Turkmenistan - Sentences on conscientious objectors a 'state secret'?

Turkmenistan: February 03, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

The City Court in Dashoguz - which sentenced 18-year-old Jehovah's Witnessconscientious objector Navruz Nasyrlaev to two years' imprisonment inDecember 2009 - refused to discuss his case with Forum 18 News Service.Asked if it is a state secret, a woman at the court responded: "Yes." Hiscase brings to five the number of Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned forrefusing compulsory military service in Turkmenistan, with a further threeserving non-custodial sentences. Five of the eight sentences were handeddown by Dashoguz City Court. Nasyrlaev's imprisonment comes as the Turkmengovernment's January 2010 report to the United Nations (UN) Human RightsCommittee made no reference to any right to conduct alternative civilianservice.

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