John Houston

70 happy JW's who survived imprisonment for being conscientious objectors
Source

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A 60-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman are dead in what police said is an apparent murder suicide at apartments in the 100 block of Franklin Avenue SE.
It has left friends and neighbors of the couple confused and in despair.
Family of both the people found dead in the apartment gathered to grieve and look for answers, very few of which were available Friday.
“The female did not show up for work which is unlike her, according to her employer, so they were concerned so they called us,” Grand Rapids Police Captain Vincent Reilly said today.
Police have not identified the deceased couple.
The woman had not been heard from since Wednesday, police said, but neighbors said they saw the male walking around the complex a day ago.
Police contacted the woman’s daughter and management at Campau Commons opened the door around 3:30 p.m. where the two bodies were discovered — dead of apparent gunshot wounds.
Police have not said who killed whom, but a gun was taken from the scene.
A good friend of the male did not want to go on camera, but said the couple had an on-again, off-again relationship, but there was never any indication of violence, although he did have a legal firearm.
Another friend said that the couple seemed happy and in love.
“[He] was very humble. [He] was a good man. He was a Jehovah’s Witness. He cared for other people,” said the woman who said she had known the couple for about a year, but did not want to go on camera.
“She was a very, very loving and caring person. I mean, very,” the woman said.
The women said they did not want to remember their friend for the way his life ended but instead — “For his jokes, laughing, helping others. He was a very good person.”
Preliminary autopsy results are likely to come on Monday.
GRPD’s Major Case Team is investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to call 616.456.3400 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345.
http://woodtv.com/2016/03/25/2-bodies-found-in-grand-rapids-police-suspect-murder-suicide/

Our group of Watchtower commenters waiting backstage at an assembly in Vernon, BC, Canada. Photo shared by @phenackers
View the full article

Literature display at the Memorial with the Sequoia Congregation in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Photo shared by @bfozo1915
View the full article

FRIDAY
Chairman's Address: Jehovah Deserves "Undivided Loyalty" Maintain Loyalty in – Thought! Maintain Loyalty in – Word! Maintain Loyalty in – Action! DRAMATIC BIBLE READING: "Who Is on Jehovah's Side?" Jehovah's "Loyal Love Is Better Than Life" Be Loyal, as Jesus Was – When Young Be Loyal, as Jesus Was – When Persecuted Be Loyal, as Jesus Was – When Tempted Be Loyal, as Jesus Was – When Praised Be Loyal, as Jesus Was – When Tired Be Loyal, as Jesus Was – When Abandoned Be Loyal, as Jesus Was – When Facing Death Loyally Uphold Jehovah's Judgements – Hate What Jehovah Hates Loyally Uphold Jehovah's Judgements – Shun Unreptentant Wrongdoers Loyally Uphold Jehovah's Judgements – Be Forgiving Loyalty—Part of the New Personality How Christ's Loyalty as High Priest Helps Us SATURDAY
Helping Others to Become Loyal to Jehovah – Unbelieving Mates Helping Others to Become Loyal to Jehovah – Former Bible Students Helping Others to Become Loyal to Jehovah – Inactive Ones Helping Others to Become Loyal to Jehovah – Relatives Do Not Imitate Disloyal Ones – Adam Do Not Imitate Disloyal Ones – Absalom Do Not Imitate Disloyal Ones – Solomon Do Not Imitate Disloyal Ones – Judas Iscariot Imitate Loyal Ones – Ruth Imitate Loyal Ones – David Imitate Loyal Ones – Hushai Imitate Loyal Ones – Shiprah and Puah BAPTISM: Never Abandon Your Loyal Love for Jehovah Lessons on Loyalty From the Book of Job – Loyal Despite Direct Attacks Lessons on Loyalty From the Book of Job – Loyal Despite Subtle Attacks Lessons on Loyalty From the Book of Job – What We Learn From Natural Forces Lessons on Loyalty From the Book of Job – What the Animal Creation Teaches Us DRAMA: "Hope for What We Do Not See" Keep Waiting Eagerly With Endurance! SUNDAY
Avoid What Erodes Loyalty – Pride Avoid What Erodes Loyalty – Improper Entertainment Avoid What Erodes Loyalty – Bad Associations Avoid What Erodes Loyalty – Fear of Man Pursue What Builds Loyalty – Appreciation Pursue What Builds Loyalty – Self-Control Pursue What Builds Loyalty – Love Pursue What Builds Loyalty – Faith PUBLIC BIBLE DISCOURSE: When Will Loyal Love Triumph Over Hatred? Summary of The Watchtower DRAMA: "O Jehovah, ... I Trust In You" Jehovah Will Treat His Loyal One in a Special Way

