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. 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. Jehovahs witnesses announce the completion of the new world translation in american sign language. Apr 20, 2017 for the past few months, russia s 175,000 jehovah s witnesses have been on edge. Did trump warn russia over jehovahs witnesses ban and. Russia bans jehovahs witnesses, background veterans today. Jehovahs witnesses said they would appeal against the ruling. In 1633 galileo was convicted of heresy for publishing information that the earth was not the center of the universe. The chairman of the presiding committee of the administrative center of jehovah s witnesses in russia, vasily kalin, said. Who are jehovah s witnesses, and why would the russian, or. 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. One of the first laws of the new russia, approved on october 18, 1991, was on rehabilitation of the victims of political. Mar 24, 2017 russias largest jehovahs witnesses group has been suspended after the countrys justice ministry claimed its activities violate russias law on combating extremism. It seems to me that scientology and westboro baptists have a far more toxic public image.
Discuss anything jehovahs witness or watchtower society related and meet new friends. Jehovahs witness in russia sentenced to 6 years for. Nearly 100 pieces of jehovahs witness literature have been placed on the federal registry of banned extremist materials, including my book of bible stories, an illustrated childrens book. Over 60 of their publications are on the extremism register. Since 2009, 95 materials distributed by the organization in the country have been declared extremist and 8 jehovahs witnesses branches have been liquidated, according to the justice ministry. Key books of jehovahs witnesses banned in russia russian. Russia has targeted jehovah s witnesses for a long time. Mar 16, 2017 vasiliy kalin, a representative of the administrative center in russia, stated. They also believed that after armageddon, jesus would rule the world from heaven with 144,000 faithful christians, as specified in the book of.
Law enforcement raided several homes and cars belonging to jehovahs witnesses in tomsk between 10 a. On february 6, 2019, a russian court sentenced danish citizen dennis christensen to a sixyear jail term for his participation in the activities of the jehovahs witnesses, a banned group in russia. In a sting operation codenamed judgment day, 150 police officers and members of the fsb raided 22 homes of jehovah s witnesses. The jehovahs witnesses claim more than 170,000 adherents in russia. Petersburg, august 18 rapsi, mikhail telekhov the vyborg city court of the leningrad region has banned key books of jehovah s witnesses as extremist, the courts press service told rapsi on friday. Russias crackdown on jehovahs witnesses hits critical. Jehovah s witnesses is an international religious organization that began operating in russia and across the former soviet union in the early 1990s. Mar 29, 2017 this is not the first time jehovahs witnesses are being persecuted and will not be the last. Persecution of jehovahs witnesses in russia intensifies. Translation of new world, science instead of bible, how to improve health, and. Who are jehovahs witnesses and why does russia consider. Jehovah s witnesses have been in russia for more than 100 years.
The jehovah s witnesses have been banned as an extremist group in a thursday supreme court decision that observers feared signaled a further step. 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. Our official website provides online access to the bible, biblebased publications, and current news. The jehovahs witnesses are mostly regarded as slightly ludicrous in the uk. In april 2017, the supreme court of russia labeled jehovahs witnesses an extremist organization, banned its. Dennis christensen, a danish jehovahs witness sentenced to six years in prison in russia, walks down a hallway. The complete new world translation of the bible is now available in asl. Petersburg, january 17 rapsi, mikhail telekhov a ruling to confiscate property worth 881.
Apr 20, 2017 russia bans jehovahs witnesses, calling it an extremist group. Russia bans jehovahs witnesses and labels group as. Apr 21, 2017 russia has banned jehovah s witnesses as an extremist group, in a sign of the russian orthodox church s political influence. For the past few months, russias 175,000 jehovahs witnesses have been on edge. 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. Apr 24, 2017 the russian supreme court banned jehovahs witnesses branch with further expropriation of church property and belongings. Uk statement on the situation of jehovahs witnesses in the russian. Mormons pledge to stay in russia despite religious clampdown. Jehovahs witness false prophecies 1915 governments will be overturned. Jehovahs witnesses banned in russia and deemed extremist.
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. 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 movement. Jehovahs witness tortured in russian prison, group says. 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.
The religious group has placed the building on the market along with a. Apr 20, 2017 the jehovah s witnesses claim more than 170,000 adherents in russia. Apr 20, 2017 jehovahs witnesses said they would appeal against the ruling. Russia moves to ban jehovahs witnesses as extremist jehovahs witnesses gathered in a house in the village of vorokhobino, north of moscow, where they meet for services. Russia bans jehovahs witnesses, calling it an extremist. Jehovahs witnesses is a millenarian restorationist christian denomination with nontrinitarian. The secret jehovahs witness database of child molesters. Alexander kalistratov, the leader of a jehovahs witnesses congregation, leaves a court building in the siberian town of gornoaltaysk. Apr 20, 2017 russias supreme court ruled on thursday that jehovahs witnesses is an extremist organisation and must hand over all its property to the state, russian news agencies reported. Russia suspends jehovahs witnesses for extremist literature.
