bruceq

"DO NOT DIG A PIT FOR ANOTHER. . ." Ban of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia has become symbol of senseless discrimination against believers by Roman Lunkin Religiia i Pravo, 19 July 2017 The Russian government has, for the FIRST TIME since soviet times, completely banned a SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS movement and recognized that hundreds of thousands of believers—Russian citizens—are outside the law. The ban came on an extremely symbolic date. On 17 July (the date of remembrance of the murder of the tsarist family) a chamber of the Supreme Court of the RF left without satisfaction an appeal by the Jehovah's Witnesses and thereby the decision regarding their liquidation in Russia took effect in its entirety. After 20 April (Hitler's date of birth), Jehovah's Witnesses were required to suspend their activity. Now the property of the organization will be confiscated throughout the country and believers will be driven from their houses of worship. The case of the Jehovah's Witnesses has for long years been the occasion for accusations against Russia of violation of freedom of conscience and of simple common sense. Believers have prepared an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights and it is quite clear that the decision will not be in Russia's favor. On 18 July the European External Action Service condemned the decision of the Russian Supreme Court, noting the basic right, which religious groups should have. This is freedom of assembly, which believers have been deprived of. The way the authorities have dispensed with this new religious movement, which many Christian confessions view with dread, will not pass without a trace for all of them. First, representatives of the government took advantage of theological differences among various religions and confessions, knowing that nobody especially would support Jehovah's Witnesses, and official representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church will condemn them with joy. Second, the Jehovah's Witnesses became a clear example of the fact that persecution of those who believe differently in Russia is based on an unvarnished lie. Such Orthodox activists as Roman Silantiev or Alexander Dvorkin base discrimination (leading to disruption of relations between religion and the state and inter-religious strife) on myths about "national security" and how spies exist everywhere and poor citizens supposedly do not know who is preaching to them. The reporting is noteworthy on the program "Vesti-Moskva" on the "Russia" channel of 18 July 2017 about the ban of the Jehovah's Witnesses, where they were accused of proclaiming the truth of their religion and collecting donations, although these are also done by the Orthodox Church. In addition, Jehovah's Witnesses were also accused of forbidding blood transfusion, although this fact was not at all considered in the course of any judicial proceedings. And there are few who are interested in the fact that expert analyses considering brochures of Jehovah's Witnesses to be extremist were no less absurd and grotesque, from the point of view of science. The Supreme Court did not pay any attention to this. The decision that was adopted about the ban of Jehovah's Witnesses, in the opinion of a member of the Council on Human Rights under the Russian president and attorney of the Slavic Legal Center, Vladimir Riakhovsky, may be called political. Hopes that common sense would prevail were not justified. Vladimir Riakhovsky says that it turns out that nobody considered the consequences of the decision that was adopted. After 17 July it is inevitable, not only that property will be confiscated, which is an unprecedented since soviet times nationalization of church property, but also that there will be criminal cases against members of religious congregations. Believers may wind up in confinement or receive suspended sentences (several families of Jehovah's Witnesses in Taganrog have already been sentenced to suspended terms). The potential possibility of prison for believers in the country has frightened many other representatives of non-Orthodox Christian confessions, inasmuch as it is they who are most active in the missionary sphere and are most numerous. New religious movements are marginalized and can more easily change the form of their existence in society. Baptists, Pentecostals, Charismatics, and Adventists immediately became the number one targets for radical "sect fighters." In the first place, following the logic of soviet atheists, all the might of the press and law enforcement system should be turned on Pentecostal Charismatics, since they have the most emotional services and clear theological conceptions of healing. In connection with the action of the "Yarovaya Law" with respect to evangelical congregations (fines for illegal missionary activity), many churches have proven to be frightened and weakened, and their relations with society and local authorities have turned out to be under threat. Any of the provisions of the Yarovaya Law for control of evangelism and fines for distributing religious literature may affect not only protestants and Catholics but also Orthodox. Within the framework of the Russian Orthodox Church there are many quite diverse conservative and liberal groups, which also want to preach freely. Moreover, they will have full rights to do this in the future. For now the authorities are not applying the law with respect to Orthodox, but that is quite possible. Ironically, a part of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine wound up in a similar situation, repeating the situation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. The Verkhovna Rada is considering draft law No. 4511 "On the special status of religious organizations whose administrative centers are located in a state recognized by the Verkhovna Rada as an aggressor state." An explanatory note to this bill says: "There exists in Ukraine a direct threat of external influence and destructive propaganda, with the use of the religious factor on the part of an aggressor state. In circumstances of external military aggression, this creates the potential danger of the emergence of new foci of conflicting and inter-confessional tensions and inter-religious conflict, and as a consequence this means the emergence of real threats to the national interests, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security of Ukraine." Sect fighters in Russia say approximately the same about Jehovah's Witnesses. In the event of the adoption of this bill in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UPTs), as part of the Moscow patriarchate, will have to show that the UPTs exists independently from the administrative center, that is, from the RPTs. And that the canonical subordination of the UPTs to the Moscow patriarchate is an internal determination of a religious organization in which the state should not interfere. This is the spiritual tie of the Russian church and the UPTs. Ukrainian deputies, like many Russians also, think that they themselves may carve up the religious field as they wish. In the event it is recognized as an organization with its center in an "aggressor state," the UPTs will have to coordinate its personnel policy with the authorities and will fall under the control of bureaucrats, and those who will not submit apparently will be threatened with criminal cases for lack of "patriotism." In the course of judicial proceedings in the Russian Supreme Court, the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses did not manage to prove that the center has only a spiritual link with local congregations and the liquidation of the center should not lead to liquidation of all actually independent organizations. And the Jehovah's Witnesses became "non-patriots," who may be put into jail. Regardless of the situation around Jehovah's Witnesses, the state in Russia, in the person of the police and prosecutors, received after the adoption of the Yarovaya Law the greatest power of government and control over religion without any reasonable explanation, and this is a deep pit for all preachers, each of whom is obliged to consider someone a "heretic," "schismatic," or "sectarian." Such is religious life. (tr. by PDS, posted 19 July 2017)

