia
The charges against Savva Costa Perikli have been dropped. Panayiotis Dimitris Talia was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and is now serving his sentence in Nicosia Central Prison. AI considers him to be a prisoner of conscience. Iosif Kourides is due to appear in court on 22 October 1994 for refusing to perform military service. The trials of all the others have been postponed.
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: EUR 17/19/94
Distr: UA/SC
18 October 1994
Further information on UA 311/94 (EUR 17/13/94, 25 August 1994) - Conscientious
objection
CYPRUS Georgios Louka KARAMANOS, aged 29
Alvertos Louka KARAMANOS, aged 31
Georgios Costa ANTONIOU, aged 20
Andreas Ionathan CHARALAMBOUS, aged 20
Andreas Panayioti GEORGIOU, aged 18
Panayiotis Dimitris TALIA, aged 21
Savva Costa PERIKLI, aged 22
Dimosthenos Demetraki LOIZOU, aged 23
Theodoros Antoni CHARALAMBOUS, aged 53
new name: Iosif KOURIDES, aged 29
The charges against Savva Costa Perikli have been dropped, and no further appeals
are required on his behalf.
Panayiotis Dimitris Talia was sentenced to six months' imprisonment by Nicosia
Military Court on 26 September. He is now serving his sentence in Nicosia Central
Prison.
The trials of all the other conscientious objectors have been postponed.
Dimosthenos Demetraki Loizou and Theodoros Antoni Charalambous' trials are
now scheduled for 24 October. The trial of brothers Georgios and Alvertos
Karamanos has been postponed until 3 November. Georgios Costa Antoniou will
appear before Nicosia Military Court on 14 November. They face up to one year's
imprisonment.
Amnesty International also received information that Iosif Kourides is due
to appear in Court on 22 October for refusing to perform military service.
If he is imprisoned, this will be his second term of imprisonment for the same
offence as he already served 10 months of a 15 months' sentence in 1993.
As Jehovah's Witnesses, the defendants are opposed to performing any form of
military service, as their religion does not permit them to serve in the armed
forces in any capacity. Amnesty International believes that their imprisonment
would be merely for exercising their right to freedom of thought, conscience
and religion.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and
airmail letters
- calling for the immediate release of Panayiotis Dimitris Talia and all other
conscientious objectors currently in prison in Cyprus;
- expressing concern that six conscientious objectors are facing trial and
possible imprisonment solely for exercising their right to freedom of thought,
conscience and religion;
- calling on the government to ensure that, in line with international
recommendations, a wholly civilian service of non-punitive length is introduced
for conscientious objectors to military service and that, in addition,
reservists and serving conscripts have the opportunity to perform such a service
during periods of emergency or general mobilization.
2
APPEALS TO
1) Mr Glafcos Klerides
President of the Republic of Cyprus
Presidential Palace
Nicosia, Cyprus
Faxes: +357 2445016
Telegrams: President Klerides, Nicosia, Cyprus
Salutation: Dear President
2) Dr Konstandinos Iliadhis
Minister of Defence
Minstry of Defence
Emmanouil Roidi 4
Nicosia, Cyprus
Telexes: 6006 MOD CY
Telegrams: Defence Minister Iliadhis, Nicosia, Cyprus
Salutation: Dear Minister
3) Mr Alexandros Evangelou
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
1 Diogenes St
Engonti, Cyprus
Faxes: +357 2461427
Telexes: 6116 MINJUST CY
Telegrams: Justice Minister Evangelou, Engonti, Cyprus
Salutation: Dear Minister
COPIES TO: diplomatic representative of Cyprus accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 14 November 1994