US report says Jehovah’s Witnesses in Armenian jails

US report says Jehovah’s Witnesses in Armenian jails

Arminfo
1 Mar 05

YEREVAN

Ten members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses sect, who had refused to serve
in the army before the law “On alternative service” came into force
are still imprisoned in Armenia, the US Department of State said in
its annual report on human rights published today.

Three members of the sect had been held in preliminary custody by that
moment, while 17 “Witnesses” had been released and kept under house
arrest after serving a third of their prison terms, the source said.

The law “On alternative service” came into force on 1 June 2004. Under
the law the young people whose faith and religious beliefs go against
compulsory military service are exempt from serving in military units.