Korea's Constitutional Court to Rule on Contentious Objectors by August?

[Thomas Walker]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/03/205_245790.html

 

Quote:

The Constitutional Court is expected to rule by August on the legality of conscientious objectors to military service. 

[hatcheckgirl]

From the article:

On March 8, Incheon District Court sentenced a Jehovah's Witnesses conscientious objector to 18 months in jail.
On the same day, an Ulsan district court gave a not guilty ruling.

The first acquittal of a religious conscientious objector came in 2004 and 17 had been found not guilty by 2016. However, last year 45 objectors were acquitted, putting more pressure on higher courts for a final ruling.

 

The brothers have organised a petition addressing this.  From jw.org:

After the highly publicized meeting, Jehovah’s Witnesses in South Korea organized a campaign to collect signatures on petitions addressed to the president. The government’s policy of punishing conscientious objectors with imprisonment has deeply affected generations of Witnesses. Since President Moon has directed his administration to respond to petitions from the country’s citizens, the petitions request the president’s help to find a solution to the problem that conscientious objectors have faced for some 70 years.

https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/south-korea/petition-president-resolve-conscientious-objection-issue/

 

The brothers have been so faithful for so long.  Praying that the petition may result in relief for them.

 

[onBoard17]

Looks like there has been a decision on this today, maybe in our favor...

 

"However, the court said uniformly imposed punishment of objectors, despite their willingness to serve the public by other means, infringes upon the freedom of thought, conscience and religion. "A necessary revision to the status quo should follow to protect constitutional rights." 

 

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/06/251_251429.html 

Edited June 28, 2018 by onBoard17
updated with news link