July 18, 2017, 10:25 Jehovah's Witnesses - the extremists or the victim of lawlessness? April 20, 2017, the Supreme Court of Russia declared Jehovah's Witnesses extremist organization and banned its activities. The Court decided to liquidate the Administrative Center "Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" and 395 local organizations, as well as to confiscate their property. Representatives of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses and lawyers said on bias of the Supreme Court and the intention to appeal against the decision 1 . Despite the appeal 2 , in July 2017 the Supreme Court upheld the decision to liquidate the organization "Jehovah's Witnesses" 3 . After the ban against believers may initiate criminal proceedings for violations of anti-extremist legislation. Even before the requirements Ministry of Justice to suspend the activities of the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses religious communities in the Southern and North Caucasus Federal District have been repeatedly fined for the use of literature, and later entered in the Federal List of Extremist Materials . In eruyuschie stated on frequent occasions planted deemed extremist printed materials in the divine service of the building. Russian human rights activists said that the persecution has reached unprecedented proportions . The accusations of Jehovah's Witnesses? Alexander Verkhovsky, a member of the Presidential Council for Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights (HRC) and the head of the center "Sova", specializing in issues of nationalism and extremism, and notes that the arguments on extremism Jehovah's Witnesses are based on the allegations in the statement of the superiority of their religion over other 4 . April 6 at a meeting of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Russian Federation representative really said that Jehovah's Witnesses insist on exclusiveness, which is subject to the law "On Countering Extremist Activity" 5 . Also agency representative said: "In particular, the doctrinal literature organization forbids blood transfusions sick members of the organization on doctor's advice." For a ban on Jehovah's Witnesses spoke of religion Roman Silantyev, member of the expert of the Ministry of Justice Council of the Russian Federation: "I believe that the" Jehovah's Witnesses "long ago should be banned for violations of Russian law - he said -." Jehovah's Witnesses "is not only forbid their followers to serve in the army but also to participate in elections, to hold public office if a religious organization prevents citizens to fulfill their civic duties and rights -. it clearly violates Russian legislative elstvo. But "Jehovah's Witnesses" is still banned blood transfusion " 6 . The press service of the Jehovah's Witnesses said that the organization "has nothing to do with extremism":. "The extremism of the" Jehovah's Witnesses "- is misleading, repeated a hundred times, but did not become of this truth of the Russian authorities for over 60 years is well known that we as far removed from extremism, as heaven is from earth. Our faithful sat in prison, and even went to the shooting, but would not take up arms to people for any kind of ideals is not happening " 7 . With regard to the refusal of a blood transfusion, it is explained to the "Caucasian Knot" representative of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, Grigory Martynov, "a ban on the use of blood found in the Bible, and with respect for Jehovah's Witnesses refer to the biblical commandments." "However, the rejection of the donor blood does not mean the abandonment of treatment and saving lives , not just stressed representatives of the medical community. Jehovah's Witnesses view life as God's gift, so try to take care of their health by resorting to modern and safe methods of treatment, which include blood transfusions not true ", - he said Martynov 8 . "Jehovah's Witnesses" are persecuted not only in Russia. Between the two world wars, in particular, for their refusal to perform military service, "Jehovah's Witnesses" were deported to concentration camps in Nazi Germany, was the link to the camps in Canada 9 . In the USSR, members of the organization were subjected to deportation ( "Operation North" in 1951) 10 . Currently, the activities of "Jehovah's Witnesses" is limited or completely banned in China, Singapore, Vietnam, Cuba, in several Muslim countries. Critics accused her organization generally in opposition to the state and social institutions, the rejection of military service and blood transfusions. Members of Jehovah's Witnesses is also accused of trying to cover up the crimes of sexual violence against children 11 , although the organization and made any official statements that "does not encourage and does not cover acts of child molesters" 12 . Statements about the inadmissibility of persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses Statements against the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, particularly in the article on extremism expressed by the Human Rights Commissioner in the Russian Federation 13 , the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe 14 and the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations 15 . In 2010, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia in the case of liquidation of the community of believers in Moscow in March 2004. Question Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of blood transfusions arose at the level of the highest international courts. Hearing on the subject and went to the ECHR. In particular, June 10, 2010 in the case of "religious community" Jehovah's Witnesses "in Moscow and others against the Russian Federation," the European Court concluded that the refusal of blood transfusion can not be compared with an attempt of suicide or murder. "If we understand the decisions of national courts to imply equality between the refusal of blood transfusions and suicide, this analogy is, in the opinion of the Court, does not apply, because the situation in which the patient seeks to hasten death by cessation of treatment, different from the one in which patients such as the Jehovah's witnesses as "simply choose the method of treatment, but still want to recover, and do not refuse treatment in general," - said in the ruling of the European Court. Consistency accusations of conscientious objection to military service is also in doubt in the modern Russian context. Indeed, legislation of Russia suggests the possibility of an alternative civilian service for those who for religious reasons can not take up arms. Outrage at the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia expressed Alekseeva Lyudmila Mihaylovna, chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki Group. "Extremism of Jehovah's Witnesses is reflected in the fact that they regard their faith as true. But, forgive me, a believer does not consider his belief in the truth?" - he said Alekseev 16 . In the publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, the definition of "exclusivity" is not given in respect of their own beliefs, but repeatedly expressed approval of the truth of their faith. "Jehovah's Witnesses are convinced to have found the true religion, otherwise they would not have practiced this faith ... However, they believe that they do not have the right to decide who is saved and who is not." - said, in particular, in the periodical " Watchtower "of November 1, 2008. Similar ideas are expressed and banned publications, for example, in the brochure "Jehovah's Witnesses Who Are They? What Do They Believe?", Recognized as extremist. Mikhail Roshchin, senior researcher at the Center for the Study of Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Volga-Ural region of the Institute of Oriental Studies, in an interview to the "Caucasian Knot" has declared that the prohibition of the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses because of their belief in the truth of their faith is questionable, since the submission of the exclusiveness of its own doctrine there are other exercises. "This is normal, the underlying position for monotheistic religions," - said Roshchin. Jehovah's Witnesses the right to freedom of conscience will be regularly and massively violated in Russia after the liquidation of the local religious organizations, police and prosecutors will not go into legal details when evaluating the practice of believers forecast polled by the "Caucasian Knot" lawyers and human rights 17 . Law enforcement practice in Russia now is that the negative consequences of the Supreme Court decision will come for all who profess the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, said lawyer Anna Stavitskaya 18 . Also, according to the director of the program on counteraction to fabricate cases of Islamic extremism of the Human Rights Center "Memorial" Vitaly Ponomarev, it is likely that the Jehovah's Witnesses will now initiate criminal proceedings related to both attempts believers to make any collective action, including meetings , discussion and reading of literature and spread their faith 19 . Jehovah's Witnesses operate as a registered organization in 240 countries around the world. According to its own data company, the total number of Jehovah's Witnesses is 8.3 million people in the world 20 . Approximate number in Russia - 100-300 thousand people 21. Jehovah's Witnesses in southern Russia In the south of Russia as of March 30, 2017 operated 107 local religious organization of Jehovah's witnesses - 74 in the Southern Federal District and 33 in the North Caucasus Federal District. In the Krasnodar region - 39 local organizations in the Rostov region - 13, in the Volgograd region - 14, in Adygeya - 7, in the Astrakhan region - one in Kalmykia - an organization banned by the court . In the Stavropol region - 22 local organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, in Kabardino-Balkaria - 5, in Dagestan, North Ossetia and Karachay-Cherkessia - two in Ingushetia and Chechnya, there are no such 22 . After the entry into force of the decision of the Supreme Court of Jehovah's Witnesses in southern Russia are preparing for mass persecution and talk about to terminate the lease of buildings for worship, bringing to administrative responsibility for missionary activity 23 . Representatives of one of the Dagestani community of Jehovah's Witnesses reported that the landlord has terminated the contract with them rent the room that was used as a place for community meetings in Derbent 24 . Jehovah's Witnesses from Kabardino-Balkaria intend to fulfill the court's decision. The correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" said the elder of Jehovah's Witnesses meeting Nikolai Prokhladnensky Zhiryakov 25 . After the decision of the Supreme Court of Russia at the suit of the Ministry of Justice in the village Egorlykskaya Rostov Region Administrative article of the Administrative Code, four Jehovah's Witnesses involved. Jehovah's Witnesses from Volgograd ready "embedded in the circumstances": "We have some hope remain, although I understand that the appeal proceedings are resolved almost always the same as the basic'll have to get used to living a little in other circumstances, we expect the re-examination of the case in the Court of Appeal..", - told the "Caucasian Knot" Konstantin Sedov 26 . notes Jehovah's Witnesses are called the verdict of the Supreme Court biased // Caucasian Knot, 20/4/2017. ↑ "God is just another did not finish." 4 days prior to the ban, "Jehovah's Witnesses" in Russia // Novaya Gazeta, 14.07.2017. ↑ The Supreme Court rejected the Jehovah's Witnesses. They are preparing a complaint to the European Court // Official site of "Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia", 17/07/2017. ↑ In Russia want to ban the sect "Jehovah's Witnesses" // News, 4/15/2016. ↑ Ministry of Justice: "Jehovah's Witnesses" violating the law on combating extremism // TASS, 04.06.2017. ↑ In Russia want to ban the sect "Jehovah's Witnesses" // News, 4/15/2017. ↑ In Russia want to ban the sect "Jehovah's Witnesses" // News, 4/15/2017. ↑ The prosecutor's office of Kabardino-Balkaria, intervened in the issue of treatment of a newborn baby in the community "Jehovah's Witnesses" // Caucasian Knot, 01.11.2012. ↑ Witnesses Seek Apology for Wartime Persecution // The Globe in Mail, 09.09.2004. ↑ Glades PM Not on their own ...: History and geography of forced migrations in the USSR. M., 2001. S. 143. ↑ Jehovah's Witnesses Told to Pay in Abuse Case // The New York Times, 17.06.2012; Jehovah's Witnesses under pressure over handling of sexual abuse claims // The Guardian, 12.08.2016. ↑ Media statement / Jehowah Witnesses. 15.10.2007. ↑ The report of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation in 2013. ↑ PACE Resolution 2012. 1896. ↑ Concluding observations of the seventh periodic report of the Russian Federation // United Nations Human Rights Committee. 2015. ↑ Lyudmila Alekseeva, "not just a mistake, and I believe crime" // Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, 03/24/2017. ↑ The lawyers called the cunning of Justice statement on religious freedom in the Jehovah's Witnesses // Caucasian Knot, 23/4/2017. ↑ Ibid. ↑ Ibid. ↑ 2017 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. 2017. ↑ In Russia want to ban the sect "Jehovah's Witnesses" // News, 4/15/2017; Protection of Jehovah's Witnesses spoke about the planted evidence and accused the Ministry of Justice of double standards // Caucasian Knot, 07/04/2017. ↑ Lawyers: Ministry of Justice decision on the Jehovah's Witnesses does not negate the freedom of conscience in Russia // Caucasian Knot, 30/3/2017. ↑ Jehovah's Witnesses in the south of Russia told about the problems after the court decision on the liquidation of their organizations // Caucasian Knot, 27/4/2017. ↑ Ibid. ↑ Ibid. ↑ Ibid. ↑ Source: https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/300620/© Caucasian Knot

