Tell Israel: Free the Shministim!

Name: Mia Tamarin
Age: 19
Location: Tel-Aviv
Why I am one of the Shministim:
“I cannot become part of an organization the purpose of which is to fend off violence by violence, because it stands unequivocally contrary to everything I believe in and to my whole life. There always is another, non-violent option, and it is this option that I choose.”
First Sentence: 28th Sept. – 10th Oct. 2008 (12 days)
Second Sentence: 12th – 24th Oct. 2008 (12 days)
Third Sentence: 5th – 23rd Nov 2008 (18 days)

Mia is a recent graduate of the United World College in New Mexico. Mia appealed to the military Conscience Committee to be granted conscientious objector status, but was rejected; the Committee members were left “insufficiently convinced” and she was sent to jail to serve her first sentence on the 28th September 2008.

In her declaration of refusal she stated:

“I have no doubt that I should be serving my country, I have been doing so in many ways from a very young age, and intend of course to continue doing so, not out of compulsion but fully and truly of my own will. I cannot become part of an organization the purpose of which is to fend off violence by violence, because it stands unequivocally contrary to everything I believe in and to my whole life. There always is another, non-violent option, and it is this option that I choose.”