Lawyer: One can’t refuse military service on religious grounds in wartime
Military ID. Photo: korrespoendent.net
Oleksandr Pavlychenko, Director of the Ukrainian Helsinki Union for Human Rights, stated that it is impossible to refuse military service on religious grounds during wartime, reports Telegraf.
"This provision exists only in peacetime. During wartime, there is no alternative service. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses cannot take up arms due to their beliefs, but the legislation does not provide for alternative service," Pavlychenko said.
Furthermore, the human rights advocate explained that even appealing to the court will not help those whose religion does not allow them to kill.
"In the absence of a surplus mobilisation reserve, I think this will continue for quite a while. In 5-10 years, there may be a solution, but it will not significantly affect the current situation," he noted.
As reported, the Supreme Court has defined criteria by which a person's religious affiliation may serve as grounds for not holding them accountable for "evasion" during mobilization.
Read also
Priest charged with desertion freed after faithful raise bail
Archpriest Vitaliy Agafonov, a cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has been released after bail was posted with funds raised by the faithful.
UOC clergy and laity from several eparchies donate blood for wounded soldiers
Clergy and Orthodox youth of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church donated blood for wounded military personnel.
UOC faithful in Kozelshchansk hold procession with icon of the Mother of God
Pilgrims and clergy of the Poltava Eparchy prayed at the Kozelshchansk Monastery and took part in a procession around the church with the wonderworking icon.
Hearing in Metropolitan Theodosiy’s сase postponed after “victim” no-show
A scheduled hearing at the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Court in the case against the ruling bishop of the Cherkasy Eparchy was postponed after OCU chaplain Nazariy Zasansky failed to appear.
Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi: The time has come to build the Third Temple
The spiritual leader of Ukraine’s Jewish community commented on Tucker Carlson’s claims about the religious motives behind the war in the Middle East.
US bars removal of children from parents who reject gender transition
U.S. authorities have affirmed the right of families to raise their children in accordance with their religious convictions and biblical understanding of sex.