2016-3-20-BOE-G-14-E-.pdf

Yes, al this discussion is great. Much information, yet done conclusive to make a valid point but one, we still have to wait! No one knows but the Father. That is the only true fact we have. Only the one alive will see any of this occur.,another true fact. The ones alive, 'that generation' saw the promised land, right? Not the ones who had died. So it is true right now. Whoever is alive will see all that will happen as the Bible proposes it to happen. Jesus told us to be awake to see it, stay alert; so whenever it does happen we will not be caught off guard. Not trying to know the day or the hour, that information is for cowards, who want to skate and slide in at the last hour. No, salvation is not for you. I said that, I approve of what I just said, for it is the truth. That is why not even Jesus knows, but only Jehovah knows. He has the final say when all this takes place. No leaks will help any of us. We will either be ready or asleep at the wheel. It will come even if it seems as if it is delayed, but it will not be late.
So we should not be impatient like Sarah and begin trying other things to speed it up or even circumventing it. It will come in its due time as Jehovah sees fit, my friends. So a generation, will be alive when all things take place however long or short that is. That math, our math is irrelevant. Only Jehovah's is. His counts. Agape.

Why? Do you think that everything will have a scriptural answer? Or should have one? Scripture tells us that Paul reasoned with people to prove it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and die, and then be raised up to life. Do you think every answer he had came from scripture, if he reasoned with them?
Adam was quite happy upon seeing his new likeness of life when Jehovah presented the female to him, would you think Adam celebrated that date annually, commemorating it happy to have a woman with him, in essence celebrating a birthday?
Many wonder why we do not do so, why should we? I am glad to be alive. I think back as a child getting presents on certain days, but coming into the truth, I got them randomly, not just on those day or during those certain seasons. My parents did not get onto debt also trying to satisfy the cravings of 5 children during holidays and birthdays when they could show their love when they wanted to, not when it was dictat d to them by our birth dates or some pagan holiday we would celebrate.
Being born living and good health would be cause to celebrate, and a time of joy for the parents. The mother who had just spit this living being from her body would so be relieved and happy, and the father also from all the anxiety the mother has put him through, I know this having gone through this myself 2 times.
 Would I celebrate that time again, truthfully? Not really, my children were cause of strife and joy through the years and now as grown men, they are doing well with their own lives and families. Celebrating a wedding anniversary, would that be something of joy to celebrate over and over again? Yes, but to me no! It again is just another day. I was thankful of wedding legally my wife and we both serve Jehovah. The fan fair that goes with it I do not ascribe to it. Never have. Adam said nothing more about his wife, after the poem other than she would be the one from which all others would come. Period! No more, no less. That is how I see and do it. But that is me. You have a great day my friend, agape!

Yes, al this discussion is great. Much information, yet done conclusive to make a valid point but one, we still have to wait! No one knows but the Father. That is the only true fact we have. Only the one alive will see any of this occur.,another true fact. The ones alive, 'that generation' saw the promised land, right? Not the ones who had died. So it is true right now. Whoever is alive will see all that will happen as the Bible proposes it to happen. Jesus told us to be awake to see it, stay alert; so whenever it does happen we will not be caught off guard. Not trying to know the day or the hour, that information is for cowards, who want to skate and slide in at the last hour. No, salvation is not for you. I said that, I approve of what I just said, for it is the truth. That is why not even Jesus knows, but only Jehovah knows. He has the final say when all this takes place. No leaks will help any of us. We will either be ready or asleep at the wheel. It will come even if it seems as if it is delayed, but it will not be late.
So we should not be impatient like Sarah and begin trying other things to speed it up or even circumventing it. It will come in its due time as Jehovah sees fit, my friends. So a generation, will be alive when all things take place however long or short that is. That math, our math is irrelevant. Only Jehovah's is. His counts. Agape.

Not you too. It was a great play on words , humorous but not the time for it. Tis the season not to be jolly but to be serious, our minds should be appreciative of what Jesus did on that night. Nothing humorous about it, right? Sweat as thick as blood!!! Would you laugh!!!

A time and place, this was not it. Nor the subject. Some things are just off limits.

A time and place, this was not it. Nor the subject. Some things are just off limits.

Not you too. It was a great play on words , humorous but not the time for it. Tis the season not to be jolly but to be serious, our minds should be appreciative of what Jesus did on that night. Nothing humorous about it, right? Sweat as thick as blood!!! Would you laugh!!!

Not you too. It was a great play on words , humorous but not the time for it. Tis the season not to be jolly but to be serious, our minds should be appreciative of what Jesus did on that night. Nothing humorous about it, right? Sweat as thick as blood!!! Would you laugh!!!

I loved this experience. Would love to read many more. Glad this person enjoys the very same love I do. I am so impressed.

