April 20, the Supreme court has banned the activities of “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in Russia. According to the court, the organization is considered extremist.
The representative of the organization “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in Finland Veikko Leinonen (Veikko Leinonen) reported that Finland is monitoring the situation.
“It seems that this decision was made in advance”, — he said.
Review Leinonen is based on the position of the international leadership of the organization “Jehovah’s Witnesses”.
In accordance with the official position of “Jehovah’s Witnesses”, the Supreme court there is no evidence of his claim.
“We are very disappointed,” says Leinonen behalf of the Finnish branch of “Jehovah’s Witnesses”.
The Supreme court made the decision to close the headquarters of the organization in St. Petersburg.
Russian officials previously called the publication “Jehovah’s Witnesses” “extremist literature”. In addition, the Prosecutor considered the organization destroys families, inciting hatred and endangering lives.
The organization challenged these statements. She is going to appeal to the European court of human rights.
According to the representative of “Jehovah’s Witnesses” Sergey Cherepanov news Agency “Interfax”, “we will do our best.”
In many countries the courts act against the organization in the first place because of the refusal to serve in the army and the ban on blood transfusions. However, extremist organization is considered to be only in Russia.
The representatives of “Jehovah’s Witnesses” reported that the ban at least indirectly affect all 2 277 offices of the organization in Russia. In the organization are 175 thousand people.
According to the newspaper Moscow Times, the Russian officials involved in the persecution of the “Witnesses of Jehovah” for many years. The newspaper writes about this relationship as a game of cat and mouse.
According to the head of the organization, the situation is now critical.
“We consider this a serious threat. This decision has an impact not only on Russia, but in CIS countries”, — said the President of the international arm of the Robert Warren (Robert Warren) newspaper Moscow Times.
According to Warren, now all members are afraid of the attacks with force.
“We fear that the government’s decision will push these extremist movements to speak out against our members.”
In 2014, the local legal authorities banned the organization in Taganrog, Samara and Yakutsk for a while.
In the beginning of last year the headquarters of the organization in St. Petersburg received an official warning, according to which organizations need to stop “extremist activities”.
Five local courts also banned the activities of “Jehovah’s Witnesses”. The ban applies to the Belgorod, Birobidzhan, Elista, eagle and Staryy Oskol.
Motion made appeal against the decision on the prohibition of the last time in January of this year.
Reader comments:
Marai
Probably, Russia is crazy, if “Jehovah’s Witnesses” is an extremist group.
Peaceful and honest people.
Then in Russia, probably, will forbid Amnesty International on the same grounds.
veritas
I think this is the right decision. In Finland and in Western countries in General need to stop silencing and belittling of problems just because they hide behind religious slogans. If you think about it in concepts and ideas that used in the activity “Jehovah’s Witnesses” and mention, for example, in the Qur’an, we can come to the conclusion that they would not be allowed to use in many secular organizations.
verdi2
The right decision. At least something good had adopted in Russia.
Arepo
The destruction of families. It’s hard not to agree when you listen to the stories of former members of “Jehovah’s Witnesses” about how their relatives were forbidden to maintain a relationship with a man who decided to respect the right of freedom of religion, and to renounce membership in the organization. The destruction of families is the most serious crime against humanity possible.
