Jehovahs witnesses banned in russia supreme court declares. Why putins persecution of jehovahs witnesses should worry. Beliefs vary, but some of the more controversial rules include restrictions on sexual activity and dating. The russian orthodox church is predominant in russia, and some of its members have pushed to outlaw or curb the jehovahs witnesses. Personally, i think jehovahs witnesses combine the worst features of an international corporation that exploits its own members, and a totalitarian state. In putins russia, jehovahs witnesses are labeled extremists and accused of being american spies. Russia cant tell the difference between jehovahs witnesses. Older watchtower publications have also been scanned and made available on the internet archive at.
Vigilante action against jehovahs witnesses property. China supports russias persecution of jehovahs witnesses. He was arrested and charged with extremism in the spring of 2018, merely for practicing his faith. The jehovahs witnesses claim more than 170,000 adherents in russia. Jun 01, 2017 jehovahs witnesses, with about 8 million followers worldwide, are far from the only religious group harassed in russia, where president vladimir putin has aligned the government with the. Jehovah s witnesses are a division of christians who follow their own version of the bible.
A focus of the soviet attack watchtower online library. Mormons pledge to stay in russia despite religious clampdown. And jehovah s witnesses now are under sustained attack in russia. We will do everything possible to challenge the ruling, sergei cherepanov, a spokesperson for the jehovahs witnesses organization in russia said, according to interfax news agency. Apr 21, 2017 according to the witnesses, extremism is profoundly alien to biblebased beliefs and morality of members of the jehovahs witnesses faith. After years, even decades, of persecution against the religious group, the kremlin moved to get rid of the. Apr 20, 2017 the jehovah s witnesses claim more than 170,000 adherents in russia. Apr 26, 2017 the jehovah s witnesses had a small and persecuted following in the soviet union. Apr 24, 2017 the russian supreme court banned jehovahs witnesses branch with further expropriation of church property and belongings. Why putins persecution of jehovahs witnesses should. Unlike many religious groups, jehovahs witnesses, who number more than 170,000 in russia and more than eight million worldwide, have a policy of staying politically neutral and have not. Apr 07, 2017 the russian federation supreme court continued hearings for a third day in the case to ban jehovahs witnesses in russia. Apr 28, 2017 on april 20, the russian supreme court declared jehovahs witnesses, a christian denomination that rejects violence, an extremist group and banned it from operating on russian territory.
Apr 22, 2017 russias estimated 170,000 jehovahs witnesses now risk criminal prosecution if they continue to meet for prayer or bible study, forum 18, a religious freedom monitoring organization, said. Divine will international assembly of jehovahs witnesses. Russias supreme court bans jehovahs witnesses human. Jehovahs witnesses have been forbidden from practising since 2017, when russia s supreme court branded the local branch of the global church to. Since 2009, 95 materials distributed by the organization in the country have been declared extremist and 8 jehovah s witnesses branches have been liquidated, according to the justice ministry. For the past few months, russias 175,000 jehovahs witnesses have been on edge. Russia, with a population of more than 150 million, has a total of 117,000 jehovahs witnesses one jehovahs witness. A number of splinter groups have separated from jehovah s witnesses since 1931 after members broke affiliation with the watch tower bible and tract society of pennsylvania. Russian jailing of jehovahs witness raises persecution. Last month, dennis christensen, a danish witness who lived in the western city of oryol until his arrest at a prayer service in 2017. In saratov, roman gridasov, gennady german, aleksey miretsky, konstantin. Apr 20, 2017 for the past few months, russia s 175,000 jehovah s witnesses have been on edge.
Meanwhile, a wave of practicing jehovahs witnesses are fleeing russia. Jehovah s witnesses is a millenarian restorationist christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream christianity. The book, published as the posthumous work of russell, was a compilation of his commentaries on the bible. Hearings continue for a third day in the case to ban. With about 170,000 followers in russia and 8 million worldwide, jehovahs witnesses are a christian denomination known for doortodoor preaching, close bible study, and rejection of military. Evgenii, 43, also fled russia with his family after jehovah s witnesses were classified as extremists. Russia just effectively banned jehovahs witnesses from. Modern day bible students value the writings of russell and still. Apr 04, 2017 jehovahs witnesses, members of a denomination founded in the united states in the 19th century and active in russia for more than 100 years, refuse military service, do not vote and view god as.
