1987. szeptember (101-111. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2

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24/0 líttl* Rm*«II Street , LONDONI, W-C.t • fel. 0<-4*O ti 24 • G. Rrat*é

110/1987 /E/ September 23rd 1987

Imprisoned conscientious objectors in Hungary

Conscientious objection is considered a crime in Hungary. Although a few years ago a secret ministerial decree made it possible fór members of somé small religious sects - Nazarenes and Jehovah's Witnesses - to do military service without bearing arms. The majority of them were prepared to do a civil nőt a military based service.

An unconstitutional differentiation of denominations means that members of the bigger churches don’t have even tttis choice. In recent years court decisions have become severer and many of those sentenced suffer physical abuse as well. News has arrived in the last few days of new verdicts.

The estimated totál number of imprisoned conscientious objectors is about 150,including roughly 120 Jehovah's Witnesses and 10 Reform Adventists. The majority of Catholic conscientious objectors are members of the Basis Communities, most of them are followers of Father Bulanyi, bút there are somé people among them who are nőt members.

Of them the names of ten people who are now serving time because they are conscientious objectors are known. They are the following:- Barna Csontos, Catholic (Bulanyi Basis Community), 31 months, jail;- György Hegyi, Catholic (Bulanyi Basis Community), 34 months, prison;- Péter Orbán, Catholic (Bulanyi Basis Community), 34 months, prison;- József Peller jr., Catholic (Bulanyi Basis Community), 36 months, prison;- Géza Uzsák, Catholic (Bulanyi Basis Community), 36 months, jail;- József Katona, Catholic (non-member of Basis Communities/, 34 months, jail;- András Kozák, Jehovah's Witness, 36 months, jail;- Zoltán Schmeller, Jehovah's Witness, 36 months, jail;- Ernő Tóth, Reform Adventist, 36 months, jail;- Zsolt Keszthelyi, conscientious objector because of his democratic political convictions, 30 months, prison.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1