Russias ministry of justice moves to ban jehovahs witnesses. But in a sense the witnesses actually want to be hated, based on scriptures that say jesus true followers are to. 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. Russia, with a population of more than 150 million, has a total of 117,000 jehovah s witnesses one jehovah s witness per 850 people. Courtesy of jehovah s witnesses o n thursday, february 28, the u. Russia s supreme court has banned the jehovah s witnesses from operating in the country, accepting a request from the justice ministry that the religious organisation be considered an extremist group. They have odd beliefs about blood and a slightly unhealthy interest in the end of the world and thats the end of.
China supports russias persecution of jehovahs witnesses. Russia moves to ban jehovahs witnesses as extremist the. British government responds to russias ban on jehovahs. The christian group says it is planning to appeal the decision. A house where jehovah s witnesses prayed in zheshart, in northwest russia, was destroyed by arson. Klimov is the eighth jehovah s witness to be sentenced since the ban went into effect in 2017.
The british government says it is alarmed by russia s ban on jehovahs witnesses and has launched an appeal for vladimir putin to uphold religious freedom baroness anelay said a ruling. Jehovahs witnesses blast church members sentence by. Last year, 18 jehovahs witnesses in russia received sentences ranging from large fines to imprisonment. 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. In a climate of distrust and misinformation, there is a process you can follow to find truthful answers to lifes most important questions. The church used heavyhandedness to silence anything or anyone who challenged their authority. Russias supreme court has heard the testimony of four former members of the jehovahs witnesses who said they were subjected to total control by the organisation and brainwashed against. Many jehovahs witnesses are filled with foreboding, as april 20, the day the russian supreme court first ruled against them, is also the birthday of adolf hitler. Why putins persecution of jehovahs witnesses should. The witnesses say a molotov cocktail was found at the site. Jehovah s witnesses wait in a court room in moscow, russia. Russia s crackdown on jehovah s witnesses hits critical milestone by cracking down on jehovahs witnesses, the authorities sent a clear signal to all religious minorities in russia. Russia s supreme court has banned the jehovah s witnesses from operating in the country, accepting a request from the justice ministry. Legal and human rights issues affecting jehovahs witnesses worldwide.
Jehovahs witnesses banned in russia for extremist activity. Russia moves to ban jehovahs witnesses as extremist. Religious freedom and the jehovahs witnesses in russia. Vasiliy kalin, a member of the presiding committee for the administrative center of jehovahs witnesses in russia, stated while addressing the court. Dozens were arrested in dawn raids and seven were allegedly tortured when authorities intensified a crackdown on jehovahs witnesses in the western siberian city of surgut. Russia must stop persecuting jehovahs witnesses the. It is most compelling in subject matter and style, is long overdue and is the first of its kind.
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. Russia cant tell the difference between jehovahs witnesses. 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 extremist. Nearly 800 raids by russian authorities against church members have. For jehovahs witnesses in russia, practicing their faith means risking. Russias supreme court bans jehovahs witnesses human. 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. Why is putins russia so afraid of jehovahs witnesses. Artur leontiev and irina krasnikova, lawyers who represent jehovahs witnesses, told human rights watch that the authorities planted people in jehovahs witnesses meetings or who otherwise.
Jehovahs witnesses present testimony on third day of russian. Escalating persecution of jehovahs witnesses human. Jehovahs witnesses banned in russia, labelled extremist. Osce concerned over ban of jehovahs witnesses in russia. Russian court declares jehovah witnesses website extremist. The group has come under increasing pressure over the past year, including a ban on distributing literature deemed to violate. The group has come under increasing pressure over the past year. After years, even decades, of persecution against the religious group, the kremlin moved to get rid of the. Jehovahs witnesses persecuted in russia and worldwide. Jehovahs witness bible, jewish, christian, muslim books. Apr 25, 2017 the jehovahs witnesses are mostly regarded as slightly ludicrous in the uk. Law enforcement authorities across russia have dramatically escalated. Contrary to one time us presidential candidate barry goldwaters dictum.
The group reports a worldwide membership of approximately 8. As russia bans jehovah s witness president trump signs religious freedom order. To date, lopes said at least 284 jehovah s witnesses are under criminal investigation in russia. Judge yury ivanenko said the court also ruled to seize the centers property. 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.
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. Russia court outlaws extremist jehovahs witnesses bbc news. Jehovah s witnesses are directed by the governing body of jehovah s witnesses, a group of elders. The appeal was filed by watch tower bible and tract society of pennsylvania registered in the u.