Sister says she can't buy groceries in all stores in her town. "We don't serve extremists" July 17, 2017, 04:31 Jehovah's Witnesses pressure on members of the communities in the south of Russia sharply increased After the Supreme Court decision on the Elimination of how extremist religious organizations 396 Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia surveyed by the "Caucasian Knot" believers from regions south of Russia complained about unlawful searches, turn off the gas, persecution of children, loss of employment and the deterioration of relations with fellow countrymen. They fear that in case of the appeal decision will be taken against them, will increase the pressure on the representatives of the communities. As he wrote, " Caucasian Knot ", April 20 the Russian Supreme Court satisfied the requirements of the Ministry of Justice on the Elimination of how extremist religious organizations 396 Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, including their Administrative Center in St. Petersburg. The property of these organizations, the court decided to confiscate to the state. Jehovah's Witnesses are called the verdict biased court . April 24 Zamoskvoretskiy Moscow district court found that the Ministry of Justice decided to suspend the activity in the Russian Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses is legal . Jehovah's Witnesses, on its own data company, registered and conduct religious activities in 240 countries around the world. The total number of Jehovah's Witnesses in the world is 8.3 million people, including about 170,000 in Russia. In the south of Russia, as of March 30, 2017, it operated 107 local religious organization of Jehovah's witnesses - 74 in the Southern Federal District and 33 in the North Caucasian Federal District, according to a prepared by the "Caucasian Knot" Help " Jehovah's Witnesses - the extremists or the victim of lawlessness? ". Jaroslav Sivulskii: "We hope that the appeal will help undo the unfair, in our opinion, the decision of the SC" As reported by the "Caucasian Knot" a representative of the Administrative Center Jaroslav Sivulskii decision Amphibious affected 175 thousand followers of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, because the stroke of a pen were liquidated all 396 registered organizations in Russia, and their activities are prohibited. "The court also decided to confiscate the property of all these religious organizations. As a result, in addition to complaints from the Administrative Center of the decision, were submitted for a total of hundreds of appeals from the remaining 395 liquidated the local religious organization of Jehovah, and from hundreds of witnesses to individuals whose rights have been directly affected by the court decision we very much hope that the appeal will help undo the unfair, in our opinion, the decision of the SC, "-. he explained. Sivulskii said that supporters of Jehovah's Witnesses met with the head of the Human Rights Council and the development of civil society under the Russian President Mihailom Fedotovym. "He was very concerned about what is happening in Russia after the court decision with the rights of Jehovah's Witnesses, he recommended that all cases of flagrant violations goes to his advice." - he said. According Sivulskii, against the background of the trial against Jehovah's Witnesses, and after the decision of the North Caucasus and southern Russia occurred and are occurring violations of the rights of believers, and the evidence is present in the HRC. "We recorded from March to June of about 27 violations considerable number of them took place in Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories There are also reports of incidents in the North Caucasus republics, Rostov and Astrakhan regions.." - he said. In particular, he said, there were cases when the religious movement supporters fired from their jobs or denied to them in a contract extension. "For example, in Kabardino-Balkaria, two officers from among the faithful of Jehovah's Witnesses who worked at the local branch of the Federal Tax Service. May 15 in the Krasnodar Territory in Novokubansk believer from among Jehovah's Witness forced to resign from the kindergarten were dismissed in Nalchik on May 11 where she worked as a nurse and had no complaints at work. the head of the preschool institution to dismiss said that since she is a Jehovah's witness, and the organization is recognized as "extremist", so it may not work in this institution ", - he told Sivulskii. In addition, there are cases of property damage to organizations and individual believers. "On May 26 villages Nezlobnaya, Lysogorskaya and Podgorski Stavropol Territory in the building, which previously held worship came gas service, accompanied by the police and by going to the territory, cut off the gas pipeline. The believers asked the" Georgievskmezhraygaz "to find out the reasons. There, they explained, that the gas cut off because of the fact that the believers -. "extremists" had no debt at the time of tripping on the same day in the village of Kursk in the territory of the liturgical building was made cutting gas pipe representatives of the local gas. second service. It became known from a woman who lives next door. She came home to the believer and said that cut off gas and an excavator digging a hole. When a believer approached, the work was almost complete. When the believer car gas service once gone, there was only one excavator. When asked on what basis they did it, he replied that he had heard, it was an order from the ministry "cut all you gas as you are extremists." Faithful received no notification of the local service control gas that is produced by cutting the gas pipe. On that day the believers to "Raygazom" had no debt, "- said Sivulskii. In the Stavropol region in May and June are also frequent visits by the police, sometimes together with the FSB, in the house of Jehovah Witness adherents. "In Neftekumsk came to the mother of one of the faithful, where it has been registered, recorded personal data of relatives and the believer. Noted mother believer as" contacting "the person. The daughter of another follower of the Jehovah's Witnesses wanted to get the Secretary to the police, she was called, was asked about his mother, like whether she and other family members that she was a Jehovah's witness, whether or not for her fear. in addition, the place where the services were held earlier, the police came and the FSB. The village Essentukskaya one of the faithful called the employee about the kuratury and asked for permission to meet with her at home Cause -. verification of the information received by him from the police ", - said Sivulskii. According to him, the police wanted to know, is it really a woman is a Jehovah's Witness. She said firmly that "is and will be a witness to the end of his days." Then, according to Sivulskii, police asked her if she was going with someone to meet and where, as a son and daughter in law told the police earlier that the meetings are held at her home. "A believer confidently answered that nowhere with no one is going. At the same time she noticed that for 26 years the Jehovah's Witnesses were the legitimate organization. Prosecutors in this case referred to the Supreme Court decision of 20 April 2017, at which a believer replied that this decision has not yet entered into force, as under appeal, which will be considered on July 17, "- he told Sivulskii. He also informed about the searches of the believers. In particular, in the house of a believer in the village of Liman Astrakhan region was searched on 10 June. "My wife and child at the time were on a walk and came later discovered that the home search is conducted. The police presented a warrant regulations on home search. The warrant was pointed out that the cafe" Victoria "Astrakhan region was stolen phone, and supposedly he is in the house of a believer, who plans to sell it. They asked a believer, whether he talked to anyone about this phone, on the phone or something else in another way. the believer has denied this information. During the search he found a personal religious literature. All found there teratura not in the list of prohibited materials ... The believers began to object, but ignored the objections, the police said that Jehovah's Witnesses are banned in Russia and they should withdraw the literature. They also questioned the faithful about the meetings that took place in them. The believers did not know, that the police should not have done that, and had to seek only what is stated in the decree in addition, the police did not provide copies of the perfect search "-. Sivulskii said. Jehovah's Witnesses in Dagestan fear pressure from the security forces In Derbent community representatives do not feel any pressure from the security forces, he told the "Caucasian Knot" representative of the Jehovah's Witnesses community of Derbent Michael . "At the moment we have no problems with the security forces, members of other communities, we also heard that there is someone detained," - said the representative of the community. However, according to the believer, if the court July 17 decides not in favor of Jehovah's Witnesses, that "by the security forces pressure on the faithful efforts." "It is unlikely that this pressure will be massive, most likely, will be made of a single action, aimed at those responsible in the community", - said the representative of Derbent community of Jehovah's Witnesses. However, he noted that "the community understands that the court's decision on July 17 will not be in favor of the faithful." "Aerie no expectations tendency such that the solution is not in our favor." - he said. The representative of Makhachkala community Andrew believes that "the more likely the court's decision is not in favor of the faithful." As a result, the court's decision "will trigger increased pressure on members of the community," remarked Andrew. According to him, after the decision of the court "may start the race for the statistics, and security forces are chasing the simple believers." Krasnodar Territory: children do not give a pass to the school and on the street Sochi representative of Jehovah's Witnesses Constantine Eltavsky told the "Caucasian Knot" that all his fellow very much hope that the Appeals Chamber of the Supreme Court to protect their constitutional right to worship. "We stopped to meet in the halls of worship Of course, none of Jehovah's Witnesses have not ceased to believe, but we began to meet in a different way, at home with our friends, co-religionists also we speak of God, to strengthen each other by means of the Bible..", - he noted Eltavsky. According to him, "Kingdom Hall" in the Adler district now stands closed, the meeting is not held there, although access to it is open to believers. "Rooms are decorated in the individual and are not owned by local religious organizations, but we still stopped there to meet for the sake of safety, we respect the law, even if this law infringes on our rights..", - said Eltavsky. He noted that his fellow reported persecution after the court decision, which suspended the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses, people's attitudes towards them changed. In some regions of Russia in the halls of the windows were broken for worship, and the walls are painted obscene words, there were attempts to arson of private homes of his co-religionists. "People have started to consider us as people who have a different faith, but as it is presented in the media -. This was how the extremists influence the attitude towards our children in school," - says a believer. Now the situation has changed dramatically, according to a man, the children are forced to participate in the festivities, which Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate. "Previously respected our opinions now the attitude of teachers, school administration was negative, our children began to be perceived as extremists children." - says Eltavsky. At the same time in Sochi related to the Jehovah's Witnesses are much more loyal, he said. "We have about 2 thousand faithful only attended the meeting. Many have family members of Jehovah's Witnesses, friends. We in Sochi people know who are Jehovah's Witnesses, they do not believe what they say about us. Many people are surprised that we have recognized the extremists" - the man says. According to him, refused military enlistment offices of Jehovah's Witnesses in alternative civilian service, although I have always gone forward, as this constitutional right is given to every citizen of Russia. Believer of Mosty district Svetlana Raikin told the "Caucasian Knot", which was forced to leave his village because of attacks countrymen. "To us in the past as a treat rogue, because we did not drink, did not smoke, did not matter, and then the court of the window began to strike at night will climb into the chicken coop, all chickens peredushat, children walk down the street is impossible, name-calling." - says the woman . According to her, she repeatedly wrote to the police statement, but no checks on her appeal was not, and then she stopped at the store to sell products. "We're a small village, a few shops, no matter where you come, being driven everywhere:" Extremists do not serve - the woman says! "It's all ok We stopped to sleep at night I have no husband, I have three children.?.". Svetlana was forced to leave his home, pick up all the necessary things and move to another area. "The house does not sell, it is worth a penny, went to distant relatives, nobody will say more, I believe that only in faith Let my heart be.", - said the woman. She hopes for a fair judgment of the Supreme Court. "I'm not the only one; we communicate with our fellow believers, everywhere in the Kuban they just do not give a pass," - says a believer. In the Caucasus region police check believers in the community, he told the "Caucasian Knot" a member of Jehovah's Witnesses , Nikolai . He noted that his fellow believers fear now walk to each other's homes. Worship canceled. Nicholas said -, ".. Of course, there are, say Brochures emissions, and the Bible can not they say that next time will attract for the dissemination of extremist literature came to me from the police, asking if I had any religious literature.". According to him, all the arguments that the organization has not yet banned but only suspended its activities in Russia, do not act on the police. "We have already a stigma - extremists People stopped to greet colleagues turn away what we did, it is not clear.." - the man says. According to him, it is especially difficult for children who do not give a pass to the school and on the street. "And pushing and kicking, and in social networks write nasty things I'm going to deal, hands teacher bred, they say, and what you want, you're extremists We all my life more than anyone in the village to work, all respected and there you are.." - the man says. He also hopes that the Supreme Court will restore the rights of his co-religionists. Volgograd region: the faithful no longer meet in the premises of the Jehovah's Witnesses "To say that there have been serious incidents, prematurely, but there were some moments when the challenges of local residents came to the police to check the documents and see what's going on", - he told the "Caucasian Knot" Elder of the local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses , Konstantin Sedov . According to him, citizens who react so maybe heard about the Supreme Court decision. "The police came, examined the documents and looked to see if any underground activities, and that all came to an end. As far as I know, similar phenomena were Traktorozavodskoy and Krasnooktyabrsky areas. Serious incidents, when it was instituted administrative or criminal case in our area I have not heard. With regard to the forthcoming court of Appeal, we are all anxiously waiting and hoping for the best. we would like the court took into account many of the arguments and motions, which during the first examination were not received . Yaty into consideration We hope that this time our opinions will be heard "- said Sedov. He said that believers no longer meet in the premises of the Jehovah's Witnesses after the court decision. According to him, there is evidence that in some places, where they continued to meet the believers, came the police, and even opened a criminal case. "As the country begins a wave of inspections for the purpose of institution of criminal or administrative cases on the mission and activities of extremist We do not want to create additional risks ... But to believe in God no one forbids us, we are going in small groups.", - said Sedov. "We are preparing for the withdrawal halls pending appeal the Ministry of Justice has sent us a paper that we are not an organization It is said that the local organization liquidated by court decision we terminate the contract for light, gas and water...", - told the "Caucasian Knot" head of the organization of Jehovah's witnesses Traktorozavodskiy district of Volgograd Roman Svateev . "Deny believe no one can, as well as breathe we hope will make an informed decision, we hope for common sense." - he said. Department of Justice Office of the Volgograd region ordered an end to the activities of the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses Traktorozavodskiy Volgograd region on 20 April. Recall that the Ministry of Justice in its lawsuit referred to the decisions concerning the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, where literature was found, recognized as extremist. The representative of the Ministry of Justice told the court that after the dissolution of the organization, law enforcement agencies will be able to initiate criminal proceedings against the believers of this denomination under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code (organization of an extremist organization) ", provides for a fine of 300 to 800 thousand rubles and imprisonment from two to 12 years. Jehovah's Witnesses the right to freedom of conscience will be regularly and massively violated in Russia after the liquidation of the local religious organizations, police and prosecutors will not go into legal details when evaluating the practice of believers forecast polled by the "Caucasian Knot" by lawyers and human rights activists. Security officials received a carte blanche for the prosecution of Jehovah's Witnesses, noted jurists. Materials about the events connected with the claim of Justice on the Elimination of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, the "Caucasian Knot" has published a thematic page " The Ministry of Justice against the Jehovah's Witnesses ." Note: " Merkel asked Putin to protect minority rights ," " The authorities in Britain and the United States condemned the reckoning Russian Jehovah's Witnesses to the extremists ", " Human Rights Watch strongly condemned the decision of the court of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia ." source: the "Caucasian Knot"Источник: https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/306172/© Кавказский Узел

