Conscription in Cyprus

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Military service is mandatory both in the Republic of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus. In the Greek-speaking South, it is mandatory for all male citizens and controversially also some non-citizens to serve in the Cypriot National Guard for 14 months. An alternative civilian service for conscientious objectors is possible, lasting 19 months. In the Turkish-speaking North, military service lasts between 12 and 15 months, while no alternative civilian service is recognized and conscientious objectors face imprisonment.

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Republic of Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus has an active military draft. Conscripts enlisting as of the 2020 winter draft have to serve a term of 14 months, [1] and military service continues as a reservist after the end of the term. Reservists are called up several times a year, for 1 or 2 days at a time, each year until the age of 50, at which point they can choose to voluntarily continue their military service. [2] The Cyprus Army enlists both Cypriot citizens and those who don't hold a Cypriot citizenship but have ‘Cypriot origins’, i.e. people residing in Cyprus and born of a parent of Greek Cypriot descent, lasting from the January 1 of the year in which they turn 18 years of age to December 31, of the year in which they turn 50.. [2] This is not in accordance with international law since only citizenship can be attached to civic duties.

All male residents of Cyprus who are of military age (16 and over) are required to obtain an exit visa from the Ministry of Defence.

If conscientious objector status is claimed due to religious or ideological reasons, the objector may serve either an alternative military or civil service, depending on the circumstances of each case. [2] Enlisting had been optional for members of the Armenian, Maronite, and Roman Catholic minorities, but as of 2008 service was made compulsory for them as well. [3]

Conscripts will complete three weeks basic training at one of three recruit training centres, located in Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca. After taking an oath of allegiance on the Thursday of their third week of basic training they are granted three days leave. They will then complete a week of individual training with their assigned units followed by two weeks of battle school. This is followed by MOS training that lasts between two and 10 weeks depending upon their specialty. [4]

The Cypriot National Guard has received one of the poorest rankings among European nations in the 2014 LGBTQ Military Index. [5]

Northern Cyprus

Military service in Northern Cyprus is mandatory for all male citizens and lasts between 12 and 15 months. An alternative civilian service is not recognized and conscientious objectors face being arrested for refusing to serve in the army. The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection supports several legal cases of Turkish Cypriot conscientious objectors against the Turkish government. [6] The European Court of Human Rights ruled in May 2024 that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was violating Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which provides freedom of thought, conscience and religion, by imprisoning conscientious objectors for refusing their service. [7]

In culture

The 2023 short film Buffer Zone describes the connection between a Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot conscript while on duty. [8] [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conscription</span> Compulsory enlistment into national or military service

Conscription is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day under various names. The modern system of near-universal national conscription for young men dates to the French Revolution in the 1790s, where it became the basis of a very large and powerful military. Most European nations later copied the system in peacetime, so that men at a certain age would serve 1 to 8 years on active duty and then transfer to the reserve force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conscientious objector</span> Person refusing military service on moral grounds

A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of conscience or religion. The term has also been extended to objecting to working for the military–industrial complex due to a crisis of conscience. In some countries, conscientious objectors are assigned to an alternative civilian service as a substitute for conscription or military service.

Citizens of Israel have refused to serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) or have disobeyed orders on the grounds of pacifism, antimilitarism, religious philosophy, or political disagreement with Israeli policy such as its occupation of the West Bank. Conscientious objectors in Israel are known as sarvanim which is sometimes translated as "refuseniks", or mishtamtim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military service</span> Performing the service in the armed forces of a state

Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job (volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conscription in Germany</span> Overview of conscription in Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany had conscription for male citizens between 1956 and 2011. On 22 November 2010, the German Minister of Defence proposed to the government to put conscription into abeyance on 1 July 2011. The constitution, however, retains provisions that would legalize the potential reintroduction of conscription.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conscription in Greece</span> Overview of conscription in Greece

Since 1914, Greece has had mandatory military service (conscription) of 12 months in the Army, Navy and the Air Force for men between the age of 19 to 45. Citizens discharged from active service are normally placed in the Reserve and are subject to periodic recall of 1–10 days at irregular intervals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reservist</span> Member of a military reserve force

A reservist is a person who is a member of a military reserve force. They are otherwise civilians, and in peacetime have careers outside the military. Reservists usually go for training on an annual basis to refresh their skills. This person is usually a former active-duty member of the armed forces, and they remain a reservist either voluntarily, or by obligation. In some countries such as Israel, Norway, Finland, Singapore, and Switzerland, reservists are conscripted soldiers who are called up for training and service when necessary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National service in Singapore</span> Compulsory service in Singapore

Singapore maintains an active conscription system in accordance with the regulations set by the Government of Singapore, known as National Service (NS). This requires all qualified male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents to serve a period of active duty military service in the uniformed services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conscription in Turkey</span> Overview of conscription in Turkey