I remember from March 1963, at the beginning of the elementary school year at Gbatala, Bong, Liberia, that on the first day of classes many of my schoolmates from the previous year were not in attendance. We were told that they and their parents were among Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) who had been arrested at the City of Gbarnga, Bong, Liberia during the previous week while gathered for their JW Convention. We learned that the Jehovah's Witnesses - both Liberian and foreign members - men, women and children - were being beaten while under Liberia Frontier Force (LFF) detention because of refusal to sing the "All Hail, Liberia Hail" national anthem or pledge allegiance to the Lone Star Liberia flag. I remember that when my Jehovah's Witnesses school mates eventually returned to Feju Elementary School at Gbatala, for the remainder of the school year at beginning of each school day, as we gathered at the school's courtyard, we were separated into Jehovah's Witnesses on one side and non-Jehovah's Witnesses on the other side. While most of us were singing the national anthem or pledging allegiance to the flag, the Jehovah's Witnesses students were "...pumping tire..." (deep knee bends while holding one's earlobes), or being rattan-whipped and heckled by the LFF soldiers who were wearing tasseled red fez caps.
Concurrently, adult Jehovah's Witnesses were expelled from civil service jobs, dozens were held and tortured at Belleh Yellah maximum security prison, a scheme of intense security surveillance was imposed on members of the Watchtower Society (Jehovah's Witnesses), and after 1963 there ensued high level negotiations which involved the worldwide Governing Body of the Watchtower Society, as well as United States and Great Britain diplomats, in talks with the Tubman Administration. It should be noted that the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Liberia was not only done to Liberia-citizen Jehovah's Witnesses, but also to many foreign-nations-resident Jehovah's Witnesses. Notably, Milton Henschel (member of the Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide Governing Body), had his scalp split open by a soldier's gun butt at Gbarnga, Liberia during his visit to the Jehovah's Witnesses Convention convening there during March 1963.
Such were the times...
Interestingly, many years later when I was elected to the Liberia House of Representatives, Speaker Richard Henries appointed me to chair the House Standing Committee on Culture. Considering that it had been the usual practice since the founding of the Republic that all "philanthropic" organizations - which includes religious groups/institutions - submit an annual report to the Government of Liberia, my Standing Committee on Culture was tasked by Speaker Henries to receive annual reports from all religious groups/institutions, including Jehovah's Witnesses as well as all foreign religious missionary associations. Note also that, as both a General Secretary of the ruling/majority True Whig Party (TWP) and House Chair for Culture, it was my privilege to determine whether a religious missionary's request for immigration approvals would be granted.
Remarkably, and perhaps ironically, President WVS Tubman's Vice President, William Tolbert, was President of the worldwide Baptist World Alliance from 1965 to 1971 during the height of the Government of Liberia's persecution of the Jehovah's Witnesses during the years following 1963. Imagine - the Liberian society/nation was, simultaneously, enmeshed both in religious dignity and religious intolerance.
NOW,.... I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, a Pioneer and Ministerial Servant. (John 6:44)
- Ijoma Robert Flemister
Source

By Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service
On 15 February Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Jehovah's Witnesses against refusal to register communities in Osh, Naryn, Jalal-Abad, and Batken, Forum 18 News Service has learned. And on 24 February the Supreme Court sent two Jehovah's Witnesses, Nadezhda Sergienko and Oksana Koriakina, for a new trial "in total disregard of the overwhelming and unchallenged evidence of my clients' innocence", their lawyer Shane Brady told Forum 18. Elsewhere, a court rejected an appeal by the registered Elchilik Zhiyini Church against Kemin Kenesh's halting of their activity despite a decision by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court. "Our decision must be followed", Akylbek Akhmatov of the Constitutional Chamber told Forum 18. He added that "the lawyers of the Kemin Church should refer to our decision in court". The Church has not been able to meet since August 2015 and was threatened with violence at a Kenesh (council) meeting. Police have refused to take action against people they witnessed threatening violence. In another case, the authorities have refused to bring officials who tortured Jehovah's Witnesses in Osh to justice.
On 15 February Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Jehovah's Witnesses against the State Commission for Religious Affairs' (SCRA) refusal to register four religious communities, Forum 18 News Service has learned.

In September 2014, a Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court decision removed two major obstacles to the registration of religious or belief communities: a restriction that a religious organisation is limited to carrying out its activity only in the place where it has its legal address; and a requirement that local keneshes (councils) must approve a list of 200 founding members of a religious organisation before it can apply for legal status. Yet officials have refused to follow this decision, and the SCRA is preparing a draft Religion Law ignoring it (see F18News 29 May 2015 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2067).