Full coverageCourt Confirms Decision to Ban Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, Here's Why Sputnik International Jul 18, 2017  Russia Supreme Court upholds ban on Jehovah's Witnesses JURIST Jul 18, 2017  Russian court confirms Jehovah's Witnesses ban Yahoo News UK Jul 18, 2017  From RussiaRussian Supreme Court Rejects Jehovah's Witnesses Appeal The Moscow Times Jul 18, 2017  More ArticlesJehovah's Witnesses ban comes into force in Russia after Supreme Court dismisses appeal The Independent Jul 18, 2017  EU Urges Russia to Ensure Jehovah's Witnesses Freedom of Assembly Amid Ban Sputnik International Jul 18, 2017  EU insists on right of Jehovah's Witnesses to be entitled to freedom of assembly Kyiv Post Jul 18, 2017  Jehovah's Witnesses vow to appeal Russia ban in European court Times LIVE Jul 18, 2017  EU Criticizes Russia Over Jehovah's Witnesses Ban Voice of America Jul 18, 2017  Blow to religious freedom as Jehovah's Witnesses banned in Russia The Calvert Journal Jul 18, 2017  Russian Appeals Court Bans Jehovah's Witnesses OZY Jul 18, 2017  Jehovah's Witnesses Ban Appeal Rejected by Russia's Supreme Court, Allowing Government to Seize Worship Halls Newsweek Jul 17, 2017  Russia upholds its ban on 'extremist' Jehovah's Witnesses – but the group vows to fight on International Business Times UK Jul 18, 2017  Jehovah's Witnesses Vow to Fight Back After Russia Gives Group Same 'Extremist' Status as ISIS Gospel Herald Jul 18, 2017  Russia Jehovah's Witnesses banned after they lose appeal BBC News Jul 17, 2017  Jehovah's Witnesses Remain Banned as Russia Rejects Appeal ChristianityToday.com Jul 17, 2017  Russia Orders Disbanding of Jehovah's Witnesses Newser Jul 18, 2017  Russia's Supreme Court stands by its nationwide ban on Jehovah's Witnesses Globalnews.ca Jul 17, 2017  Russian Supreme Court Upholds Ruling Banning Jehovah's Witnesses RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty Jul 17, 2017  Russian Supreme Court Upholds Jehovah's Witness Ban Washington Free Beacon Jul 17, 2017  Jehovah's Witness vows to appeal its ban Daily Post Nigeria Jul 18, 2017  Russian Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Jehovah's Witnesses Voice of America Jul 17, 2017  Russia Ban: Jehovah's Witnesses Take Case To European Court The Whistler Jul 18, 2017  Russia's Supreme Court Upholds Outlawing of Jehovah's Witnesses as 'Extremist Organization' Intelligencer Post Jul 18, 2017  Jehovah's Witnesses Ban Appeal Rejected by Russia's Supreme Leicester Post Jul 18, 2017  EU's diplomatic service stands up for rights of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russian Federation Normangee Star Jul 18, 2017  Supreme Court Upholds Ruling That Bans Jehovah's Witnesses In Russia | Religious Body Heads To European Court 360Nobs.com Jul 18, 2017  Rabid Christian Evangelical Group Jehovah's Witnesses Banned In Russia Swarajya Jul 18, 2017  European Union criticizes Russian Federation over Jehovah's Witnesses ban

http://www.newsweek.com/jehovahs-witnesses-russia-ban-oppression-594839

Voice of America: US Condemns Russia's Decision to Ban Jehovah's Witnesses July 19, 2017 1:43 PM VOA News FILE - Jehovah's Witnesses wait in a courtroom in Moscow, Russia, April 20, 2017. On Monday, Russia's Supreme Court has banned the religious group from operating in the country. Share Print The U.S. State Department is urging Russia to reconsider their new ban on the Jehovah's Witnesses. Monday, the Russian Supreme Court rejected an appeal on an earlier ruling that labeled the group extremist, ordering the Christian denomination to disband immediately on Russian territory. The State Department called the court decision "the latest in a disturbing trend of persecution of religious minorities in Russia." It said, "Religious minorities should be able to enjoy freedom of religion and assembly without interference as guaranteed by the Russian Federation's constitution." The State Department urged Russian authorities to lift the ban on the Jehovah's Witnesses' activities in Russia, and to release any members of religious minorities unjustly detained for so-called "extremist' activities". FILE - Jehovah's Witnesses react in a courtroom after a judge's decision in Moscow, April 20, 2017, to ban the group. On Monday Russia's Supreme Court, ruling on an appeal, upheld the ban. The Russian government maintains the religious group was distributing inflammatory pamphlets designed to incite hatred, including one that printed the novelist Leo Tolstoy's criticism of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to the group, which is best known for door-to-door evangelizing, there are 175,000 Jehovah's Witnesses members in Russia. The ruling will allow the government to ban members from assembling and preaching, and force the group's headquarters in St. Petersburg to close along with 395 local chapters. The government will also seize Jehovah's Witnesses properties, known as Kingdom Halls. Following the court decision, the Jehovah's Witnesses issued a statement asking "fellow believers worldwide [to] pray that the Russian government will reconsider its position and respect fundamental human rights." "The worldwide community of Jehovah's Witnesses are deeply concerned for the welfare of their spiritual brothers and sisters in Russia," said Philip Brumley, General Counsel for the Jehovah's Witnesses. "They have become outcasts in their own country." The denomination, which believes that Jesus Christ will soon return to Earth and establish a thousand-year Golden Age, have suffered persecution before. The group is apolitical, refusing to vote in elections, fight in the military, or salute flags. American Jehovah's Witnesses were put in jail during World War II for evading the draft and a 1940 U.S. Supreme Court decision, now overturned, allowed schools to expel Jehovah's Witnesses children who declined to stand for the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Members were killed in concentration camps in Nazi Germany and were persecuted in the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. The religious sect became legal in Russia in 1991. https://www.voanews.com/a/us-russia-jehovah-witnesses/3950680.html

US slams Russia for ban on Jehovah's Witnesses BY OLIVIA BEAVERS - 07/19/17 11:39 AM EDT 57 63 © Getty Images The State Department on Wednesday slammed the Russian Supreme Court’s decision to ban Jehovah's Witnesses from practicing in the country, which considers them an "extremist" group. "The Russian Supreme Court’s decision this week against the Jehovah’s Witnesses is the latest in a disturbing trend of persecution of religious minorities in Russia," said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert in a statement. Nauert urged the court to reversed the ban. "We urge the Russian authorities to lift the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses’ activities in Russia, to reverse the closing of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Administrative Center, and to release any members of religious minorities that continue to be unjustly detained for so-called 'extremist' activities," the statement said. Nauert also called on the Kremlin "to respect the right of all to exercise the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief." Last week, Russia's Supreme Court ruled to uphold a ruling in April that called the Christian group an "extremist" organization. The religion, which says it has 175,000 members in Russia, intends to appeal the ban that calls for them to disband. "We plan to appeal this at the European Court of Human Rights as soon as we can," Yaroslav Sivulskiy, a member of the European Association of Jehovah's Christian Witnesses, told Reuters. A European Union spokeswoman told the news wire in a statement the decision has already led to negative consequences such as "criminal prosecutions against Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as police raids on their prayer halls, arson attacks and other forms of harassment." The leading religion in Russia is the Orthodox Church, which is supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some Orthodox members believe Jehovah's Witnesses are a "totalitarian sect," Reuters reported. Russian authorities have painted the group as a dangerous sect that will destroy families. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/342703-us-slams-russia-for-ban-on-jehovahs-witnesses