Jehovahs witness in russia sentenced to 6 years for. A busy religion as of 2010, there are over 7 million active jehovahs witnesses. Jehovahs witnesses gathered last month in a house in the village of vorokhobino, north of moscow, where they meet for services. Jehovahs witnesses new world bible, other jehovahs witness and muslim books, an article on the jewish concept of. The socalled clergy in russia are the ones pushing the state to persecute the witnesses. Earlier group defections from the watch tower society, most of them between 1917 and 1931, had resulted in a number of religious movements forming under the umbrella term of the bible student. On december 2014, russias supreme court passed a resolution to declare the central site of the international organization of jehovahs witnesses as extremist. The jehovah s witnesses have been banned as an extremist group in a thursday supreme court decision that observers feared signaled a further step. Jehovahs witnesses, fleeing russia crackdown, seek. Russia officially banned the christian denomination last year and declared the religious group an extremist organization. Russia bans jehovahs witnesses, background veterans today.
Russia imprisons jehovahs witnesses for their faith. Aug 18, 2017 the jehovah s witnesses parent organization in russia and 395 regional branches were formally placed on the justice ministry s list of extremist groups on august 17, a procedural move following. Russia moves to ban jehovahs witnesses as extremist the. Russias federal security service, the fsb, also holds the denomination under deep suspicion. Jehovahs witnesses pray during a regional congress of jehovahs witnesses in minsk, belarus in 2015. Facts the watchtower society doesnt want you to know. The case against the religious groups bible dates to july 2015, when a shipment of the books from finland was. Russia bans jehovahs witnesses, calling it an extremist. Jehovah s witness sentenced in far east january 21, 2020 jehovah s witnesses arrested at gathering in apartment january 20, 2020 putins annual state of the nation address elevates values january 15, 2020 jehovah s witnesses accused of child abuse, among other things january, 2020. However, smaller faiths tend to face more intense hostility. Jehovahs witnesses letter writing campaign 2017 attempts. Why russia is afraid of jehovahs witnesses baptist news global. Jehovahs witnesses sing songs at the beginning of a meeting in. In early 2017, jehovahs witnesses were invited just once to write vladimir putin.
Jehovahs witnesses face the challenge of the coronavirus. Semonian, a spokesman at the witnesses world headquarters. One article published by the web site usa news claimed that trump had sent a strong warning to russia about the ban. Russias telecom and mass communications watchdog roskomnadzor in 2010 prohibited publication of jehovahs witnesses magazines in russia for their extremist content. Perhaps because the few newsrooms with the ability to do their own story out of russia view the plight of the jehovah s witnesses as a mere sidebar to the far more globally engrossing story of u. Moscow ap russian president vladimir putin has pledged to look into the reported persecution of jehovah s witnesses. Why putins persecution of jehovahs witnesses should worry us. The state departments point person on religious liberty is calling for the jehovahs witnesses imprisoned in russia to be released. Jehovahs witnesses religious organization has had many legal problems in russia. Why is putins russia so afraid of jehovahs witnesses.
Throughout the history of jehovahs witnesses, their beliefs, doctrines, and practices have. Apr 22, 2017 russia has duties under the european court of human rights to protect freedom of worship and belief. Did trump warn russia over jehovahs witnesses ban and. Jul, 2009 jehovahs witnesses are banned in china, parts of africa and some former soviet republics. In may, in birobidzhan, a small town close to russia s border with china, police raided 20 homes belonging to jehovah s witnesses, according to members of the religious organization. Russian police, fsb raid homes of jehovahs witnesses in. The crackdown on jehovah s witnesses in russia is escalating, even one year after president vladimir putin called for an investigation, says a new report from human rights watch.
Vasiliy kalin, a member of the presiding committee for the administrative center of jehovahs witnesses in russia, stated while addressing the court. Mar 28, 2017 this ban is not regarding individual jehovahs witnesses as peaceful people. Jehovahs witnesses persecuted in russia and worldwide. Apr 20, 2017 jehovahs witnesses said they would appeal against the ruling.
Russian court bans jehovahs witnesses as extremist. Authorities in russia are arresting and detaining more and more members. They also believed that after armageddon, jesus would rule the world from heaven with 144,000 faithful christians, as specified in the book of. How thankful jehovahs people are that it was the divine will for his witnesses to come together july 27 to august 3, 1958, in new york city for a monumental witness to his namethe divine will international assembly of jehovahs witnesses. Jehovahs witnesses mobilize global response to threat of ban. Religious freedom and the jehovahs witnesses in russia.
How russia is stepping up persecution of jehovahs witnesses time. Authorities raid peaceful religious meeting of jehovahs. Russia s supreme court banned the jehovahs witnesses from operating in the country. The miniscule percentage of jehovahs witnesses in russia relative to the general population hardly pose a threat to the might structure of the russian government and society. Historical watchtower publications jehovahs witnesses. Apr 21, 2017 russia has banned jehovah s witnesses as an extremist group, in a sign of the russian orthodox church s political influence. New yorka recent video published on, a news outlet covering the central federal district of russia, shows armed russian police officers and agents of the federal security service fsb raiding a peaceful religious meeting of jehovah s witnesses in oryol, russia, on may 25, 2017. Why care that russias jehovahs witnesses face persecution.