Under international human rights law (which Kyrgyzstan's Religion Law contradicts) state registration cannot be a precondition for exercising freedom of religion or belief, as is outlined in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)/Venice Commission Guidelines on the Legal Personality of Religious or Belief Communities (see http://www.osce.org/odihr/139046). Kyrgyzstan is an OSCE participating State.

"We asked the Supreme Court to cancel trial and appeal court decisions and to order the SCRA to approve our applications for the registration of four religious organizations in Osh, Naryn, Jalal-Abad, and Batken districts", Jehovah's Witness lawyer Shane Brady told Forum 18 on 24 February. The authorities have persistently obstructed many religious or belief communities in gaining registration (see Forum 18's Kyrgyzstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2013).

The authorities have also arrested and detained for 31 months on false charges two women, Nadezhda Sergienko and Oksana Koriakina, in reprisal for a registration application. On 24 February the Supreme Court sent the women for a fresh trial, despite many violations of due process and strong evidence of their innocence – including a judge describing it as a "a fabricated case" (see below).  

Brady explained that "the SCRA refused our application, arguing that although Article 10(2) of the Religion Law had been declared unconstitutional by the 4 September 2014 decision of the Constitutional Chamber, Parliament had not yet amended the Law". Judge Mukambet Kasymaliyev, Chair of the Constitutional Chamber, told Forum 18: "Everyone must abide by the Court's decisions as they become part of the law immediately after they are passed". Asked what he thinks of local officials and the SCRA ignoring this, Judge Kasymaliyev replied that "I cannot evaluate the actions of those officials. But it seems to me that they do not know Kyrgyzstan's laws and must study them." 

"According to the SCRA", Brady said, "the unconstitutional provision still remained in force." Lower courts agreed with the SCRA and the Supreme Court has not yet made its reasoning public. "We are waiting to see what exactly arguments the Supreme Court will give in its written decision."

Supreme Court officials who would not give their names and Press-Secretary Aynura Toktosheva refused to discuss the cases with Forum 18 on 3 March, or put Forum 18 through to any officials who would discuss the cases.

Will the law be followed by officials?

Asked why the SCRA and Kemin Kenesh (see below) do not follow the Constitutional Chamber decision, SCRA Deputy Director Zakir Chotayev told Forum 18 on 3 March that "it is an arguable issue and it has been contested in many court cases". He then refused to discuss the issue more with Forum 18 and referred it to SCRA lawyer Zhanibek Botoyev.

Botoyev also claimed that "the issue has been contested in Courts". Asked what exact court cases he meant, and whether he respects the Constitutional Chamber decision, he replied "I will not discuss these issues with you" and declined to talk more to Forum 18.

No freedom of religion or belief even with registration

Even if a religious community has state registration, this does not mean that it can exercise freedom of religion or belief. In the northern Chuy Region, the Inter-District Economic Court on 14 December 2015 rejected an appeal by the registered Elchilik Zhiyini (Embassy) Protestant Church against a decision by Kemin Kenesh that the Church's activity should be stopped. The Church argued that the Kenesh had no such power, but the Court argued in a decision that Forum 18 has seen that under Article 269 of the Civil Procedure Code that it had such a power. Article 269 describes the competence of a court to uphold or reject administrative decisions by the authorities.

The Church has not been able to meet for worship since August 2015 and was threatened with mob violence at the Kenesh meeting which halted its activity. Church lawyer Toktorbek Ahsirkul uuly told Forum 18 on 24 February that "we are challenging the unlawful decisions in the Regional Appeal Court. Church members are not gathering for worship officially, because they are afraid of more severe punishments by the authorities."(see below).

Ahsirkul uuly told Forum 18 that the Court gave "no reasonable arguments" for its decision. Judge Kurmanov of the Economic Court refused to answer when asked why the Court decided that a Kenesh could stop a religious or belief community exercising freedom of religion or belief. "They have appealed against our decision in the Regional Court, let us wait and see what it will decide," he told Forum 18 on 24 February.

Judge Jeksenaly Kurmanbayev, one of the Judges of the panel hearing the Church's new appeal in Chuy Regional Court on 24 February told Forum 18 that the initial hearing was postponed. This was because "a representative of the SCRA also needs to participate in the hearing". He did not say why this was and stated that "we are investigating whether or not the Kenesh can suspend the activity of the Church". He would not say how long the investigation will go on and commented that "attracting young people to the Church was brought up."

Warning, threats of violence

In late July 2015 Kemin Kenesh summoned Elchilik Zhiyini Church to a meeting at which it was told, Church lawyer Ahsirkul uuly told Forum 18, "that it must stop its activity since there are complaints and threats against the Church from local Muslims and that their legal documents are not in order." 