In bulgaria, jehovah s witnesses have been targets of violence by right wing nationalist groups such as the imro bulgarian national movement. Delivered by ambassador neil bush at the osce permanent council on 12 march 2020. Jul, 2017 a new poll shows that a majority of russians support banning the jehovahs witnesses, a finding that further overshadows the religious denomination ahead of an important appeals hearing. Apr 22, 2017 russias supreme court on thursday accepted a request from the justice ministry that the jehovahs witnesses be considered an extremist group and ordered its national headquarters in st. Discuss anything jehovah witness, or watchtower society related. Jehovahs witnesses gathered last month in a house in the village of vorokhobino, north of moscow, where they meet for services. Russian justice ministry blacklists jehovahs witnesses as. 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. Why putins persecution of jehovahs witnesses should worry. More witnesses imprisoned after aggressive home raids in. Jehovahs witnesses targeted under russias antiextremism laws. 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 book, published as the posthumous work of russell, was a compilation of his commentaries on the bible. Russian police, fsb raid homes of jehovahs witnesses in. Persecution of jehovahs witnesses in russia intensifies and. For over 100 years, the authorities in russia have trampled on the guarantees of their own laws, which grant us this right. The court prohibited the distribution of books named holy writ. Away from daily deadlines and breaking news, there seems to be a campaign against jehovah s witnesses in russia. Officers torture brother vadim kutsenko in chita, russia. Russias telecom and mass communications watchdog roskomnadzor in 2010 prohibited publication of jehovahs witnesses magazines in russia for their extremist content. A former jehovah s witness is using stolen documents to expose allegations that the religion has kept hidden for decades. Did trump warn russia over jehovahs witnesses ban and urge members to seek asylum in the u. Russia must stop persecuting jehovahs witnesses dennis christensen, a jehovah s witness accused of extremism, leaves a court in handcuffs in orel, russia, on.
Why russias new ban on jehovahs witnesses is so troubling. The muscularlybuilt former boxer, who declined to give his real name out of. Jehovahs witnesses mobilize global response to threat of ban. Russia labels jehovahs witnesses an extremist group. Poll shows majority of russians support ban on jehovahs.
Jehovahs witnesses religious organization has had many legal problems in russia. There are over eight million jehovah s witnesses in 240 countries worldwide. Jehovahs witnesses latest news, breaking stories and comment. Why putins persecution of jehovahs witnesses should worry us. Russia bans jehovahs witnesses, calling it an extremist group. Armageddon changed from 1914 to 1915 after refiguring chronological dates and removing the year 0 as a counted year. They were cruelly persecuted in a monopolistic ideological state until the end of the 1980s, and only at the beginning of the 1990s were they exonerated as victims of political. The socalled clergy in russia are the ones pushing the state to persecute the witnesses.
The attack took place monday, hours after nearly 40 houses in chita were raided by russia s federal security service. And jehovahs witnesses now are under sustained attack in russia. The june 2010 ruling in jehovahs witnesses of moscow and others vs. Mar 28, 2017 this ban is not regarding individual jehovahs witnesses as peaceful people.
Is persecution of all jehovahs witnesses in russia under. S a series of fake news articles portrayed trump defending jehovah s witnesses after a russian court. They grew in number during world war ii when western territories were annexed by the soviet union. Jehovahs witnesses banned as extremist in russia, property. On april 1, 2019, sergey skrynnikov, a practicing jehovahs witness in russia, became the second member of the religious group to be convicted under article 282.
Police arrested and imprisoned alam aliev, one of the 34 witnesses searched during the raids. On july 21, 2015, the russian federation ministry of justice added jehovahs witnesses official website. On thursday, russias supreme court ruled that the activities of the administrative center of jehovahs witnesses in russia were extremist and banned them. Jehovah s witnesses is a millenarian restorationist christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream christianity. Throughout the history of jehovahs witnesses, their beliefs, doctrines, and practices have. The profound desire of each of jehovahs witnesses in russia is just to be able to worship our god peacefully. Russia just effectively banned jehovahs witnesses from the. Steve inskeep speaks with washington post reporter andrew roth in moscow. According to jehovah s witnesses, the ruling of russia s supreme court affects 2,277 organization s groups, bringing together around 175,000 followers of the movement. Russias supreme court has banned the jehovahs witnesses, declaring it an extremist organization and ordering to hand over its property to the state. Jws, as they are known and call themselves, might seem an odd addition to that list.
After the sentencing of christensen, police are carrying out a new crackdown in various russian provinces, arresting more jehovahs witnesses. They have the same legal status as isis jihadists after nations register of materials deemed. Nik, a jehovah s witness who fled russia and is seeking asylum in germany, sits in a bamberg cafe and shakes his head. The administrative center of jehovah s witnesses in russia is a parent organization, supervising the numerous branches of the religious association across russia. Russia bans jehovahs witnesses, calling it an extremist group jehovahs witnesses gathered last month in a house in the village of vorokhobino, north of moscow. Artur leontiev and irina krasnikova, lawyers who represent jehovahs witnesses, told human rights watch that the authorities planted people in jehovahs witnesses meetings. On december 2014, russias supreme court passed a resolution to declare the central site of the international organization of jehovahs witnesses as extremist. We are jehovahs witnesses education 3 photos facebook.
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