Jehovahs witnesses banned in russia for extremist activity. Nearly 100 jehovah s witnesses face charges in russia, and 25 of them are in jail awaiting trial. In a decision adopted on april 26, 2019, the wgad denounced russias systemic persecution of jehovahs witnesses in a case involving mr. Branded extremists, russias jehovahs witnesses preach the. Jul 18, 2018 in april 2017, russias supreme court ruled that jehovahs witnesses, which represents the faith of an estimated 175,000 russians, violates the countrys antiextremist statutes. Contrary to one time us presidential candidate barry goldwaters dictum. They werent all to putin other officials were identified but his was the most visible name. The chairman of the presiding committee of the administrative center of jehovah s witnesses in russia, vasily kalin, said. I am very concerned that this decision will open a new era of opposition against jehovah s witnesses, whose right to meet in peace, to access religious literature and to share the christian hope contained in the gospels. The most comprehensive site to download historical publications is. Exjehovahs witness reveals secrets of religious group.
In april 2017, the supreme court of russia labeled jehovahs witnesses an extremist organization, banned its. Apr 12, 2017 but from my limited search it appears to me that the wire stories were largely relegated to media web pages. There are over eight million jehovahs witnesses in 240 countries worldwide. May 17, 2016 under russia s antiextremism law, jehovah s witnesses, who number fewer than 200,000, could be barred from practicing their religion in russia. A former jehovah s witness has offered a rare insight into the religious group, describing it as a cult that tries to control emotions, thought, information and behavior of a person. They have odd beliefs about blood and a slightly unhealthy interest. Russian law enforcement agencies have raided more homes belonging to members of the jehovah s witnesses in regions east of. The group has come under increasing pressure over the past year, including a ban on distributing literature deemed to violate. Jehovahs witnesses is a millenarian restorationist christian denomination with nontrinitarian.
An experience with russian police in 2011 suggested to him that conditions were worsening for witnesses. President donald trump has sent a strong message to the russia federation over the countrys ban on the peaceful activities of jehovahs witnesses. Konik, who described how the witnesses were carrying on their preaching in the face of severe restrictions, advised. Russia bans jehovahs witnesses and labels group as. The group has come under increasing pressure over the past year. Apr 25, 2017 the jehovahs witnesses are mostly regarded as slightly ludicrous in the uk. In oryol, dennis christensen, a danish citizen, six years. Jehovahs witnesses banned in russia and deemed extremist. He initially lived in a refugee camp until they could afford a small apartment in finland. The miniscule percentage of jehovahs witnesses in russia relative to the general population hardly pose a threat to the might structure of. Klimov is the eighth jehovah s witness to be sentenced since the ban went into effect in 2017.
More than a thousand people are now seeking asylum in several european countries, including finland, the newspaper hello guest. Russia bans jehovahs witnesses translation of bible. Law enforcement authorities across russia have dramatically escalated. Resolutions were adopted unanimously by all jehovah s witnesses worldwide reaffirming their submission to jehovah, the immediate end of the world, and their willingness to keep out this system of things that will soon disappear. Jehovahs witnesses present testimony on third day of russian. Apr 20, 2017 russias supreme court ruled on april 20, 2017 that the jehovahs witnesses organization should be closed down and no longer allowed to operate legally in russia. In 1882, the author, john ballou newbrough, an occultist and spiritualist from that era, claimed to have written oahspe. According to vedomosti with reference to the local tvp info channel, the judge considered that alekseevs extradition was legally unacceptable, since he was a member of jehovahs witnesses, and its members get prosecuted, arrested and sentenced to long terms. Russias crackdown on jehovahs witnesses intensifies. Apr 29, 2017 an exjw psychologist weighs in on the russian ban, with an encouraging word of advice for activists by karuna on april 29, 2017 the community of ex jehovahs witnesses has been recently shaken up by a discussion about the ban of the jehovahs witnesses organisation in russia. Jehovah s witnesses sentenced to prison in 2019 include.
May 08, 2017 a court in poland has refused to extradite former vice president of corporate finance at probusinessbank, yaroslav alekseev, to russia. May 09, 2017 the extremist law banning jehovahs witnesses in russia provides for a maximum sentences of 6 to 10 years in jail. Bng is committed to providing our readers with factual, timely and helpful news and commentary about ways christians and churches are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Recent publications appear on the watchtowers official site at wol. All told, 207 jehovahs witnesses are now facing criminal prosecution in russia for their faith, and detentions are continuing, including in recent days in makhachkala and sevastopol.
