No to Compulsory Military Service Movement
declares its total support to the Conscientious Objector Mark Nabil Sanad, to be exempted
from the Military Service. We demand that the Egyptian authorities end his
illegal status and transfer him to a civilian service instead, as per his
request.
Mark Nabil had informed the officers at
Assiut Conscription Area on the 13th of May, 2014 of his Pacifist
beliefs, and
his refusal to the military service. He was interrogated by a Military Security Officer that day. Then Mark went through another interrogation on the 15th of May, 2014, in the main headquarter of the Military Intelligence in Cairo. Since that date, the military refrained from giving Mark Nabil any legal documentation stating that he had finished/was exempted from the military service. Without any such document, Mark Nabil lives deprived of his constitutional and legal rights— most important of which are the right to work, to travel and the right to education.
his refusal to the military service. He was interrogated by a Military Security Officer that day. Then Mark went through another interrogation on the 15th of May, 2014, in the main headquarter of the Military Intelligence in Cairo. Since that date, the military refrained from giving Mark Nabil any legal documentation stating that he had finished/was exempted from the military service. Without any such document, Mark Nabil lives deprived of his constitutional and legal rights— most important of which are the right to work, to travel and the right to education.
Mark submitted a complaint to the Army
Chief of Staff on the 27th of July, 2014. He also filed a complaint
against the Minister of Defense to the Attorney General on the 21st
of September, 2014. On 21st of January, 2014 he sent formal requests
to the Minister of Defense, the Prime Minister and the President, demanding an
exemption from the military service. However, the Ministry of Defense insists
on ignoring all of these complaints and letters.
A few weeks ago, Mark
Nabil had issued a statement explaining that his refusal to the military
service is a rejection of the use of violence in conflict resolution, as well
as refraining from joining an institution that has a bad history in using
violence against peaceful protestors. He condemned the army’s racist treatment
of civilians based on sex, religion, social status or geographical origin. He
also considered his refusal to the military service not only his right, but
also a responsibility towards future generations who do not deserve to inherit
the systematic slavery of conscription.
Since different national and international
legislations guaranteed freedom of belief, thought and conscience including: Article
18 in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights which affirms that "Everyone has the right to freedom
of thought, conscience and religion", Article 18 of the International
Convention on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits any kind of
coercion that breaches the freedom of religion or belief, and the UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report in July 2013 regarding the Right
of Conscientious Objection to the military service. The Egyptian Constitution, in
Article 64, also affirmed the freedom of belief. The Egyptian National and
Military Service Law have established an alternative civic service in addition
to the military one, and mandated the Minister of Defense to determine the due
groups to be exempted from the military service.
No Compulsory Military Service Movement
demands the military leadership in Egypt to respect the international law and uphold
Egypt’s commitments towards the International Community. Mark Nabil's right to
conscientious objection must be recognized. He must get exemption from military
service and instead be assigned to a civic service. We also encourages all the
young men in Egypt who believe in peace and non-violence, to follow in Mark's
footsteps and other conscientious objectors’ and to bear responsibility for
future generations. If we cannot guarantee them the freedom from the
conscription’s slavery, at least we can inherit them a legacy of courage and
brave struggle.
Cairo
23 Jan 2015
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