Conscientious objector
（重定向自Conchie）
![](/Images/godic/202501/05/Muhammad_Ali_NYWTS3944.jpg")
![Blessed are the Peacemakers (1917) by George Bellows.](/Images/godic/202501/05/Blessed_are_the_Peacemakers3944.gif")
![Conscientious Objector memorial in Tavistock Square Gardens, London — dedicated on 15 May 1994](/Images/godic/202501/05/Conscientious_Objector_memorial,_Tavistock_Sq_Gardens3944.jpg")
![John T. Neufeld was a Mennonite World War I conscientious objector sentenced to 15 years hard labor in the military prison at Leavenworth. He was paroled to do dairy work and released after serving five months of his sentence. His diary of army and prison life is published in a collection with three other WWI Mennonite conscientious objectors.](/Images/godic/202501/05/JohnTNeufeld3944.jpg")
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, disability, and/or religion. In general, conscientious objector status is only considered in the context of military conscription and is not applicable to volunteer military forces.