18 Jehovah's Witnesses filed suits to ECHR
On November 24, the grand chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is considering the case of an Armenian citizen, a Jehovah witness.
Vahan Bayadyan was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in January 2003 and was released on parole in July of the same year.
Bayadyan is challenging a court verdict which sentenced him to prison for refusing to bear arms. He states that the court violated the freedom of religion.
Tigran Harutyunyan, the press secretary of Jehovah's Witness organization, says the suit aims to confirm that Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights provides a right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as well as a right to refuse military service for reasons of conscience.
According to Mr. Harutyunyan, about 18 Jehovah's Witnesses have appealed to the ECHR with the same demand.
"They could not participate in our meetings. They could not even find time to rest as working hours are set by the military registration and enlistment office and not by directors," said Tigran Harutyunyan.
In reply to A1+'s observation that many recruiters may pretend to be Jehovah's Witnesses in order to evade military service, he answered, "First of all, they need to conform their principles to the biblical precepts."
In October 2009, the ECHR lower chamber ruled that the Armenian court decision was in line with the European Convention on Human Rights.
