Statement of Conscientious Objectors’ Groups From Eastern Mediterranean Region

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We are conscientious objectors from all around the eastern Mediterranean region. Our region has suffered for so long from oppression, injustice, militarisation, military occupations and wars, as well as poverty, illiteracy, hunger and lack of social infrastructure. In this difficult period, when our region seems to fall even more into the chaos of war, we raise a common voice for peace and against militarisation.

We refuse to allow this cycle of violence, initiated by oppressive states and economic interests, to continue; we refuse to be a part of it; we refuse to be enemies with people who just happen to be of a different nationality or religion; we will not be dragged into their wars and armies leading to death and destruction in the region.

Our region is one of the most militarised regions in the world, from forced conscription across the region, through highly militarised borders and militarised solutions to any conflict, to ongoing and new occupations of civilian populations by armed forces killing and oppressing men, women and children. We believe that this violence is systematic and affects the entire region, but it is not inherent to it, and it is not our choice as residents of this region who wish to live in peace. Our region has proved time and time again that military solutions are never sustainable and only lead to greater violence in the long term, while bringing death and destruction in the short term.

The world’s reaction to the current regional violence should be building societies, assisting refugees, and mediating between fighting parties, not selling arms, bombings and providing military assistance.

The wars in our region have led to the worst refugee crisis since World War II, with millions of people escaping from wars and oppression, only to find racism, repression or even death while trying to reach a safer place. This crisis has led to militarised “solutions” such as international military engagement and assistance, and militarisation of borders. “Solutions” that treat refugees as a security threat and only increase war and chaos in the region. We express our solidarity with refugees, we welcome them and we declare that we will continue to refuse to “guard borders”, leading to death and imprisonment of (tens of) thousands of refugees in the region.

Although in many countries, conscientious objectors are seen by the army, the state or even parts of society as a “threat”, nowadays it is clearer than ever that the threat to our societies does not come from people who refuse to participate in wars and armies, but from militaries and wars. We express our solidarity with conscientious objectorspersecuted by different governments in the region,  especially those currently prosecuted by Israeli, Turkish, Turkish Cypriot and Greek military authorities, and we demand an end to their prosecution or imprisonment.

We are resisting conscription, exercising our internationally recognised right to CO (despite the persecution faced in many states in our region), and demonstrating solidarity with those effected by war. We will cooperate across the region to:

  • support all those who oppose wars by refusing military service and war participation for any reason, be it political, philosophical, religious or other

  • stop the persecution of COs

  • abolish conscription

Though campaigning against conscription, we do not wish for conscription armies to be replaced by professional ones, as these too are not the solution to the problems of ourregion.

Finally, despite our different backgrounds, ideologies and views on the ways to struggle for liberation, we agree that our final goal is peace with justice for all. We all share a common dream for a world where all people would share equal rights, and call you to join us in this dream, and refuse to participate in its further destruction.