Kenesh Vice-Speaker Bakhtiyar Kurmanaliyev confirmed this, and added that there were threats of violence made against the Church at the meeting and that the National Security Committee (NSC) secret police was present. "We received not only complaints but also threats that if the Church continued its activity, it could lead to bloodshed", he told Forum 18 on 24 February. "The Muslim group at the Kenesh meeting expressed threats to us once again. That's we decided it would be better to stop the Church at least temporarily to calm down the local people."

Asked how it is possible that a group of individuals can threaten others in the presence of the authorities and NSC secret police, Kurmanaliyev said "that's the reason we invited the law-enforcement agencies". Asked if the authorities had taken action against those who threatened the Church, Kurmanaliyev claimed that "it is none of my business but it is up to NSC and police. We cannot interfere in their work, and you need to ask them."

"Our colleagues were in that Kenesh meeting since it is our duty to calm down possible conflicts between groups of local citizens", Chuy Regional Police Police Press-Secretary told Forum 18 on 26 February after consulting police chief Kapar Batyrkanov. "But the police are not investigating any threats as Church members did not file a complaint". Asked why the police did not take action against threats of violence they themsleves witnessed, Toktosunov claimed without giving any details that "the case was referred to court, and we cannot make any further comments".

The authorities in Kyrgyzstan have a long history of complicity with violence and failure to protect people. Many in Kyrgyzstan think this was a contributory factor in the December 2015 murder of an Ahmadi Muslim (see eg. F18News 18 February 2016 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2150). The state has also repeatedly failed for many years to stop violence and coercion to change beliefs against people who want to peacefully bury their dead, with the religious ceremonies and in the cemeteries they would wish (see eg. F18News 6 June 2014 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1966).

Ban

On 5 August Kemin Kenesh made a decision (which Forum 18 has seen), signed by Kenesh Vice-Speaker Kurmanaliyev, to stop the activity of the Church. It stated that the NSC secret police on 9 July and the SCRA on 29 July both claimed that the Church violated the Religion Law as it is officially registered at one address but holding meetings at a different address. These claims directly contradict the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court's September 2014 decision that this is legal (see above).

Asked whether the Kenesh was aware of the Constitutional Chamber decision and why the Kemin authorities did not follow it, Kurmanalieyev replied that "I am not answering for the whole of Kyrgyzstan".

The Kemesh decision also says that a group of local Muslims complained to the Kenesh on 15 July that the Church is: "adding young Kyrgyz people to its ranks by misleading them". Asked why the Church members cannot share their faith with others and children, and whether there is freedom of religion or belief in Kyrgyzstan, Vice-Speaker Kurmanaliyev replied: "Kyrgyzstan respects religious freedoms but at the meeting the Church did not provide us with documents proving they can do religious activity". Asked why the Kenesh thinks it is their duty to interfere in the activity of the Church, he replied that "there could have been a scandal, we were concerned".

Asked why the Kenesh made a decision to stop the Church, which has official registration, Vice-Speaker Kurmanaliev claimed that "we asked the Church to show us their founding documents and they did not do so". He then claimed that "in that meeting they did not want to show us their documents but did so some time later. We had made our decision by that time".

Church lawyer Ashirbek uuly told Forum 18 that "the Church did not provide documents as the Kenesh has no rights to stop its activity. Nowhere in the law are they given such a competence".

Asked by what authority Kemin Kenesh halted the Church's activity, Kurmanaliyev claimed that "I am busy. If you came to our office I could show you our competences from the official documents".

"Our decision must be followed in the whole territory of Kyrgyzstan"

"Our decision must be followed in the whole territory of Kyrgyzstan", Akylbek Akhmatov, Advisor to the Chair of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, told Forum 18 on 2 March. He added that "those who do not follow it must be held responsible". 

Whilst Akhamatov did not wish to directly comment on the actions of Kemin Kenesh, he added that "the lawyers of the Kemin Church should refer to our decision in court". 

Supreme Court sends freed women in "fabricated case" for another trial

In October 2015 a Jehovah's Witness mother and daughter, Nadezhda Sergienko and Oksana Koriakina, were freed from house arrest, having been held since March 2013, in what a judge described as "a fabricated case". NSC secret police and ordinary police 10th Department officers repeatedly illegally tried to stop the two women's lawyers participating in the appeal hearing, and then invaded the judges' deliberation room when they realised that the women might be set free. Under international law some of the police should not have been at liberty, as they were involved in torturing other Jehovah's Witnesses. The two women's defence lawyers have publicly called for the ordinary police and NSC secret police officers who openly attacked lawyers' and judges' independence to be investigated on criminal charges, and if guilty punished according to the law. Officials have refused to tell Forum 18 if these and other official attempts to obstruct the rule of law will be subject to investigation and criminal charges (see F18News 3 November 2015 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2116).