NEWSWEEK: RUSSIA’S JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES BAN IS FAR FROM THE ONLY OPPRESSION THE GROUP FACES AROUND THE WORLD BY JASON LE MIERE ON 5/5/17 AT 11:01 AM WORLDJEHOVAH'S WITNESSESRELIGIOUS FREEDOM Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia are still reeling from a decision by the country’s Supreme Courtlast month to ban all activity of the Christian denomination under an anti-extremism law. But, while that decision has garnered much attention and condemnation around the world, Russia is far from the only country guilty of oppressing the U.S.-founded religion. Related: After ban, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia harassed by police during religious services Jehovah's Witnesses began in Pennsylvania toward the end of the 19th century and now count 8.3 million members around the globe. The group headquartered in upstate New York is perhaps best known for going door-to-door to spread their message. as well as refusing military service and blood transfusions. Their stance on blood transfusions was cited by Russia's justice ministry as evidence that they constituted an extremist organization. However. their position has also been credited with encouraging doctors to come up with less risky alternatives to using blood. Daily Emails and Alerts - Get the best of Newsweek delivered to your inbox Still, their beliefs remain controversial in many parts of the world. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its annual report last month detailing various abuses committed against almost all religions all over the globe. Numerous abuses involve Jehovah’s Witnesses: Eritrea The plight of Jehovah’s Witnesses is particularly serious in Eritrea. The African country officially recognizes just four religious groups—the Coptic Orthodox Church of Eritrea, Sunni Islam, the Roman Catholic Church and the Evangelical Church of Eritrea—all other groups must register. Many minority faith groups are persecuted, including Jehovah’s Witnesses. A decree from the then- and current-President Isaias Afwerki in 1994 revoked Jehovah’s Witnesses’ citizenship due to their refusal to take part in national service or participate politically. Three Jehovah’s Witnesses remain imprisoned from that time, as part of a total of 54 Jehovah’s Witnesses currently imprisoned without trial. Tajikistan A decade before Russia’s ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Central Asian country of Tajikistan did the same thing. With, at the time, a congregation of just 600 in the country of around 8.5 million, Tajikistan’s Culture Ministry in 2007 decreed the group’s activity “illegal” and, again largely citing their refusal to partake in military service, issued a nationwide ban. Turkmenistan Also deemed a “Country of Particular Concern” by USCIRF, Turkmenistan, has what Human Rights Watch has called an “atrocious” record when it comes to human rights. Jehovah’s Witnesses have been singled out for some of the worst treatment. Members of the group have been fired from their jobs and even evicted from their homes, according to human rights organization Forum 18. Jehovah’s Witnesses have also reported being imprisoned without charge and tortured. Kyrgyzstan In unquestionably the most bizarre form of oppression carried out against Jehovah’s Witnesses, a mother and daughter spent 31 months under house arrest, until their release in October 2015, for alleged witchcraft. Their precise crime was said to be conjuring snakes from eggs and stealing a woman’s life savings, according to Forum 18. Jehovah’s Witnesses allege that the punishment was retribution for their failed applications to register their faith with the state. Uzbekistan Central Asia’s most populous country regularly disrupts Jehovah’s Witnesses meetings and, as with those of other religious groups in the country, particularly Muslims, often punishes those in attendance for possessing religious literature. Azerbaijan In Azerbaijan, where all religious groups must register with the government, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been subject to raids, arrests, fines and having religious texts confiscated. In 2015, two Jehovah’s Witnesses were jailed for almost a year for sharing the Bible’s message with their neighbors. Jehovah’s Witnesses have also been jailed for refusing to perform military service. Kazakhstan Neighboring Russia, constitutionally secular Kazakhstan has repeatedly fined Jehovah’s Witnesses for sharing their faith with others, either verbally or through religious texts, and even inviting people to meetings. Just this week, a Jehovah's Witness was sentenced to five years in prison, accused of propagating ideas that "disrupt interreligious and interethnic concord." Belarus Jehovah’s Witnesses in this former Soviet country have been threatened with liquidation for holding religious meetings without permission and distributing religious texts. Last year, a Jehovah’s Witness was fined for refusing to perform military service, even though he offered to perform civilian service. Egypt Despite there being an estimated 1,500 in the country, Jehovah’s Witnesses, along with the Bahá’í faith, has been banned in Egypt since 1960. Members of the religious group remain prohibited from having places of worship, even if in recent years they have been permitted to meet with fewer than 30 people in private homes, according to the USCIRF report.

https://tv.jw.org/#en/mediaitems/LatestVideos/pub-jwb_201707_14_VIDEO

WHY IS VLADIMIR PUTIN'S RUSSIA SO AFRAID OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES? BY MATHEW SCHMALZ ON 7/19/17 AT 7:36 AM CLOS OPINIONPUTINVLADIMIR PUTINJEHOVAH'S WITNESSESRELIGION IN RUSSIAEXTREMISM This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. On Monday, July 17, the Russian Supreme Court rejected an appeal of an earlier rulingsanctioning Jehovah’s Witnesses as an extremist group. As a last ditch effort, Russian Jehovah’s Witnesses intend to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. But, as of now, Jehovah’s Witness gatherings and preaching are criminal offenses in Russia. The Russian government also has the legal authority to liquidate any property held by Jehovah’s Witnesses as an organization. There are over eight million Jehovah’s Witnesses in 240 countries worldwide. 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. Daily Emails and Alerts - Get the best of Newsweek delivered to your inbox Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses, and why would the Russian, or any, government consider them to be a threat? Early history The story of Jehovah’s Witnesses begins in the late 19th century near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a group of students studying the Bible. The group was led by Charles Taze Russell, a religious seeker from a Presbyterian background. These students understood “Jehovah,” a version of the Hebrew “Yaweh,” to be the name of God the Father himself. Russell and his followers looked forward to Jesus Christ establishing a “millennium” or a thousand-year period of peace on Earth. This “Golden Age” would see the Earth transformed to its original purity, with a “righteous” social system that would not have poverty or inequality. Russell died in 1916 without witnessing the return of Jesus Christ. But his group endured and grew. The name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” was formally adopted in the 1930s. Early Jehovah’s Witnesses believed 1914 to be the beginning of the end of worldly governmentsthat would culminate with the Battle of Armageddon. Armageddon specifically refers to Mount Megiddo in Israel where some Christians believe the final conflict between good and evil will take place. Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, expected that the Battle of Armageddon would be worldwide with Jesus leading a “heavenly army” to defeat the enemies of God. They also believed that after Armageddon, Jesus would rule the world from heaven with 144,000 “faithful Christians,” as specified in the Book of Revelation. Other faithful Christians would be reunited with dead loved ones and live on a renewed Earth. Over the years, Jehovah’s Witnesses have reinterpreted elements of this timeline and have abandoned setting specific dates for the return of Jesus Christ. But they still look forward to the Golden Age that Russell and his Bible students expected. Given the group’s belief in a literal thousand-year earthly reign of Christ, scholars of religion classify Jehovah’s Witnesses as a “millennarian movement.” What are their beliefs? Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the Trinity. For most Christians, God is a union of three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Instead, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus is distinct from God—not united as one person with him. The “Holy Spirit,” then, refers to God’s active power. Such doctrines distinguish Jehovah’s Witnesses from mainline Christian denominations, all of which hold that God is “triune” in nature. But like other Christian denominations, Jehovah’s Witnesses praise God through worship and song. Their gathering places are called “Kingdom Halls,” which are ordinary-looking buildings – like small conference centers—that have the advantage of being easily built. Inside are rows of chairs and a podium for speakers, but little special adornment. Jehovah’s Witnesses are best known for devoting a substantial amount of time to Bible study and door-to-door evangelizing. Their biblical interpretations and missionary work certainly have critics. But it is the political neutrality of the group that has attracted the most suspicion. Jehovah’s Witnesses accept the legitimate authority of government in many matters. For example, they pay taxes, following Jesus’ admonition in Mark 12:17 “to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.” But they do not vote in elections, serve in the military or salute the flag. Such acts, they believe, compromise their primary loyalty to God. A history of persecution Jehovah’s Witnesses have no political affiliations, and they renounce violence. However, they make an easy target for governments looking for internal enemies, as they refuse to bow down to government symbols. Many nationalists call them “enemies of the state.” As a result, they have often suffered persecution throughout history in many parts of the world. Jehovah’s Witnesses were jailed as draft evaders in the U.S. during both world wars. In a Supreme Court ruling in 1940, school districts were allowed to expel Jehovah’s Witnesses who refused to salute the American flag. Through subsequent legal battles in the 1940s and 1950s, Jehovah Witnesses helped expand safeguards for religious liberty and freedom of conscienceboth in the United States and Europe. In Nazi Germany, Jehovah’s Witnesses were killed in concentration camps; a purple triangle was used by the Nazis to mark them. In the 1960s and ‘70’s, scores of African Jehovah’s Witnesses were slaughtered by members of The Youth League of the Malawi Congress Party for refusing to support dictator Hastings Banda. Many Witnesses fled to neighboring Mozambique, where they were held in internment camps. Now it is Russia. The Russian Supreme Court maintains that the country needs to be protected from disloyal religious fanatics. But given their commitment to God above all things, Jehovah’s Witnesses see themselves as being persecuted by those who value loyalty to country over any other principle. They also believe that the Russian government has “trampled on the guarantees of their own laws.” Many Jehovah’s Witnesses still attach a great importance to dates. Many Jehovah’s 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. Their memories of persecution have not faded with time. Mathew Schmalz is associate professor of religion at College of the Holy Cross.

From TASS Russian News: German Cabinet voices concern over ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses activities in Russia World July 19, 13:21UTC+3 Russia violates its international obligations, according to the German government Share 1 © Evgeniy Yepanchintsev/TASS BERLIN, July 19. /TASS/. The German government will keep a close eye on the situation around Jehovah’s Witnesses in light of the ruling by the Russian Supreme Court to uphold a ban on its activities, the Cabinet’s Coordinator for Intersocietal Cooperation with Russia Gernot Erler said on Wednesday. READ ALSO Russian Supreme Court upholds ruling to disband Jehovah's Witnesses organization "I am very much concerned about the decision to uphold the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses’ activities," he noted. "That means that, despite our calls at all levels, they could face charges due to their religious beliefs and individual philosophy." According to Erler, the ban "paves the way to criminal prosecution of the organization’s members." "Being a member of the Council of Europe, Russia violates its international obligations," he said. "We will be closely following the developments and the consequences of this decision for Jehovah’s Witnesses’ members. I proceed from the assumption that the ban will be considered by the European Court of Human Rights," Erler concluded. On July 17, the Russian Supreme Court upheld the court’s April 20 ruling to qualify Jehovah’s Witnesses as an extremist organization, disband it and ban its activities throughout the country. The defense attorneys of Jehovah’s Witnesses immediately stated they would appeal the ruling at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). READ ALSO EU’s diplomatic service stands up for rights of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia Jehovah's Witnesses lawyer asks Russian Supreme Court to question religious expert Court ruling to weaken Jehovah’s Witnesses influence in Russia, cleric says OSCE concerned over Russia’s declaring Jehovah’s Witnesses extremist organization Expert warns Russia’s ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses can spark backlash in EU Everything you need to know about Jehovah’s Witnesses More:http://tass.com/world/956888

