Conscientious objectors in prison, June 2021

Conscientious objectors to military service continue to be imprisoned in many countries today. WRI regularly updates its list of imprisoned conscientious objectors and organise solidarity for them. Below, you will see conscientious objectors who are known to be behind bars or serving in labour camps by June 2021.

Singapore

All following prisoners are Jehovah’s Witnesses, imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service. Usually, they receive a first sentence of 12 months (but it can be up to 15 months) and a second sentence of 18 months (but it can be up to 24 months). Therefore, the total time spent is usually 30 months (but it can be up to 39 months).

They are imprisoned in:

Armed Forces Detention Barracks, 402 Lorong Kebasi (Mowbray Rd), 688791, Singapore

1- Ca Leb (Azariah) Wa

Second term. Expected release date: 11 May 2022

2- Donovan Yong

Second term. Expected release date: 30 June 2022.

3- Edrenz James Ramos

First term. Expected release date: 11 August 2021.

4- Ganesh Aravind

First term. Expected release date: 11 August 2021.

5- Joshua Soon

Second term. Expected release date: 30 March 2022.

6- Lie Hao Norman Sek

First term. Expected release date: 30 September 2021.

7- Nicholas Ang

Second term. Expected release date: 11 May 2022.

8- Raj s/o Rajamogn Rohan

First term. Expected release date: 11 August 2021.

9- Shao Qi Koh

First term. Expected release date: 30 September 2021.

10- Shawn Jonathan Kumar

Second Term. Expected release date: 30 June 2022.

11- Yi Jie Lucas Lee

First term. Expected release date: 30 September 2021.

Republic of Korea

1- H. Park 

Jehovah’s Witness. Sentence: 18 months. Expected release date: 3 December 2021. Imprisoned in Suwon Detention Center. (Address: P.O Box 17, Dongsuwonucheguk Gyeonggi- do, 442-190 Republic of Korea)

2- S. Jeong 

Jehovah’s Witness. Sentence: 18 months. Expected release date: 30 June 2022. Imprisoned in Uijeongbu Correctional Institution.

3- B. Yoo 

Jehovah’s Wintess. Sentence: 18 months. Expected release date: 27 October 2021. Imprisoned in Hwaseong Correctional Institution. (Address: 238-12, Seokgyo-ri, Mado- myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea)

4- H. Ahn 

Jehovah’s Witness. Sentence: 18 months. Expected release date: 23 April 2022. Imprisoned in Yeoju Correctional Institution.

5- H. Choi 

Jehovah’s Witness. Sentence: 18 months. Expected release date: 10 November 2022. Imprisoned in Uijeongbu Correctional Institution.

6- Jeong-hoon Hong 

Arrested on 8 March 2021. Sentence: 18 months. Expected release: August 2022. Imprisoned in Seoul Detention Center. (Address: #2298, 143, Anyangpangyo-ro, Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea zip code 15829).

7- Gyeong-taek Oh 

Arrested on 12 March 2021. Sentence: 18 months. Expected release: August 2022. He has recently been transferred to Yeoju Correctional Institution. (Address: #464, 107, Yanghwa-ro, Ganameup, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea  zip code 12627).

Eritrea

All following prisoners are Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are not charged or sentenced. Initially, and for many years, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have reported that these 4 individuals, and many others, were imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service. Since January 2021 the indication has changed to “undisclosed reason”.

They are imprisoned in Mai Serwa Prison.

1- Bereket Habteyesus

Arrest date: 26 May 2014

2- Henok Ghebru

Arrest date: 24 January 2005

3- Samuel Ghirmay

Arrest date: March 2009

4- Yosief Fessehaye

Arrest date: October 2006

Tajikistan

1- Rustamjon Norov

Jehovah’s Witness. Arrest date: 1 October 2020. Sentence: 3.5 years. Imprisoned in: YaS 3/6, Khujand, Tajikistan. Expected release: 2024.

Main sources: the Jehovah’s Witnesses website, Forum 18, and World without War about the Republic of Korea.