Yet the Supreme Court on 24 February 2016 granted an appeal by Nazar Kenzheyev and D. Kachybekov of Osh City Prosecutor's Office against the decision to acquit and free Sergienko and Koriakina. The Supreme Court also sent the two women for a new trial in Osh City Court "in total disregard of the overwhelming and unchallenged evidence of my clients' innocence", their lawyer Brady told Forum 18.

"Both the trial and appeal courts, in detailed written reasons dated 7 October 2014 and 25 October 2015, agreed that Ms. Koriakina and Ms. Sergienko were innocent of the criminal charges. The trial court had concluded that both women had in fact been wrongly targeted based on religious prejudice by investigators from the Osh Department of Internal Affairs and the Osh City Prosecutor's office", Brady explained.

Brady noted that Osh City Prosecutor's office "raised the identical arguments they raised at trial and on appeal", but despite this they were represented in the Supreme Court by a prosecutor from the Prosecutor General's Office. "We are very concerned about the prospects of this case now returning to Osh City Court", Brady stated. He anticipated that it may take a month for the case to be sent back to Osh.

The Judges of the Supreme Court who heard the case were Kanatbek Turganbekov, Busurmankul Baktygulov and Kanibek Bokoyev. Judges Turganbekov and Baktygulov did not answer their phones on 3 March. Judge Bokoyev refused to discuss the case with Forum 18, claiming that "I cannot make comments over the phone".

Supreme Court does partial justice in one case

However, on 2 March the Supreme Court did reject Osh Prosecutor's appeal against the acquittal of Jehovah's Witness Nurlan Usupbayev, a Jehovah's Witness leader who was tortured along with fellow believers by Osh Police. They were arrested and charged after a 9 August raid on them as they were meeting for worship. During the raid the Jehovah's Witnesses were tortured (see F18News 19 August 2015 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2091).

The Supreme Court rejected Osh Prosecutors' appeal because they had missed the limitation period to file the appeal, Brady told Forum 18. "So, the appeal court decision and trial court decision which held Mr. Usupbayev was innocent of the charges are in force, and the Prosecutors will now have no further ability of to appeal it."

International obligations

The United Nations (UN) Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which Kyrgyzstan acceded to on 5 September 1997, defines torture as: "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity".

Under Article 6 of the Convention Kyrgyzstan is obliged to arrest any person suspected on good grounds of having committed torture. Under Article 4 Kyrgyzstan is obliged to try them under criminal law which makes "these offences punishable by appropriate penalties which take into account their grave nature".

On 29 December 2008 Kyrgyzstan acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention, whose purpose is to "establish a system of regular visits undertaken by independent international and national bodies". The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) carried out its first regular visit to Kyrgyzstan from 19 to 28 September 2012. Its report found that "torture and ill-treatment is prevalent in the country", caused by among other factors "the impunity and general lack of accountability of officials" 

Torturers free and unpunished

Osh City Prosecutor's Office refused – despite their clear obligations in international law - to open a criminal case against named officers of Osh City Police over their torture of seven members of a Jehovah's Witness community during a 9 August raid on a meeting for worship. The authorities also refused to follow their international obligations by arresting the police The victims led by Usupbayev challenged this refusal to the General Prosecutor's Office 

"Although we have video and audio recordings proving the police beat the persons gathered for the religious service, Osh Prosecutor's Office refuses to file criminal charges and the Prosecutor General's office has to date refused to intervene and order that the police be criminally charged", Brady told Forum 18. "We appealed to the Prosecutor General's office three times demanding that the police be criminally charged; the last appeal was simply referred back to the Osh City Prosecutor, who refused to start a criminal case."

Almaz Subandykov of the Chancellery and other officials (who would not give their names) from the Prosecutor General's Office in the capital Bishkek on 1 March refused to tell Forum 18 what they are doing to bring the torturers to justice.

Prosecutor on duty Marat Busurmankulov of Osh Prosecutor's Office refused on 1 March to state why they refuse to bring the torturers to justice. "We cannot give you such information over the phone", he claimed. He then refused to talk further. (END)
http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2155

If just to the anointed, how would we know they are to rule over us? Aren't we being bombarded by those right now who want to rule over us? Aren't they going from state to state selling their promise of what they would do for certain groups and factions if they became president. So if the Greek scriptures were only for them, what of those who they were to rule over, when and how would we know, by coup?
 No, we have to be also informed of what is going on with those who are going to rule over us. It has not changed since Israel wanted a king over them. When Jehovah had his talks with Adam, Adam had some knowledge what was going on, he was not in the dark. 
We would have rules and procedures and parameters and protocols to follow, so these kings and priests would have to let the other sheep, those they are to rule over what they are. Remember the scrolls that are to be opened during the 1000 yrs., we are to so educated on these things. We are getting our mind set on that path now, but then without satanic influence and imperfection, we will be able to conquer. 
How did I do?

