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Freedom Of Conscience

Professional soldiers also have the right to freedom of conscience

The Federal Administrative Court has granted a major of the German Armed Forces the right to refuse an order in connection with Iraq war on grounds of conscience. With this decision the Senate hearing the case at the court in Leipzig cleared the soldier of the charge of dereliction of duty. His demotion to captain will be set aside. The major had refused to work on the development of a computer program. In his view it could not be ruled out that the software might be used to support acts of war in Iraq. The court found that freedom of conscience among career soldiers should in principle be valued more highly than following an order.
Ref. https://www.germnews.de/dn

Conscience Freedom

Well that was a bad idea. That would leave to some serious problem in world that allows all kinds of beliefs and ideals. You could have any number of deserters for any number of reasons and it would be completely legal to just neglect your duties and say it was on conscience. I think the courts should have thought a little harder about this one.