Orthodox react differently to ban of Jehovah's Witnesses ALONG THE PATH OF THE THIRD REICH: WHY COURT FINALLY BANNED JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES by Lina Panchenko Moskovskii Komsomolets, 18 July 2017 On Monday 17 July, the Appellate Chamber of the Russian Supreme Court put an end to the question of recognizing Jehovah's Witnesses as an extremist organization with the ban of its activity on the territory of Russia, after study of materials of the case. Experts of "MK" were divided in assessment of this decision. The chamber confirmed the decision made on 20 April by the Supreme Court, according to which on the initiative of the Ministry of Justice the organization was liquidated on the territory of the whole country and all its income was turned in the government's favor. This decision has now taken legal effect. At the session on Monday, representatives of the Jehovah's Witnesses maintained that they have not engaged in extremist activity. They said that they only "read and discussed the Bible." Also members of the organization, according to attorney Anton Omelchenko, did not use extremist literature, inasmuch as all books were destroyed by the believers themselves, and if any copies even remained, then it was only in the hands of individuals and they were used "not at all for distribution but for personal reading." The attorney said that materials from the extremist list were planted in premises of the organization by law enforcement agents themselves. The lawyer for the Russian Ministry of Justice, Svetlana Borisova, told the court that despite all demands and preventive conversations, the leadership of the Jehovah's Witnesses' center not only did not cease their extremist activity but even continued to insist that it was not of that sort. The decision made by the court was received positively by a Russian religious studies scholar, the vice-chairman of the Expert Council for Conducting State Religious Studies Expert Analyses under the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, Roman Silantiev: "The decision is correct. This is the largest extremist organization operating on Russian territory. It numbers 170 thousand persons. It is present in practically all regions; Ingushetia is the only place where they are not. Extremism exists in two types: external, when strife is incited with respect to people of another skin color, other nationalities, religious confession; and internal, when within the organization its members are brutalized themselves. The Jehovah's Witnesses have both kinds of extremism. It is one of the largest sects in the world and it is also prohibited in a number of countries, so that Russia is not the first country to prohibit their activity. --In which countries does this organization operate legally? --In many countries, including the U.S.A. and countries of western Europe. --Why are they not prohibited there? Do they behave differently? --They have different specifics of legislation and they behave differently there. Nevertheless this is a sect of American origin and on the territory of the U.S.A. it is difficult for it to engage, particularly, in espionage. And in other countries they may operate completely under cover of espionage structures. --Can you recall any outrageous cases connected with this organization? --A whole bunch of deaths of children is connected with it because of the refusal by their parents of blood transfusion. There are many such cases. Adults also died, of course, but the deaths of children evoke special resonance. In addition, this organization controls the lives of its members very strictly. Now there is evidence available about how people were forbidden to choose their jobs independently, to receive education, and their circle of communication was restricted. And when people exit from the organization a boycott is declared against them. On Sakhalin there was such a case when the leader of the organization left it, after which other of its members crossed over to the opposite side of the street when they saw him. --Where in Russia was the organization most numerous? --The largest number of members were counted in Krasnodar territory. But its administrative center is outside St. Petersburg, in the village of Solnechnaya. In some regions the congregations have already been ruled extremist and there is a ban on the basic organization. --What do you think accounts for the fact that it is in Krasnodar territory that Jehovah's Witnesses were most numerous? --Good question. In principle, Krasnodar territory is itself the third most populous region in the Russian federation. There are many residential areas there and in Moscow and St. Petersburg there is more competition from other sects. The competition is less in Krasnodar territory. I am inclined to explain it by this, although I suppose there may also be other reasons, which I have not studied especially. Meanwhile, the Russian religious figure Andrei Kuraev criticized the court's decision: "You see, our State Duma has adopted a rather strict law about combating extremism, according to which any collective farm assembly could be considered to be extremists. And any district court summons recruited experts from God knows where with education from an agricultural institute, who pass themselves off as specialists in the history of religious studies, in history, literature, and languages, whose opinion then is not subject to doubt. "Here is the latest scandal: a rather classic book was declared to be extremist, a book by the Jewish writer Marcus Lehmann, "The Compulsory Baptized." This is a work of fiction with an historical basis, against which Jewish organizations declared their protest, and we shall see who turns out the stronger on this matter. [see Ministry of Justice bans Jewish novel for extremism] "As regards Jehovists, I have not been able to see specifically the texts of their publications that are extremist. This is a situation on the level of a crippled youth who stole a motorcycle from OMON special troops or a drunk kid. Because here are people whom Hitler and Stalin put in prison for pacifism who are being accused of extremism, which is laughter through tears. Yes, of course, they have harsh views of other religions. But some of our people view them that way. Here we are more than equal. And I now think that, of course, this is a sect, dangerous for people, but it seems to me that there should be other methods of combating it. In particular, informing for example through the network of clinics of a region about how they are dealing with the health of their parishioners. But not banning and driving them into the basement. All this was tried in the Third Reich and the Soviet Union, and nothing good came of it." (tr. by PDS, posted 18 July 2017)

Ministry of Justice bans Jewish novel for extremism F.E.O.R. CALLS INCLUSION OF LEHMANN'S BOOKS IN LIST OF EXTREMIST MATERIALS MOCKERY OF LAW ON EXTREMISM Interfax-Religiia, 17 July 2017 The Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia [FEOR] subjected to criticism the inclusion of the book by Markus Lehmann "The Compulsory Baptized" in the Federal List of Extremist Materials. "Thus far this seemed to be the whim of the Sochi court; now it is a decision of the Ministry of Justice. And this is an absolute mockery of the entire law on extremism" wrote the head of the Department of Public Relations of FEOR, Borukh Gorin, on Monday in his page on the social net, commenting on the decision of the Ministry of Justice of 14 July. In B. Gorin's opinion, to call the book, which underwent dozens of reissues even in Germany of the 19th century, a book about discrimination on religious principles of Jews in medieval Europe, extremist means "to make ridiculous the very idea of combating extremism." "Now in Latvia the Jewish partisans of the World War 2 are being condemned—which is worse?" a representative of the Federation of Jewish Communities asked. Markus Lehmann (1831-1890) was a rabbi, writer, and public figure, who in his books described the life and experience of Jews in the middle ages. In his novel "The Compulsory Baptized" he described the life of Lithuanian and Polish Jews of the XIV century. The main character of the book, the Jew Abraam Yuzefovich, accepts Catholicism in order to get the office of treasurer for the king. According to information in news media, Leman's book was ruled on 22 March to be extremist by the Central district court of Sochi. The court saw in the book "information aimed at arousing hatred toward Christianity (especially Catholicism) and inciting religious hatred and strife with respect to Christians and also propaganda of the superiority and exceptionalism of Judaism vis-a-vis Christianity," and in sum detected "signs of extremism" in the book. In the end, on 14 July this book was included in the list of extremist materials published on the website of the Ministry of Justice. (tr. by PDS, posted 18 July 2017)

Foreign reaction to Supreme Court ruling quick EU STICKS UP FOR RUSSIAN JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES Interfax.ru, 18 July 2017 Russian Jehovah's Witnesses, like all other religious groups, should have the possibility of enjoying freedom of assembly, the press secretary of the European External Action Service declared on Tuesday. Yesterday the Supreme Court turned down the appeal of the Russian Jehovah's Witnesses of the ban of the organization and its liquidation on the basis of a lawsuit by the Russian Ministry of Justice. "Jehovah's Witnesses, like all other religious groups, should have the possibility of peacefully enjoying freedom of assembly without interference, which is guaranteed by the constitution of the Russian federation and also by Russia's international obligations and international standards in the area of human rights" a statement of the press secretary of the European External Action Service, which was distributed by the embassy of the EU in Russia, says. "This ban has already led to criminal prosecutions of Jehovah's Witnesses and also to police raids in places of worship, deliberate arson, and other forms of repression," the European Union's declaration says. On 20 April, the Russian Supreme Court ruled, on the basis of a lawsuit by the Russian Ministry of Justice, that Russian Jehovah's Witnesses are an extremist organization and prohibited its activity on the territory of the country. On 17 July, the Supreme Court left without change its previous decision on the liquidation of all registered organizations. According to the ruling, the parent organization "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" is liquidated, as well as 395 regional divisions. The organization's property, according to the court's decision, was turned over as state income. The lawsuit against the religious organization was filed on 15 March, at a time when, by order of the Ministry of Justice before consideration of the suit in the Supreme Court of the RF, the work of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia was suspended because of extremist activity. The press service of the ministry told Interfax that the lawsuit was filed on the basis of results of an unscheduled documentary inspection conducted from 8 to 27 February 2017, on the correspondence of the activity of the religious organization "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" with the goals and tasks declared in its charter. According to information of the Ministry of Justice, "the activity of the organization is conducted with violations of charter goals and tasks and also of existing legislation of the RF, including federal law 'On combating extremist activity.'" In addition to the appellate complaint in the Russian Supreme Court, Russian Jehovah's Witnesses have turned to the European Court of Human Rights, a representative of the organization, Sergei Cherepanov, told Interfax earlier. (tr. by PDS, posted 18 July 2017)

