Finnish CO seeks asylum in Belgium
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Tuukka Masalin, a conscientious objector from Jyväskylä, who refuses to do both military service and alternative non-military service, has sought political asylum in Belgium.
In August he was given a six month prison sentence, which was to take effect at the beginning of January.
Masalin left Finland shortly before the sentence was to begin. He is now staying at a reception centre for asylum seekers near Brussels.
On the web site of the Finnish Union of Conscientious Objectors, Masalin says that he hopes to raise public debate in Finland. He sees the conscription system as unfounded, and the system of civilian service as a mere substitute for the military.
Masalin says that he chose to refuse all types of national service because of the many problems that he sees in the current conscientious objection system.
He says that the duration of alternative service is unreasonable, compared with what most conscripts have to serve in the military.
He also says that the prison sentences handed down on those who refuse all service are unreasonably long, and questionable from the point of view of human rights.
The Union of Conscientious Objectors has given its support to Masalin’s efforts.
Masalin is not the first Finnish CO to seek refuge in Belgium. In 2001 another Jyväskylä resident, Jussi Hermaja, sought political asylum in Belgium. He was refused, but Finland did not demand his extradition.
Hermaja’s sentence expired in the autumn of 2006, and he is no longer subject to mandatory military, or civilian service.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 30.1.2009 - TODAY |
 Finnish CO seeks asylum in Belgium |
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