A/51/542/Add.1
English
Page 20
the figures regarding the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses in prison as of
1 June 1996 are as follows:
Kassandra Agricultural Prison
58
Kessavetia-Volos Agricultural Prison
46
Avlona Military Prison
85
Sindos Military Prison
164
Total number of objectors
353
Total of sentences imposed
Total of sentences served
1,147 years
296 years
90. According to the Ministries of Justice and Defence, special efforts have
been made with regard to Jehovah’s Witness conscientious objectors, on two
levels.
Serving of sentence
91. The sentences imposed upon the objectors are carried out in the military
prisons. At the same time, efforts are made to have them transferred to the
Kassandra agricultural prison, where one real day of imprisonment counts, in the
best case, for two, depending on the type of work carried out by every detainee.
New places of detention
92. In a spirit of sensitivity, due to the extraordinary nature of the
detainees of this category, it was decided on the one hand that they would be
separated from other categories of detainees, and, on the other, that they would
all be gathered and detained together, in a single prison. For this reason a
special addition to the Military Prison of Salonica was established at Sindos
with all facilities. The conditions of detention are reportedly satisfactory
and Jehovah’s Witnesses are said to be able to attend to their devotions.
93. As far as religious education is concerned, students are excused from the
Orthodox religious course. However, non-governmental sources report that in
several schools there are almost daily religious sermons hostile to the faith of
the Jehovah’s Witnesses and this is said to create psychological trauma among
young Jehovah’s Witness children.
(ii)
Education
94. The account of the situation of the Catholics and Protestants applies to
the Jehovah’s Witnesses as well, but their situation seems to be worse. Apart
from the information given above concerning religious education,
non-governmental representatives have reported that Jehovah’s Witness children
who refuse to take part in events contrary to their religious beliefs, including
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