If just to the anointed, how would we know they are to rule over us? Aren't we being bombarded by those right now who want to rule over us? Aren't they going from state to state selling their promise of what they would do for certain groups and factions if they became president. So if the Greek scriptures were only for them, what of those who they were to rule over, when and how would we know, by coup?
 No, we have to be also informed of what is going on with those who are going to rule over us. It has not changed since Israel wanted a king over them. When Jehovah had his talks with Adam, Adam had some knowledge what was going on, he was not in the dark. 
We would have rules and procedures and parameters and protocols to follow, so these kings and priests would have to let the other sheep, those they are to rule over what they are. Remember the scrolls that are to be opened during the 1000 yrs., we are to so educated on these things. We are getting our mind set on that path now, but then without satanic influence and imperfection, we will be able to conquer. 
How did I do?

Yes, I enjoy reading your posts and share them with others in my congregation. Some ARE Short sighted,Not seeing  THE Trees for the forest, so to speak. We constantly say there are this number of us,well we should have a sense of well-being for them. Not just for those who are in need,under going hardships, but those who have different cultures, language, likes and dislikes. We can learn by this means and I enjoy it,again thank you. As Paul says Agape! 

Γιαννης Διαμαντιδης,
I believe that Ann O'maly has stated the truth about the U.N. involvement about as well as anyone can. I know the brother who got the Society involved with the UN DPI/NGO, and have spoken to him several times since I left Bethel in the 1980's. I know that the paperwork was approved by others including a member of the GB (mentioned by Ann).
It was definitely a mistake. And it has definitely stumbled people. I'm not here to defend it, and I'm not here as one of those Witnesses who will claim that Jehovah has allowed certain mistakes just to filter out those who are disloyal, or those who are looking for an excuse to leave the Organization. People still say this about some of the mistakes of the past, and will likely say such things about mistakes made in the future.
I just searched through the jw-archive site, because I know that we have discussed this before, and I didn't want to just keep re-writing things "from scratch" over and over again -- which is something I have a tendency to always do. In fact, this is the very first time I will be quoting myself from a previous post: I'm no expert on this, and perhaps I don't have all the facts either, but the information is from people I trust.
 
A portion of the discussion from https://disqus.com/home/discussion/jwarchive/jw_archiveorg_by_the_jw_comic_strip_52/#comment-2009424381
(I made the UN joke because the timing was close to "Sternstorm." The WTS applied for the NGO status through their DPI (Dept of Public Info.) in 1991 and received it in 1992. I believe we requested disassociation in 2001, just after an investigative journalist exposed the NGO/DPI connection.)
If you are asking about the UN, then unfortunately, the answer is Yes. The Watchtower joined the UN as an NGO. I know the brother who spearheaded the effort, still in Writing (last I spoke to him), and also knew others who approved it at the time (now deceased). They meant no harm, but it proved to be an embarrassment. They didn't really need the NGO status, for the original purpose -- access to informational materials, but the status seems to have given them quicker information about conferences and events that could have even helped the Watchtower Society learn more about the behind-the-scenes political circumstances of our brothers in various countries. The most embarrassing part, of course, was getting "disfellowshipped" by the UN. (That really happened, but it happened just after the WTS requested it.) Also, for a while, the Watchtower Society was supposed to write one informational article per year that informed our audience of some of the work the UN was doing. (That's one of the ways the DPI works.) So while the Watchtower magazine bashed them negatively, a small piece here and there in the Awake! magazine was doing articles on UNICEF etc that were between neutral and positive.
...
I should also say that I don't think this started out as anything very big. But those who got involved should have realized that almost everything goes public and becomes searchable. For a while you could even search the U.N.'s site and see which Awake! articles had been submitted for NGO/DPI compliance.
My motto: If you think you'll have trouble defending it, just don't! (Don't start something you might have to defend later.)
But I have to say that even in 1976, I was doing some follow-up research on Mr. Banda, the president of Malawi who had allowed widespread persecution of the Witnesses for several years just prior. And it turns out that he made some anti-JW statements that blamed the Witnesses for their own troubles -- saying that the problem was not just the 25 cent political party card. I only found this info in some heavy encyclopedic U.N. publications that no one in Writing had seen or heard of -- although these publications were at a large university library. It's quite possible that, 15 years later, a couple brothers were convinced that this type of information, although available without the NGO/DPI connection, would become more accessible. (I don't know if that would really be true.) Or, even more likely, that if we could gain a respectable status with THEIR researchers, we could merely request things to be xeroxed and mailed to the WTS, rather than traveling over to DPI repositories, and hardly knowing where to start.
 
