• Home /
• Statewatch Database /
• Greece: Conscientious objector imprisoned

Greece: Conscientious objector imprisoned

01 November 2004

Giorgios Monastiriotis, a 24-year-old sailor in the Greek navy, was arrested on 13 September 2004 for refusing to take part in military activities in Iraq, and was subsequently sentenced to three years and four months in prison by a Naval Court in Piraeus for desertion. On 8 May 2003, when his frigate, the Navarino was sent to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation "Enduring Freedom", Monastiriotis publicly refused to serve in Iraq and offered his resignation from the armed forces, stating that "I refuse on grounds of conscience to participate in, or contribute in any way to the relentless massacre of the Iraqi people...My refusal is also a minimal act of solidarity with the Iraqi people, as well as to the peaceful sentiments of the Greek people". Amnesty International (AI) has described him as a "prisoner of conscience", calling for his "immediate" and "unconditional" release. AI has also highlighted the shortcomings of Greek legislation with regards to conscientious objection, arguing that although Law 251/97 allows the possibility of alternative civilian service, this option "both in law and practice, continues to be of a punitive nature and to discriminate against conscientious objectors". In a letter from Corinth prison on 15 September, Monastiriotis noted that "on the morning of 13 September 2004, I voluntarily presented myself to the Naval Court in Piraeus, in the hope of clearing up this whole affair. I was arrested, tried and received a sentence of three years and four months imprisonment. On the same morning, I read in a newspaper that a member of the American army who had admitted to torturing Iraqi prisoners had been sentenced to 8 months in prison".

Amnesty International press release 23.9.04; Indymedia Athens, 22.9.04; Indymedia Paris, 23.9.04.