Recent CO Action alerts

War Resisters' International learned today that conscientious objector Leonid Kressner was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment for refusing to serve in the army. He is presently held in solitary confinement. Leonid Kressner declared his conscientious objection long before he was drafted. He was imprisoned on 15 October 2001, when he reported to Military Prison No 6, after 69 days of absence from military service. He was held in prison since, mostly in solitary confinement, and was refused visits by his family at least twice.

War Resisters' International was informed by the Germany based Campaign Against Conscription, that total objector Malik Sharif was again sentenced to 21 days of arrest yesterday. Malik Sharif, 19, is in arrest at the military barracks of Breitenburg since 3 November, for refusing to obey orders and to perform military service. His first arrest of 14 days ended on 18 November, and he was immediately rearrest after his release.

War Resisters' International learned today that Israeli conscientious objector Yair Halper was sentenced to further 28 days of imprisonment, after being released on 11 November. Yair Halper was first imprisoned on 17 October 2001 for refusing to enlist in the army and refusing to wear the uniform.

War Resisters' International was informed today that CO Yair Halper was transferred to Military Prison No 6 in Athlit. Yair Halper was arrested on 17 October, and sentenced to 28 days imprisonment for refusing to enlist in the army (ISR 11599-181001).

War Resisters' International learned today that again a family visit was denied to conscientious objector Leonied Kressner, imprisoned already since 15 October 2001, and awaiting trial.

CO Leonid Kressner parents were notified by the military authorities that they are again denied a visit to Leonied, in punishment for some sort of disciplinary offence that Leonied Kressner has committed.

War Resisters' International was informed by the Israeli organisation Yesh Gvul, an organisation supporting soldiers refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories, that "refusenik" Ro'i Wolman was sentenced to 28 days of detention yesterday for refusing to serve in the Hebron area. At his trial, Ro'i Wolman stated, that "the acts of the IDF in the Occupied Territories are immoral and unworthy, therefore I am not willing to take any part in them."

Ro'i Wolman, 24, serves as an officer in the Artillery Corps.

Yesterday, on 5 November 2001, the Military Disciplinary Court agreed to 21 days of arrest for total objector Malik Sharif (GER11620-051101). Sharif was due to report to his military base on 1 November, but only presented himself two days later, and refused to obey any orders. He was immediately taken into arrest.

It is normal practice to first put total objectors into arrest for 7 days, then 14 days, and then two times 21 days. The immediate arrest of 21 days seems to be a response of the German military to Malik Sharif's publicity.

War Resisters' International was informed by the Germany based Campaign Against Conscription, Forced Labour and Military, that Malik Sharif, 19, was arrested on 3rd November, when he presented himself at the military barracks in Breitenburg. Malik Sharif was arrested, because he refused to obey to any orders. Some time today a decision will be made about his arrest.

War Resisters' International was informed today that Leonid Kressner's father was notified yesterday by a military liaison officer that the family visit that Leonid Kressner was supposed to receive later on this week is cancelled. The official reason for cancellation was that Leonid Kressner did not stand at attention when ordered to. This is considered a disciplinary offence, and denying family visits is one of the possible punishments for this.

Like all prisoners in the isolation ward, Leonid Kressner is also denied the possibility to call his family.

Conscientious objector Eran Razgour was imprisoned on 28 October 2001, and sentenced to 42 days imprisonment. This unusually long sentence is made up of a 14 day sentence given to Eran Razgour on the day of arrest, and an activated suspended sentence of 28 days in prison given to him three days earlier.

Dear friends, CO Leonid Kressner was transferred several days ago to Military Prison No. 6. His new prison Address is:

Leonid Kressner Military ID 7156547 Military Prison No. 6, Military postal number 03734, IDF Israel.

Please remember to send copies of protest letters on Leonid's behalf (preferably by fax) to the commander of his new prison, i.e. to:

Commander of Military Prison No. 6, Military Prison No. 6, Military postal number 03734, IDF Israel.

War Resisters' International got news today from Leonid Kressner's father that Leonid is on hunger strike since Thursday (18 Oct.), and that the prison authorities tried and probably succeeded to force-feed him earlier today (22/10/01).

Leonid Kressner is no longer on hunger strike. He continues to refuse wearing uniform and is still held in the isolation ward. He was reported to be in good spirit.

Yesterday Sergeiy Sandler from New Profile received a detailed letter that Leonid sent out before going to prison. The letter contained a more detailed and precise account of the history of Leonid's case.

New Profile, movement for the demilitarisation of Israeli society, informed War Resisters' International today about two new arrests of conscientious objectors.

Leonid Kressner (ISR11598), an 18-year-old pacifist CO, reported at Military Prison No 6 on Monday, and was transferred to Military Prison No 4 on Tuesday, where he now is held in the isolation ward, because he refuses to wear the military uniform. Yair Halper (ISR11599), also 18, was sentenced to 28 days imprisonment and was also transferred to the isolation ward of Military Prison No.

Aseistakieltäytyjäliitto, the Finnish affiliate of War Resisters' International, informed WRI today that total objector Pyry Nurmi reported at Suomenlinnan työsiirtola prison today to start his 197 days in prison.

Today the Israeli group New Profile informed War Resisters' International that a CO who was unknown up to now is imprisoned in Military Prison No 6. Daniel (familiy name unknown), either 20 or 21 years old, is the first immigrant from Ethiopia imprisoned for overt conscientious objection.