
War Resisters' International's database of prisoners for peace and conscientious objectors is part of the Right to Refuse to Kill programme. It keeps track of known prisoners for peace and conscientious objectors, and allows supporters to access information on conscientious objectors. It is also linked to War Resisters' International's co-alert system.
Below is a list of activists currently in prison, followed by the latest additions to the database. Alternatively, you can search the activist database or the detention database.
Nonviolent activists and conscientious objectors currently in prison
Armenia
28 Dec 2009
—
27 Jun 2012
Artik Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
2 Mar 2010
—
1 Sep 2012
Kosh Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
9 Mar 2010
—
8 Sep 2012
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
23 Mar 2010
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22 Sep 2012
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
14 Apr 2010
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12 Oct 2012
Artik Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
5 May 2010
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4 Nov 2012
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
24 May 2010
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23 Nov 2012
Kosh Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
6 Jun 2010
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8 Jun 2012
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 24 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
19 Jul 2010
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18 Jul 2012
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 24 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
2 Aug 2010
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1 Feb 2013
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
3 Aug 2010
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2 Feb 2013
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
3 Aug 2010
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2 Aug 2012
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 24 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
4 Aug 2010
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3 Feb 2013
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
9 Aug 2010
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8 Feb 2013
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
11 Aug 2010
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10 Aug 2013
Kosh Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 36 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
13 Aug 2010
—
12 Aug 2012
Kosh Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 24 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
24 Aug 2010
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23 Nov 2012
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 27 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
25 Aug 2010
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24 Aug 2013
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 36 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
27 Aug 2010
—
26 Feb 2013
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
6 Sep 2010
—
5 Mar 2013
Kosh Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
11 Sep 2010
—
10 Mar 2013
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
24 Sep 2010
—
23 Mar 2013
Artik Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
29 Sep 2010
—
28 Sep 2012
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 24 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
21 Oct 2010
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20 Apr 2013
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
12 Nov 2010
—
11 Nov 2013
Kosh Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 36 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
30 Dec 2010
—
29 Jun 2012
Kosh Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 18 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
2 Feb 2011
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1 Feb 2014
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 36 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
3 Feb 2011
—
2 Aug 2013
Kosh Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
9 Mar 2011
—
8 Sep 2013
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
14 Mar 2011
—
13 Mar 2013
Kosh Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 24 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
8 Apr 2011
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7 Oct 2013
Erebuni Penal Institutions
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
11 Apr 2011
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10 Oct 2013
Kosh Penal Institution
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
1 Jul 2011
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30 Jun 2013
Nubarashen Penal Institution
Nubarashen Prison
Yerevan
Armenia
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 24 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
7 Jul 2011
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6 Jan 2014
Nubarashen Penal Institution
Nubarashen Prison
Yerevan
Armenia
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
7 Jul 2011
—
6 Jan 2014
Nubarashen Penal Institution
Nubarashen Prison
Yerevan
Armenia
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
19 Jul 2011
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18 Jan 2014
Nubarashen Penal Institution
Nubarashen Prison
Yerevan
Armenia
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 30 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
27 Jul 2011
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Nubarashen Penal Institution
Nubarashen Prison
Yerevan
Armenia
Jehovah's Witness CO. Imprisoned for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I), awaiting trial.
6 Aug 2011
—
5 Aug 2013
Nubarashen Penal Institution
Nubarashen Prison
Yerevan
Armenia
Jehovah's Witness CO. Sentenced to 24 months for refusing to perform military service (article 327, para I)
Eritrea
24 Sep 1994
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Sawa Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
24 Sep 1994
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Sawa Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
24 Sep 1994
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Sawa Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
9 May 2001
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Sawa Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
1 Jun 2003
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Sawa Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
1 Feb 2004
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Sawa Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
1 Feb 2005
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Sawa Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
1 Feb 2005
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Sawa Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
27 Dec 2005
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Sawa Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
1 Jan 2006
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Sawa Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
1 Jan 2007
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Sawa Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
1 Jan 2007
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Sawa Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service. Imprisoned some time in 2007 - the exact date is not known.
