Friday, 31 August 2012

Death of the Former Chief of EBCO

The movement of No for Compulsory Military Service received with deep sadness the news of the death of Gerd Greune, the former chief of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO). He was an active member for long years in the German Peace Society (DFG-VK). He also founded the Institute for International Assistance and Solidarity (IFIAS).

The movement mentions the effort Gerd Greune exerted to support the right of conscientious objection in Egypt and his efforts in supporting the conscientious objection for Maikel Nabil Sanad, the first conscientious objector in Egypt and the chief of the movement, till Maikel received a medical exemption for the military service. Also, Gerd's visit to Egypt after the beginning of the Egyptian revolution, as there was an issued joint-statement with the movement in solidarity with the revolutions of the Arab Spring and the right of the peoples of the region in democracy and peace. Also the efforts he exerted in support of Maikel Nabil's case when he was imprisoned in 2011 because of his writings against the military rule in Egypt.
Gerd spent many years in the West Bank, supporting the non-violent Palestinian activists, as a contribution by him to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the non-violent means. Gerd was in continued contact with us till the last weeks, to support the new conscientious objectors, Emad Dafrawi and Mohamed Fathy.
The movement expresses its sadness for losing a dear friend and we wish that his struggle becomes a model for Egyptian peace activists, so that we become able to spread the principles of peace, pacifism and individual rights, like Gerd and his colleagues from the European peace activists did in Europe.

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