In 1926, Pekurinen repeatedly refused mandatory conscription, leading to his imprisonment between 1929 and 1931.
For refusing to declare loyalty to the Reich, and refusing conscription into the army, they were declared to be enemies of Germany and persecuted.
His advocacy of civil disobedience and public encouragement of people to refuse conscription did little to endear him to his colleagues.
During the Conscription Crisis of 1944 the prison eventually included Canadians who had refused conscription.
Seven men were at that time incarcerated for refusing conscription; Whitlam arranged for their freedom.
A3 South Africa sentenced a pacifist to six years in prison for refusing conscription into the army.
"He was a fighter against the Vietnam war and he refused conscription, so he is a guy with a stand."
The union had opposed the war and urged members and others to refuse conscription into the armed forces.
An 18-year-old pacifist from an affluent white Johannesburg suburb was sentenced today to six years in prison for refusing conscription into the South African Army.