German total objector Florian Quellmalz
Use this form to send the letter below to the relevant authority (Minister of Defence Peter Struck, Germany). You can add your own notes in a separate box after the standard text, if you wish.
You must include a name, address, and email address; a copy will be sent to you with a cc to the WRI office (so we have a record of how many email letters have been sent out for this particular case).
Dear Minister of Defence Peter Struck
I learned today about the military arrest for total objector Florian Quellmalz. As a conscientious objector Florian Quellmalz exercises his human right to conscientious objection, as enshrined in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and also in Article 4 of the German constitution.
Military arrest for a conscientious objector is a violation of human rights. This is also true in cases of total objection, as the German substitute service does not guarantee freedom of conscience - it is a fullfilment of conscription duties, which lie at the core of any conscientious objection.
I'm especially concerned about the general practice of repeated military arrest, followed by criminal proceedings. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled in 1999, that repeated imprisonment of conscientious objectors is arbitrary, being contrary to article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I therefore call on you to take measures leading to the release of Florian Quellmalz, and to make sure that his human rights are not violated.
- Sign and send this protest email