by PeWi
Thu Jun 23rd, 2005 at 07:42:23 AM EST
You might have read here, here or here (unfortunately all in German, nothing found about him in an English language publication)
A German Major has been found within his legal rights by the highest German Court. Florian Pfaff had refused to continue to programme software that could have been used in Irak for military purposes. His reason was his conscience forbade him to become active in creating this software. He joined the army to defend Germany and programming this software was in breach of the stated goal of the German Army - only to be used to defend Germany.
After refusing the order, he was demoted. The court judged in his favour and stated:
In the German Army you not only have the right, but the duty to question all orders and to test them against your consciense before acting on them. The German law demands "nicht den bedingungslosen, sondern den gewissenhaften Gehorsam." Not unconditional, but conscientious obedience.
cross posted at daily kos