Within two months, up to 49 million letters had been sent. New yorka recent video published on, a news outlet covering the central federal district of russia, shows armed russian police officers and agents of the federal security service fsb raiding a peaceful religious meeting of jehovahs witnesses in oryol, russia. Such soviet books as the truths about jehovahs witnesses, with a printing in russian in 1978 of 100,000 copies, suggested the need for stepped up anti witness propaganda. Russia labels jehovahs witnesses an extremist group. The reaction of international organizations and democratic countries against these decisions has been unanimous, from the u. Fully documented with photocopies of statements from rare watchtower publications, this book reveals many facts the watchtower society tries to hide from jehovahs witnesses and investigators of this religion. Why russia is afraid of jehovahs witnesses the conversation. May 01, 2017 a supreme court ruling puts the jehovah s witnesses at risk of property seizure and prison over the sect s proselytization and radical beliefs. Mar 29, 2017 this is not the first time jehovahs witnesses are being persecuted and will not be the last.
Vasily fedosenkoreuters why russia is afraid of jehovahs witnesses. The group reports a worldwide membership of approximately 8. Russias crackdown on jehovahs witnesses hits critical. Police and security troops in russia s northwestern city of murmansk have raided the homes of jehovah s witnesses, a religious group that moscow has outlawed and labeled as.
Persecution of jehovahs witnesses in russia intensifies. A russian court has banned the jehovah s witnesses translation of the bible following a drawnout legal battle, another blow to followers of the pacifist christian sect who have been branded. Russia just effectively banned jehovahs witnesses from the. That puts them into conflict with vladimir putins russia, where there are an estimated 175,000 jehovahs witnesses. Geneva russias move to ban the activities of jehovahs witnesses using antiextremism legislation in a lawsuit are extremely worrying say three united nations human rights experts who. The governing body of jehovahs witnesses wants to heighten attention to this critical situation, states david a. Why russias new ban on jehovahs witnesses is so troubling. Russia, with a population of more than 150 million, has a total of 117,000 jehovahs witnesses one jehovahs witness per 850 people. Jews, of course, are the traditional scapegoats for numerous ills. Members of jehovahs witnesses wait in a court room in moscow, russia, on april 20, 2017. The june 2010 ruling in jehovahs witnesses of moscow and others vs.
I want to remind the ministry of justice that your request to ban jehovahs witnesses would hurt the very people who wish you a peaceful, happy life. Witnesses also report an incident, near moscow, of another 8yearold girl, whose parents were brought to her school after she had sung a jehovahs witness song and talked about god to classmates. In february, jehovahs witnesses were labeled extremists and locked out of their offices. To date, lopes said at least 284 jehovah s witnesses are under criminal investigation in russia. Russia bans jehovahs witnesses, calling it an extremist group. For jehovahs witnesses in russia, practicing their faith means risking. After their activities were legalized after the soviet breakup, its number of active members rose to more. Moscow asianews the russian federation s supreme court s decision to ban the activity of jehovah s witnesses on april 20, is stirring up reactions and comments in russia and the world, raising. Jehovah s witnesses are directed by the governing body of jehovah s witnesses. Brownback calls on russia to release jehovahs witnesses. They have odd beliefs about blood and a slightly unhealthy interest in the end of the world and thats the end of. Moscow russia s supreme court on thursday declared jehovahs witnesses, a christian denomination that rejects violence, an extremist. After years, even decades, of persecution against the religious group, the kremlin moved to get rid of the denomination for good.
Russia is banning the extreme practices that watch tower bible and tract society of pennsylvania inc jehovahs witnesses legal entity requires jehovahs witnesses to participate in to remain as members of its organization. The jehovah s witnesses have been liquidated in 2017 in russia under accusations of extremism. Apr 20, 2017 russia bans jehovahs witnesses, calling it an extremist group. Contrary to a couple of ads that i saw on amazon, this book is not the jehovah s witnesses bible. Their website and some publications are already banned.
Law enforcement raided several homes and cars belonging to jehovahs witnesses in tomsk between 10 a. Russia s supreme court declared the jehovahs witnesses an extremist organization in 2017, leading to mass raids and causing hundreds of its estimated 175,000 members to flee the country. On july 21, 2015, the russian federation ministry of justice added jehovahs witnesses official website. Statesponsored persecution of jehovahs witnesses continues this report provides recent information on criminal trials, imprisonment, property confiscation, and police raids on homes of jehovahs witnesses in russia. An exjw psychologist weighs in on the russian ban, with an. It also has all the best parts of both the 82 and 91 books, plus books that were left out of original printing of both from the previous original lant edition. Escalating persecution of jehovahs witnesses human. The jehovahs witnesses are mostly regarded as slightly ludicrous in the uk.
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