- Austrian Red Cross
- Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation (ACCORD)
- Wiedner Hauptstraße 32, 1041 Wien
- T +43 1 589 00 583
- F +43 1 589 00 589
- info@ecoi.net
Document #1352057
ACCORD – Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation (Author)
Nach einer Recherche in unserer Länderdokumentation und im Internet können wir Ihnen zu oben genannter Fragestellung Materialien zur Verfügung stellen, die unter anderem folgende Informationen enthalten:
Das Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) verweist in einer Anfragebeantwortung vom 14. April 2003 auf einen Konsularbeamten der libanesischen Botschaft in Ottawa, wonach Männer ab 18 Jahren einen 12monatigen Militärdienst abzuleisten hätten. Personen, die ihren Wehrdienst nicht vollständig ableisten oder sich entziehen, würden vor ein Militärgericht gebracht werden, das die Betroffenen zu einer Haftstrafe, niemals zu einer Geldstrafe verurteilen würde. Es gebe keinen Wehrersatzdienst und Verweigerung aus Gewissensgründen würde nicht anerkannt:
“According to a consular officer at the Embassy of Lebanon, in Ottawa, men who reach the age of 18 years are subject to compulsory conscription for a period of 12 months (11 Apr. 2003). In the case of women, there is no compulsory conscription, since their "[military] service and its conditions have yet to be specified by [a] decision of the government" (Lebanon n.d.). Persons who do not complete, or who evade, compulsory conscription are "transferred to" and charged before the military court, and are liable to imprisonment for a period determined by the court (ibid. 11 Apr. 2003). The penalty for non-completion or evasion of compulsory conscription is always a prison term, and never a monetary fine (ibid.). There is no alternative service and no option to pay a fee to avoid compulsory conscription in Lebanon (ibid.). Lebanon does not recognize conscientious objection (ibid.).” (IRB, 14. April 2003)
In einer weiteren Anfragebeantwortung vom September 1997 zitiert IRB den libanesischen Militärattache in Washington, wonach ein junger Mann, der sich nicht zum Militärdienst meldet, mit 12 Monaten Gefängnis bestraft würde:
“The following information was provided during a 19 September 1997 telephone interview with the Military Attaché at the Embassy of Lebanon in Washington, DC. The source stated that young men who volunteer for military service can stay in the army as long as they wish. Military service is compulsory for men at 18 years of age and lasts 12 months. Exemptions are granted to those who have physical disabilities and those whose brothers died in the line of duty. Lebanese youths reaching the age of 18 and who have been living abroad for at least 10 years have been temporarily exempted from military service. The young people affected by this measure must submit a request accompanied by a residency certificate from the host country or a photocopy of a foreign-resident identification card verified by a Lebanese embassy or consulate. Lebanese students studying in Lebanon or abroad, married men or young men who are the only males in their families are not required to perform their military service. A young man who is conscripted and fails to report for service would receive a prison sentence of 12 months if caught by the authorities. After the age of 29 years old, Lebanese are not required to perform their military service.” (IRB, 22. September 1997)
Philip Brumley, General Counsel der Organisation Watch Tower - Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania/USA, nimmt in einer e-mail Auskunft vom 14. April 2004 ausführlich zur Lage der Zeugen Jehovas im Libanon Stellung. Er betont, dass trotz des Verbots der Zeugen Jehovas 3.500 Menschen den Glauben öffentlich ausüben würden:
Die Behörden hätten Gottesdienste aufgelöst und im März 1997 die Schließung von drei Gotteshäusern veranlasst. Angehörige der Zeugen Jehovas seien auch verhaftet und wegen der Mitgliedschaft in einer „Geheimsekte“ verurteilt worden. In einzelnen Fällen seien Mitglieder auch wegen Wehrdienstverweigerung aus Gewissensgründen verhaftet worden:
“Although Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to practice their faith in Lebanon, this has not been without problems. From time to time, police or local authorities have ordered congregations to stop meeting for worship. In fact, after the 1997 Supreme Court decision that effectively upheld the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses, the General Security Office closed down three Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses (houses of worship) just in the month of March 1997. Additionally, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been arrested while sharing their faith with others and they have been convicted in court for belonging to a “secret society. In the past, we are aware of Jehovah’s Witnesses who were imprisoned because of their conscientious objection to military service. However, it does not appear to be the norm.” (Philipp Brumley, Schreiben vom 14. April 2004)
In einer IRB-Anfragebeantwortung vom Mai 1996 wird ein Repräsentant der kanadischen Zeugen Jehovas zitiert, wonach die Mitglieder der Gruppe im Libanon eine Gefängnisstrafe von 12 bis 15 Monaten statt ihres Militärdienstes verbüssen würde:
“According to a representative of the Canadian Branch of Jehovah Witnesses in Toronto, Jehovah Witnesses in Lebanon encounter no problems with authorities and "are not persecuted" (1 May 1996). The source added that Jehovah Witnesses do not encounter problems with Syrian forces or authorities in Lebanon (ibid.). They are able to hold small meetings, although not with the higher profile they would permit themselves in Canada (ibid.). The source noted, however, that Jehovah Witnesses are not able to distribute leaflets or publicly disseminate information (ibid.). Due to their objection to military service, Jehovah Witnesses serve a jail term of between twelve and fifteen months instead of the obligatory military service (ibid.). Previously, according to the source, Jehovah Witnesses serving jail terms were not treated well in Lebanon, but their treatment has improved and they are permitted to attend worship meetings outside of jail (ibid.). The source added that in smaller centres Jehovah Witnesses may encounter difficulties from local authorities (ibid.). Information from the Jehovah Witness World Headquarters in Brooklyn, New York could not be obtained within time constraints.“ (IRB, 1. Mai 1996)
In den ACCORD derzeit zur Verfügung stehenden Quellen konnten keine außer den von Ihnen genannten Informationen dazu gefunden werden, dass Zeugen Jehovas ihren Militärdienst in Zivilkleidung ableisten können.
Diese Informationen beruhen auf einer zeitlich begrenzten Recherche in öffentlich zugänglichen Dokumenten, die ACCORD derzeit zur Verfügung stehen. Die Antwort stellt keine abschließende Meinung zur Glaubwürdigkeit eines bestimmten Asylansuchens dar.
Quellen:
ecoi.net is run by the Austrian Red Cross (department ACCORD) in cooperation with Informationsverbund Asyl & Migration. ecoi.net is funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Austrian Ministry of the Interior and Caritas Austria. ecoi.net is supported by ECRE & UNHCR.
