Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, has issued a statement supporting the exercise of conscientious objection to military service. He argues that objectors should be given a “genuinely civilian” alternative to compulsory military service, not imprisoned. [CE press release]
The comment is of interest because a number of commentators on freedom of conscience in health care have suggested that conscientious objectors should be willing to suffer for their convictions, making explicit reference to imprisonment. [See, for example, the reference in The Silence of Good People]