Conscience behind bars - youths jailed for refusing to serve in the army

[subsuelo]

Amnesty International today added its voice to peace activists in Israel and around the world participating in a day of action to call on Israeli authorities to release teenagers imprisoned for refusing to serve in the army for reasons of conscience.

Amnesty International considers these teenagers to be prisoners of conscience and calls for their immediate and unconditional release.

Tamar Katz, Raz Bar-David Varon and Yuval Oron-Ofir are three conscientious objectors who are all serving their third prison sentences. At least six other teenagers -- male and female -- have been jailed in recent months for refusing to enlist and at least two more, both young women, are at risk of imminent imprisonment.

Their refusal stems from their opposition to the Israeli military occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and to the practices of the Israeli army there. They believe that by enlisting they would participate in committing human rights abuses in which they want no part.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGMDE150482008〈=e">Amnesty Intl - read more

[subsuelo]

1. These are wise, brave kids

I applaud them.

Eighteen-year-old Raz Bar-David Varon, also serving her third prison term, said on the day of her arrest: "I have witnessed this army demolishing, shooting and humiliating people whom I did not know... It hurts me when people, Palestinians, are being so brutally assaulted, and it hurts me when they later turn their hatred towards me because of it. I wasn't born to serve as a soldier who occupies another... My responsibility is to refuse."

[oberliner]

2. Link doesn't work nt

[subsuelo]

3. sorry, here it is

http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGMDE150482008

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