26 Aug 2008
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Meitir Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
26 Aug 2008
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Meitir Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service.
1 Mar 2009
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Meitir Camp
Jehovah's Witness. Imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service. Detained some time in March 2009.
Germany
15 Mar 2012
—
11 Jun 2012
JVA Frankfurt
Obere Kreuzäckerstraße 4, 60435 Frankfurt am Main
Sentenced to a fine equivalent to 90 days in prison for obstructing a military train in 2008. Refuses to pay the fine, and began serving her sentence on 15 March 2012.
India
6 Nov 2000
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On 2 November, 2000 Irom Sharmila Chanu, a Manipuri poet decided to go on a hunger strike after the Indian Army massacred ten civilians in Malom, Manipur. On 6 November 2000 she was arrested by the police and charged with attempt to commit suicide under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code.
On 21 November 2000 a plastic tube was inserted into her nose and liquid nutrient was inserted into her body. She is being force-fed and has been surviving on this liquid diet and in solitary confinement as a high security prisoner for the last nearly ten years. She is routinely released every year only to be re-arrested again.
Israel
15 May 2012
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Druze conscientious objector. Arrested for refusing to enlist in the Israeli Defence Forces.
Korea, South
17 Feb 2011
—
16 Aug 2012
Southern Seoul Prison
837, P.O Box 165, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 153-600
Sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for refusing military service.
23 Feb 2011
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22 Aug 2012
Southern Seoul Jail
837, P.O Box 164, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 153-600
Conscientious objector. Sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for refusing military service.
24 Feb 2011
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23 Aug 2012
Yeoju Prison
Yeoju Prison
Box 30
P. O. Yeojuucheguk Yeoju-eup,
Yeoju-gun Gyeonggi-do,
Korea,
469-885
Sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for conscientious objection to military service
11 Apr 2011
—
10 Oct 2012
Southern Seoul Prison
837, P.O Box 165, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 153-600
Sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for refusing military service.
14 Sep 2011
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13 Mar 2013
Daegu prison
P.O. Box 48, Suseong-gu, Daeju, South Korea, 706-600
Conscientious objector. Sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for refusing military service.
30 Apr 2012
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29 Oct 2013
Seoul Detention Centre
P.O. Box 20, Gunpo, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 437-050
Conscientious objector. Sentenced to 18 month's imprisonment on 25 April 2012.
Turkey
20 Dec 2011
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Kocaeli 1 Nolu F Tipi
Yüksek Güvenlikli Kapalı Ceza ve İnfaz Kurumu
A7\20 Koğuşu
İzmit - Kocaeli
Arrested on 20 December 2011, being investigated for membership of KCK (Kurdish Community Union). Ismail Yıldız is a journalist, and declared his conscientious objection while in prison, on 27 February 2012.
Turkmenistan
6 Mar 2012
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6 Mar 2014
Jehovah's Witness, conscientious objector. Sentenced to two years' imprisonment for refusing military service.
10 May 2012
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Jehovah's Witness. Held in pre-trial detention for refusal of military service.
United States of America
26 Apr 2000
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26 Apr 2022
FCI Terre Haute
POB 33
Terre Haute, IN 47808
USA
22 years for convictions resulting from providing humanitarian and financial aid to Iraqis in violation of U.S. sanctions, February 2005
15 May 2010
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JRCF
830 Sabalu Road, Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027
Alleged to have leaked military video and documents showing evidence of US war crimes.
1 Aug 2011
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Lancaster County Prison
Drawer C, 625 East King St, Lancaster, PA 17602-3199
Arrested at military recruiting office 1 August 2011, awaiting trial
Latest additions to Prisoners for Peace/CO database
Israel
Turkmenistan
Egypt
Korea, South
United Kingdom
Germany
Turkey