Court-martial urged to dismiss case
Symon Hill gives an update on the case of Michael Lyons
A court-martial has been urged to dismiss the case against a naval medic who was accused of ‘disobedience’ after developing ethical objections to the war in Afghanistan. Michael Lyons appeared before a judge in Portsmouth on 20 May.
He was charged with disobeying an order in September, when he was applying for discharge on grounds of conscientious objection. He asked to be kept on non-combatant duties while his application was considered, but his superiors responded by ordering him to register for a rifle. He was arrested when he failed to do so.
Defence counsel Fiona Edington argued that this was an unlawful order as it was designed to trap Michael Lyons into being arrested.
Prosecuting counsel Damian Reed quoted the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors (ACCO), who opposed Michael Lyons’ request for discharge. They described his position as ‘political’ rather than ‘moral’.
Supporters of Michael Lyons, including Forces Watch and War Resisters International, insisted that such a distinction is not valid in law. They pointed out that it is possible to have a moral objection to a particular war as well as to war in general.
The judge will rule next week on the defence’s request that the case be thrown out. If this is turned down, a full trial is expected within weeks.
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