News World Europe Jehovah's Witnesses ban comes into force in Russia after Supreme Court dismisses appeal Court upholds justice ministry's claim religious group is 'extremist' for second time Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden 4 hours ago 1 comment Click to followThe Independent Online An appeal hearing at Russia's Supreme Court over the ban on Jehovah's Witnesses as an 'extremist' organisation on 17 July 2017 Courtesy of Jehovah's Witnesses A ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses is to come into full force in Russia after a court dismissed an appeal against the group’s classification as an “extremist” organisation. The British and American governments were among those raising human rights concerns over the prohibition, which will liquidate the group’s administrative centre near St Petersburg and 395 local religious organisations. Russia’s Supreme Court upheld the ruling on Monday, having previously decided in favour of the justice ministry’s characterisation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses as an “extremist organisation” whose members “pose a threat to the rights of the citizens, public order and public security”. READ MORE Jehovah's Witness 'ordered to renounce faith and join Russian army' British Government 'alarmed' at Russian ban on Jehovah's Witnesses Russia rules Jehovah's Witnesses 'extremists' and bans religious sect Judges ordered the closure of the group's Russian headquarters, local chapters and the seizure of its property by the state. “While we were prepared for a negative ruling, it is still very disappointing,” said David Semonian, international spokesman for the Jehovah's Witnesses. “It is very concerning that despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, powerful elements within Russia continue to frame our organisation as extremist. “We can only hope a fair evaluation of the facts will eventually prevail and our right to worship in Russia will be legally restored.” An appeal hearing at Russia's Supreme Court over the ban on Jehovah's Witnesses as an 'extremist' organisation on 17 July 2017 (Courtesy of Jehovah's Witnesses) The Christian denomination put forward requests to allow experts to testify on whether their beliefs can be considered extremist but the three-judge panel rejected all motions. In the two months following the initial ruling on 20 April, the Jehovah’s Witnesses international headquarters reported a seven-fold increase in incidents of violence and harassment it said was linked to the case. Members have raised concern Russia’s ban will “give impetus to further acts of aggression”. “Regardless of what negative consequences this decision brings, Jehovah's Witnesses will continue to act within the law to secure their rights and support their fellow worshippers in Russia who must bear the burden of injustice,” Mr Semonian said. The case could be taken to the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled a previous attempted ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia unlawful in 2010, but the court has no power to enforce its decisions and Russia could ignore any verdict. The British Government previously said it was “alarmed” by the ban and called on Vladimir Putin to uphold religious freedom. Human rights attacks around the world 10show all Baroness Anelay said the original ruling “effectively criminalises the peaceful worship of 175,000 Russian citizens and contravenes” rights enshrined in the country’s own constitution. “The UK calls on the Russian government to uphold its international commitment to freedom of religion,” she added. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom denounced the Russian Supreme Court’s latest ruling and said it reflects the government’s “continued equating of peaceful religious freedom practice to extremism”. “The Witnesses are not an extremist group, and should be able to practice their faith openly and freely and without government repression,” said its chairman, Daniel Mark, following the by-partisan body’s call for Russia to be designated a “country of particular concern” for violations of religious freedom. “The Russian government is intensifying its crackdown on religious freedom at home while also extending its repressive policies to neighbouring states.” Jehovah's Witnesses, who are known for door-to-door preaching and handing out literature, reject some of mainstream Christianity's core beliefs and have more than 8.3 million members around the world. Stacks of booklets distributed by the local leader of a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation Alexander Kalistratov. He was sentenced to two years in prison by a Russian court of inciting religious hatred for distributing literature about his beliefs. (Reuters) The US-based group has generated controversy for stances including its rejection of blood transfusions and opposition to military service, facing court proceedings in several countries. Jehovah’s Witnesses first registered as a religious group in Russia in 1991 and registered again in 1999, but have been targeted repeatedly by authorities in a wide-ranging crackdown on religious freedom. Russia changed its legal definition of extremism in 2006, removing requirements for violence or hatred but stating the “incitement of….religious discord” as criteria, leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses with the same legal status as Isis or Nazis. The group's international website was blocked in Russia two years ago over alleged extremism, with its Bibles banned the following year, while a local chairman was jailed for two years on charges of possessing “extremist literature” in 2010. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) was among the international bodies condemning a “state sponsored campaign of harassment and mistreatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses” it said dated back to the 1990s in Russia. It listed police searches, assaults, arson attacks, vandalism, seizures and raids on worship, as well as the arrest of several members and criminal investigations. The Russian Orthodox Church, which enjoys close ties with the Kremlin and the patronage of Mr Putin, is the country’s largest religion, with followers representing around 41 per cent of the population. More about: Russia religious freedom religious persecution Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses vow to appeal Russia ban in European court 2 MIN READ MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Jehovah's Witnesses said on Tuesday it would appeal a ban on its activities in Russia at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, saying it had exhausted all other legal channels. It was speaking a day after Russia's Supreme Court rejected the religious group's appeal and upheld an April ruling which declared the organization "extremist" and ordered it to disband in Russia. "We plan to appeal this at the European Court of Human Rights as soon as we can," Yaroslav Sivulskiy, a member of the European Association of Jehovah's Christian Witnesses, said by phone. "All legal avenues inside Russia have been exhausted." Sivulskiy said the Jehovah's Witnesses strongly disagreed with the court's ruling against it, but had no option but to comply. Religious life in Russia is dominated by the Orthodox Church, which exerts considerable political influence and enjoys the support of President Vladimir Putin. Some Orthodox scholars view Jehovah's Witnesses as a 'totalitarian sect'. Prior to the ban, Russian authorities put several of the group's publications on a list of banned extremist literature and prosecutors have long cast it as an organization that destroys families, fosters hatred and threatens lives. The group, a United States-based Christian denomination known for its door-to-door preaching and rejection of military service and blood transfusions, says this description is false. It says it has 175,000 followers in Russia. Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Alexander Winning

I am sure this means nothing but since the verdict yesterday 15 earthquakes have occurred in Russia the largest being the 7.7 that happened 7 hours after the verdict. More earthquakes than anywhere else on earth according to the USGS. But like I said - this probably is normal - right? We certainly don't want to shake anyone into believing that Jehovah is the true God after the way they taunted him lately. 4.4 214km ESE of Nikol'skoye, Russia 2017-07-18 10:39:32 (UTC) 10.0 km 4.1 230km ESE of Nikol'skoye, Russia 2017-07-18 09:34:10 (UTC) 10.0 km 4.2 109km WNW of Attu Station, Alaska 2017-07-18 08:40:34 (UTC) 23.3 km 4.1 230km ESE of Nikol'skoye, Russia 2017-07-18 08:00:01 (UTC) 10.0 km 5.3 69km E of Nikol'skoye, Russia 2017-07-18 06:02:39 (UTC) 10.0 km 5.1 47km ENE of Nikol'skoye, Russia 2017-07-18 01:51:37 (UTC) 10.0 km 5.0 222km WNW of Attu Station, Alaska 2017-07-18 01:06:36 (UTC) 10.0 km 4.6 86km E of Nikol'skoye, Russia 2017-07-18 01:03:05 (UTC) 10.0 km 4.4 213km ESE of Nikol'skoye, Russia 2017-07-18 00:51:20 (UTC) 34.2 km 5.3 252km ESE of Nikol'skoye, Russia 2017-07-18 00:26:24 (UTC) 10.0 km 5.2 127km WNW of Attu Station, Alaska 2017-07-17 23:57:43 (UTC) 23.4 km 5.1 95km WNW of Attu Station, Alaska 2017-07-17 23:52:49 (UTC) 24.9 km 5.1 235km ESE of Nikol'skoye, Russia 2017-07-17 23:49:29 (UTC) 22.9 km 7.7 198km ESE of Nikol'skoye, Russia 2017-07-17 23:34:13 (UTC) 11.0 km

Jehovah's Witnesses Remain Banned as Russia Rejects Appeal And most Russians are okay with it. KATE SHELLNUTT JULY 17, 2017 6:37 PM Image: Alexander Aksakov/For The Washington Post via Getty Images The last-ditch efforts by Jehovah’s Witnesses to appeal Russia’s ban against their faith have failed in the country’s Supreme Court. Current Issue JULY/AUGUST 2017SUBSCRIBE READ THIS ISSUE How to Find Hope in the Humanless Economy Immigrants Are Reshaping American Missions How God Sent His Word to An Iraqi Interpreter Free Newsletters Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT. MORE NEWSLETTERS With all three judges siding on Monday with Russia’s Ministry of Justice, the April 20 ruling to liquidate the Witnesses’ centers and criminalize their worship stands—despite desperate pleas from members of the faith and religious freedom advocates. “The Supreme Court’s decision sadly reflects the government’s continued equating of peaceful religious freedom practice to extremism,” said Daniel Mark, chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which called outRussia’s violations earlier this year. “The Witnesses are not an extremist group, and should be able to practice their faith openly and freely and without government repression.” In Russia, where the Russian Orthodox Church remains the dominant religious affiliation, support is high (79%) for the government’s ban designating Jehovah’s Witnesses as an extremist group, according to a survey conducted by the Levada Center last month. Almost half of Russians view Witnesses as a “Christian sect,” while small minorities think of it as a Protestant offshoot (5%) or a variant on ordinary Christianity (2%). Russian Protestants, though also a minority, view Jehovah’s Witnesses as having their own theology and methodology. While Witnesses stand out with their distinct materials and eager proselytism, evangelicals have enjoyed a better reputation with the Russian government in many cases, as CT has previously reported. Still, all religious groups attempting to share their faith and gain converts must adhere to the new evangelism ban enacted in Russia a year ago. The law, part of an anti-terrorism package, restricts preaching, teaching, and recruiting religious adherents to officially recognized houses of worship. For example, Mormon missionaries have had to confine their activities to volunteering in centers, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. “No more knocking on doors in a quixotic quest for converts. No more handing out pamphlets on the street. No more doctrinal discussions about prayer, prophets or priesthood.” Just last month, some missionaries were deported because of restrictions on where foreign visitors can stay; they were registered to be hosted by the church, not at their apartment address. More than 400 Jehovah’s Witnesses were resettled as refugees in the United States this fiscal year, down from almost 700 last fiscal year. However, only 53 have come from Russia since 2003, according to State Department statistics. (The most by far—more than 9,000—have hailed from Cuba.) CT previously reported on Russian evangelicals’ reactions to the ban on Witnesses and the ban on evangelism. Reply on Twitter Join the conversation on Facebook SUPPORT OUR WORK Subscribe to CT and get one year free. TAGS: Religious FreedomRussia POSTED BY:Kate Shellnutt Home > News & Reporting > Archives > 2017 > April For the First Time, Russia Ranked Among Worst Violators of Religious Freedom USCIRF annual report expands countries of particular concern. KATE SHELLNUTT APRIL 26, 2017 10:44 AM Image: Chany Crystal / Flickr Russia’s ongoing crackdown on religious minorities, foreign missionaries, and evangelists has earned it a spot among the worst countries in the world for religious freedom. Current Issue JULY/AUGUST 2017SUBSCRIBE READ THIS ISSUE How to Find Hope in the Humanless Economy Immigrants Are Reshaping American Missions How God Sent His Word to An Iraqi Interpreter Free Newsletters Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT. MORE NEWSLETTERS The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which flags religious freedom violators for the State Department, listed the former Soviet state among six new Tier 1 “countries of particular concern” (CPC) in its latest annual report, released Wednesday. It is the first time in the commission’s almost 20-year history that Russia has made the list. A total of 16 countries currently hold the CPC designation, and another dozen are being reviewed as Tier 2. Russia is the only country whose repression of religious freedom has both intensified and expanded into a neighboring state by means of military occupation since USCIRF began monitoring it, officials said. The report dedicated seven pages to its problematic policies, from the “persecution of religious minorities in the occupied areas of Crimeaand Donbas” to recent moves against non-Orthodox Christians in its heartland. Last week, Russia’s Supreme Court officially banned Jehovah’s Witnesses nationwide after several years of blacklisting their materials and shutting down regional centers. “The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ right to religious freedom is being eliminated through a flawed application of this law,” which labels the pacifist organization an extremist group, said Thomas Reese, USCIRF chair and a Catholic priest. The commission recommended the US government urge Russia to amend the law to add criteria preventing it from being used against peaceful groups. Additionally, the commission wants to see more pressure put on Russian officials over repressive application of other laws, including its “foreign agents” law—which restricts missionary activity—and a 2016 anti-evangelism regulation (known as the “Yarovaya law”)—which keeps non-Orthodox Russians from sharing their faith outside official church buildings. Russian evangelicals, who make up less than 1 percent of the population, continue to push back against the restrictions, which have resulted in arrests, fines, and confiscated materials for Protestants found guilty. They have risked punishment to continue to spread the gospel. “They say, ‘If it will come to it, it’s not going to stop us from worshiping and sharing our faith,’” Sergey Rakhuba, president of Mission Eurasia and a former Moscow church planter, told CT last year. “The Great Commission isn’t just for a time of freedom.” The USCIRF report states that religious freedom violations are getting more common and more severe. Globally, the state of religious freedom has worsened enough that the commission worries about observers becoming “numb to violations of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.” Beyond Russia, the commission called out several issues of major concern: ISIS’ continued genocide and sectarian violence in the Middle East Threat of violence toward Coptic Christians in Egypt Blasphemy laws in countries like Pakistan The full list of Tier 1 countries of particular concern includes: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with the addition of Central African Republic, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, and Vietnam this year. The countries on the Tier 2 list are: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, and Turkey.