In Turkey, compulsory military service applies to all male citizens from 21 to 41 years of age. It is 6 months for all males regardless of education degree. Different rules apply to Turks abroad. For Turks with multiple citizenship, the conscription lapses if they have already served in the army of another country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">End Conscription Campaign</span> Anti-apartheid organization allied to the United Democratic Front

The End Conscription Campaign was an anti-apartheid organisation allied to the United Democratic Front and composed of conscientious objectors and their supporters in South Africa. It was formed in 1983 to oppose the conscription of all white South African men into military service in the South African Defence Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military reserve force</span> Military organization composed of citizens

A military reserve force is a military organization whose members (reservists) have military and civilian occupations. They are not normally kept under arms, and their main role is to be available when their military requires additional manpower. Reserve forces are generally considered part of a permanent standing body of armed forces, and allow a nation to reduce its peacetime military expenditures and maintain a force prepared for war. During peacetime, reservists typically serve part-time alongside a civilian job, although most reserve forces have a significant permanent full-time component as well. Reservists may be deployed for weeks or months-long missions during peacetime to support specific operations. During wartime, reservists may be kept in service for months or years at a time, although typically not for as long as active duty soldiers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conscription in the Netherlands</span> Overview of conscription in the Netherlands

Conscription in the Netherlands was first employed in 1810 by French occupying forces. Napoleon's brother Louis Bonaparte, who was King of Holland from 1806 to 1810, had tried to introduce conscription a few years earlier, unsuccessfully. Every man aged 20 years or older had to enlist. By means of drawing lots it was decided who had to undertake service in the French army. It was possible to arrange a substitute against payment.

Halil Savda is a Turkish conscientious objector who has been subjected to continued arrest and conviction for his refusal to serve mandatory military service – in violation of Turkish law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conscription in the United Kingdom</span> 20th century systems for compulsory military service in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, military conscription has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1920, and the second from 1939 to 1960. The last conscription term ended in 1963 although many soldiers chose to continue in the service beyond 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alternative civilian service</span> Alternative to military service in countries with military conscription

Alternative civilian service, also called alternative services, civilian service, non-military service, and substitute service, is a form of national service performed in lieu of military conscription for various reasons, such as conscientious objection, inadequate health, or political reasons. Alternative service usually involves some kind of labor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conscription in Finland</span> Part of a general compulsion for national military service for all adult males

Conscription in Finland is part of a general compulsion for national military service for all adult males defined in the section 127 of the Constitution of Finland.

The Zivildienst is the most common mandatory alternative service for conscientious objectors of the national military service in the Austrian Armed Forces. Officially called Zivildienstleistender (ZDL) or Zivildiener it is common to call them Zivi. Since 1975, drafted men may refuse the military service on conscientious reasons and serve in the compulsory alternative community service instead. This generally involves work in social services like hospitals, youth organisations, nursing homes, rescue services, emergency medical services, and care of the disabled. The service usually lasts nine months. About more than 40% of the drafted male citizens in Austria choose this option by declaring a conflict of conscience. There is no conscription for women, therefore women are not obliged to serve as a Zivi, which is just a substitute for the still existing mandatory military service.

A construction soldier was a non-combat role of the National People's Army, the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic, from 1964 to 1990. Bausoldaten were conscientious objectors who accepted conscription but refused armed service and instead served in unarmed construction units. Bausoldaten were the only legal form of conscientious objection in the Warsaw Pact.

Conscientious objection in the United States is based on the Military Selective Service Act, which delegates its implementation to the Selective Service System. Conscientious objection is also recognized by the Department of Defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conscription in Georgia</span> History and current situation of Georgias conscription

Conscription in Georgia applies to male citizens aged 18 to 27, who need to serve the Georgia Defence Forces for a period of 12 months.

References

  1. "Government cuts army service (Update 2: adds party reactions)". Cyprus Mail. 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  2. 1 2 3 "ΝΟΜΟ΢ ΠΟΤ ΔΝΟΠΟΙΔΙ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΘΔΩΡΔΙ ΣΟΤ΢ ΠΔΡΙ ΣΗ΢ ΔΘΝΙΚΗ΢ ΦΡΟΤΡΑ΢ ΝΟΜΟΤ΢ ΣΟΤ 1964 ΔΩ΢ 2008".
  3. "Cyprus" (PDF). Quaker Council for European Affairs. June 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  4. "Γενικό Επιτελείο Εθνικής Φρουράς". www.army.gov.cy.
  5. "LGBT Military Index | HCSS". hcss.nl. 20 February 2014.
  6. Annual Report. Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe 2022/23 (PDF). European Bureau for Conscientious Objection. 2023. p. 104.
  7. "Joint Press Release: Landmark judgment by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of reservist conscientious objector Murat Kanatlı v Türkiye". European Bureau for Conscientious Objection. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  8. "buffer zone". SAVVAS STAVROU. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  9. "Buffer Zone – Landshut Short Film Festival" . Retrieved 2024-08-30.