The refusal of military service of Jehovah's Witnesses as an implementation of the consciense clause – historical and legal conditions
Marek Bielecki
Off-Campus Faculty of Law and Social Sciences in Stalowa Wola, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, , Polandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3880-017X
Abstract
The subject matter of the present paper is the issue concerning military service of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The author mainly focuses on legal regulations and analysis of judicial decisions, nevertheless, the most important aspects of Jehovah’s Witnesses teaching are also included. The article presents the evolution of legal regulations as well as the standpoint of jurisdiction in this particular area. The permission to refuse military service of Jehovah’s Witnesses had not been granted by either the legislator or the court until the period of system shift. As it is emphasized by the author, problems that arise due to the existing regulations and their practical implementation are believed to become a redundant debate, especially when common military service obligation is suspended. However, in the light of existing threats it cannot be excluded that the military service obligation will be implemented.
Keywords:
Jehovah’s Witnesses, military service, substitute service, conscientious objection, freedom of conscience and religion, religious freedom, religious organization, Law on ReligionReferences
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Off-Campus Faculty of Law and Social Sciences in Stalowa Wola, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin,
Dr hab., Instytut Prawa i Ekonomii, Wydział Zamiejscowy Prawa i Nauk o Społeczeństwie
w Stalowej Woli, Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, ul. Ofiar Katynia 6a, 37-45- Stalowa Wola.
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