In Adyan and Ors v Armenia [2017] ECHR 882, four Jehovah’s Witnesses had been convicted and imprisoned for refusing to perform either military or alternative civilian service.

Background

In May and June 2011 they were called up for military service but refused to appear either for military or for alternative civilian service under the terms of the Alternative Service Act, declaring their opposition based on their religious beliefs. Furthermore, even though domestic law provided for alternative service, they claimed that it was not of a genuinely civilian nature because it was supervised by the military. Continue reading →