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Fighting for peace: International Conscientious Objectors' Day
From Turkey and Israel where conscription drafts the inoccent into brutal occupations, to the US and Britain where recruits later realise the true nature of imperialism, to those who refuse to work for the arms industry, we need to celebrate our war resisters, writes SYMON HILL
People place flowers at the conscientious objectors stone, during the annual Conscientious Objectors' Day ceremony at Tavistock Square, London

WHEN was someone last imprisoned in Britain for refusing to be part of the armed forces?

If you don’t know the answer, you might reasonably guess 1918 or 1945. There were conscientious objectors in prison in both world wars. Some were imprisoned during post-war conscription — so-called “national service” — so you might guess 1963, when conscription ended in Britain.

In fact, the correct answer is 2011.

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