----- and in another place on jw-archive, it came up again ------
 
There is additional evidence or information that I'm sure you can find from others, but what I write below is based mostly on what I know personally and have seen with my own eyes. It is mixed with a few things I have learned from other trusted and current Witnesses.
A very interesting man in Bethel's Writing Department is best known for some of his non-outline talks that he has given in hundreds of congregations. You can find many of his recorded talks on the Internet. He is a good speaker with a "dramatic" personality. I know the man well, and still count him as a friend although we rarely speak. I have seen him outside Bethel, in NY, NJ, even PA, oddly enough, buying books for his own library and for the Bethel libraries. (I have been a book collector for 30 years, and still take on research work for authors, so we have often frequented the same places.)
From the time I first knew him, 1976, this brother was in the Service Department and finally moved to the Writing Department. He was quickly given a lot of autonomy under the supervision of Lloyd Barry because he did more research and book purchasing than pure Writing compared with most others in Writing.
The brother I am speaking about was very highly embarrassed over the fact that it was mostly his own idea that got this thing started. I have not talked about it with him. He began using the UN library regularly in 1990, then weekly in 1991, and initially signed up with the UN's "Department of Public Information" (DPI) in 1991 (and officially accepted 1992) for easier access to library materials, but in the process of accessing those materials he learned a lot about different types of access to conferences and areas of interest that aligned with the Society's interests outside of just the library resources. (It was thought that association might have made it easier to publicize JW human rights violations, learn more about what other religions were doing when they had similar issues with religious persecution in many countries. It made it easier to get information about international religious taxation issues, and Holocaust publicity, etc.)
Brother Barry agreed with him that these other areas of access were also valuable, and they continued the association as an "NGO" (non-governmental organization). The names of both of these brothers, including the GB member, and another direct report to a GB member from the Service Dept are still on some forms at the UN.
They also had to agree to produce articles that helped to promote the work of United Nations' initiatives. The first one was the September 8, 1991 Awake! One initiative that the WTS could most easily agree with was UNICEF. The December 8, 2000 Awake! for example prints out the entire UN Declaration of the Rights of a Child in a single issue that mentions UNICEF 10 times (in a positive context). I'll quote it below.
But first notice by using the 2014 Watchtower Library CD for example that in the 10 years that the WTS was associated with the UN it mentioned UNICEF about 75 times (from 1991-2001). After a leak by the Guardian, the WTS was disassociated from the UN in 2001 when it was exposed to the UN that the Watchtower was simultaneously speaking out AGAINST the UN at the same time the Awake! was speaking positively about it.
(UNICEF has been mentioned just 11 times in the much longer time period since 2001, and always just to quote negative statistics.)
I have seen a list that included articles that were presented to the UN/DPI as proof that the WTS was keeping it's agreement by publishing at least one positive article per year. I don't have a copy of it, and don't know if anyone else does. I forget whether it included the issue below from 2000. I wish I had kept a copy. As I recall, it had references to about 10 different issues of the Awake! over a period of several years.
*** g00 12/8 p. 5 An Ongoing Search for Solutions ***
The UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child:
● The right to a name and nationality.
● The right to affection, love, and understanding and to material security.
● The right to adequate nutrition, housing, and medical services.
● The right to special care if disabled, be it physically, mentally, or socially.
● The right to be among the first to receive protection and relief in all circumstances.
● The right to be protected against all forms of neglect, cruelty, and exploitation.
● The right to full opportunity for play and recreation and equal opportunity to free and compulsory education, to enable the child to develop his individual abilities and to become a useful member of society.
● The right to develop his full potential in conditions of freedom and dignity.
● The right to be brought up in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship among peoples, peace, and universal brotherhood.
● The right to enjoy these rights regardless of race, color, sex, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, and property, birth, or other status.
 
 
--------------
Back to your current post. What I'm trying to say is that I don't think we need to cover up anything. A mistake was made, and we ultimately resolved it. I don't see what it proves to keep bringing it up. It does not show that we supported the U.N.  It shows that we found areas of agreement. We used the relationship to our advantage and the "cost" to us was the need to write about ways in which another organization was also trying to resolve world problems. For all we know, we would have been writing about such things anyway. Personally, I think we ended up looking more reasonable by discussing what the world was trying to do, and how it was at times making progress. Even their limited progress still highlighted the need for a more comprehensive solution.
So it's not like any JWs really needed to take their focus off the Scriptural reasoning for resolving the world's problems. Perhaps it made us more sympathetic and knowledgeable about the viewpoint of others. In the more distant past, we often did nothing but show derision for such efforts. Surely we are better off now for such research. I don't see this whole thing as a one-sided proof of hypocrisy with no up-side. I believe the posts also show that (through the mistake) we discovered avenues and venues for involvement in human rights awareness that we were not aware of previously.