COMMENTARY: FOR THEM IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE SANHEDRIN Appellate instance of the Russian Supreme Court wearily rubber-stamped absurd decision about banning and liquidating Jehovah's Witnesses by Anton Chivchalov for Portal-Credo.Ru, 17 July 2017 The session of the appellate instance of the Supreme Court of the RF, which considered today the appeal of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia for a ban of the organization, which occurred on 20 April, naturally produced no miracle. The session began with the rejection of all (!) petitions of the respondent (and they were not a few, although they were extremely legally crafted), after which the court simply "galloped around Europe" and issued a "verdict." The occasional statements by the lawyer for the Ministry of Justice, Svetlana Borisova, were extremely brief, and the court had no questions for her. In the end the panel of three judges left the decision of 20 April without changes, liquidating the Administrative Center and all 395 local religious organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses. Now they face the process of confiscation of property. Among the petitions that the court did not want to examine were completely new cases of attacks on believers, violations of their constitutional and simply elementary human rights, attacks of vandalism against them, and so forth. Believers have been fired from their job, harassed in schools, deprived of rights to alternative civilian service, had their gas and electricity cut off and their homes set afire, and have even been beaten. All of this was the direct consequence of the Supreme Court's decision of 20 April. People turned out to be second-class citizens in their own country, without any kind of rights, and the attorneys wanted to describe this at the supreme judicial platform of the country, without success. Equally unsuccessful turned out to be the repeated attempt to involve in the case specialists—religious studies scholars and linguists—and also to question numerous witnesses of the fabrication of evidence and plants of kompromat, seemingly designed to show the "extremism" of Witnesses. It turned out that the court was not interested in any of this. The lawyer for the Ministry of Justice, on her part, confined herself to a couple of standard phrases about the great danger of the Jehovah's Witnesses for society and the state, again, as three months ago, not introducing any evidence of that danger other than vague phrases. The attorneys also were not able to get from the court an answer to the question why it was ignoring the fact that in the case there was not a single victim and not a bit of evidence that some one of the Jehovah's Witnesses delivered "extremist" literature to others. And it was the "extremist" literature that was the alpha and omega of the whole accusation. The Ministry of Justice had no other arguments. It should be remembered that the whole case to and fro was based only on two decisions of provincial courts: the Rostov provincial court of 11 September 2009 and the Supreme Court of the republic of Altai of 27 January 2010. It was these two courts that inserted into the prohibited list 52 publications on the basis of which the entire subsequent whirl of repressions unwound. Lawyers for the respondent tried in vain to get from the Supreme Court the possibility of involving in the case those 395 local religious organizations that have been banned, but for some reason they were not even allowed to participate in the hearings. How is it possible, the lawyers asked, that people are being judged behind their backs and are not given the right to a defense? This violates all known and most elementary legal norms. Attorney Yury Toporov even resorted to gospel parallels: "Jesus Christ was judged and convicted by the Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court. It was an unjust trial. Illegal. But even it did not dare to judge Jesus without his participation. But the judge of the first instance decided to act in this way." And the court in the next instance also acted in this way. Although lawyers for the respondent have already noted that they plan to file an appeal in the European Court of Human Rights, the believers must prepare for the confiscation of their property. The court in Strasbourg will be slow, especially if one recalls that dozens of appeals of Russian Jehovah's Witnesses have been lying there for a long time without significant movement. The court could consider the case on an accelerated basis in view of new circumstances, but here it is not superfluous to recall that in 2015 Russia adopted legislation permitting it to ignore decisions of the ECHR under certain conditions. The last time when something similar happened in Russia was almost 100 years ago, in 1918. At that time the government of bolsheviks decided to confiscate the property of a huge religious organization, the Orthodox Church, and to subject its members to repressions. In the 1990s, many believers, including Jehovah's Witnesses, were rehabilitated as victims of political repressions. And now history is repeating itself. Who will it affect next? Jehovah's Witnesses clearly will not be the only victims of the new machine of repressions, which is only slightly altered for the twenty-first century, but works on all those same tried and proven old-fashioned principles. (tr. by PDS, posted 17 July 2017)

World Religion News: http://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/exclusive-interview-jehovahs-witnesses-banned-russia-court-ruling-upheld-today EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES BANNED IN RUSSIA; COURT RULING UPHELD TODAY:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russian-supreme-court-upholds-ban-on-jehovahs-witnesses/2017/07/17/5ef0a334-6b20-11e7-abbc-a53480672286_story.html https://www.kyivpost.com/russia/jehovahs-witnesses-intend-appeal-echr-ruling-abolish-organization.html https://sg.news.yahoo.com/russian-court-confirms-jehovahs-witnesses-ban-183623628.html

"Jehovah’s Witnesses spokesman David Semonian said in a statement that “it’s very concerning that despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, powerful elements within Russia continue to frame our organization as extremist.” http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/russian-supreme-court-upholds-ban-on-jehovahs-witnesses/

Supreme Court upholds decision liquidating Jehovah's Witnesses RUSSIAN SUPREME COURT CONFIRMS BAN OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES Portal-Credo.Ru, 17 July 2017 The Russian Supreme Court ruled that the liquidation of the organization "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses In Russia," because of the recognition that its activity is "extremist," is legal, RIA Novosti reports. "The Judicial College of the Supreme Court of Russia resolved to turn down the appellate complaint of the organization against the order of its liquidation," the decision of the court says. In April the Supreme Court found the Jehovah's Witnesses to be an "extremist organization," confiscated its property, liquidated it and banned its activity on the territory of the country. Subsequently the European Union and a number of states and international organization spoke out in defense of the organization. (tr. by PDS, posted 17 July 2017) SUPREME COURT DECISION ON LIQUIDATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IN RUSSIA TAKES LEGAL EFFECT by Oleg Sivozhelezov RAPSI, 17 July 2017 The Russian Supreme Court found to be legal the decision concerning the liquidation of the religious organization "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" and 395 local divisions within its structure, a RAPSI correspondent reports on Monday from the courtroom. The Supreme Court declined the appellate complaint of the Jehovah's Witnesses against the decision recognizing the religious organization as extremist, banning its activity, and liquidating all local divisions within its structure. The decision of the first instance of the Supreme Court, which granted the lawsuit of the Ministry of Justice, has taken legal effect. The religious organization reacted negatively to the fact of filing an administrative lawsuit for liquidation in the Supreme Court; in particular the opinion was expressed that such action is aimed at infringing the rights of citizens to freedom of religious confession. Since the issue concerns the Russia-wide "Administrative Center," the case directly affects about 400 registered local religious organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia and also applies to all 2,277 religious groups throughout the country, uniting 175,000 adherents of Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses is an international religious organization with headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. As reported on the website of the Jehovists, Witnesses have existed in Russia more than 100 years. Beginning in 2004 a number of congregations and local divisions of Jehovah's Witnesses in the regions were found to be extremist—in Belgorod, Samara, Rostov, and Orel provinces and in other constituent entities of the Russian federation. (tr. by PDS, posted 17, July 2017) SUPREME COURT TURNS DOWN JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES. THEY PREPARE APPEALS TO EUROPEAN COURT Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, 17 July 2017 On 17 July 2017, the Russian Supreme Court missed its last chance to restore right and justice for 175 thousand citizens of Russia who profess the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. It took a panel of three judges of the Supreme Court less than an hour of conference in order to leave without change the decision made earlier by Judge Yury Ivanenko for liquidating and banning all registered organizations of this religion without exception. Inasmuch as there are no more effective domestic Russian means of legal defense, believers will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights and other international organizations. (tr. by PDS, posted 17 July 2017)

News Alerts BREAKING NEWS | Russian Supreme Court Rejects Appeal by Jehovah’s Witnesses Today, the Appellate Chamber of Russia’s Supreme Court ruled against Jehovah’s Witnesses, upholding the April 20 decision to liquidate their Administrative Center and effectively ban their worship. Despite this outcome, we are confident that Jehovah will continue to support our brothers in Russia. (Hebrews 13:6) Please continue to “carry on prayer” for them.—2 Thessalonians 3:1 JW.org

They already did with Dvorkin and the anti-cultists venom against us saying EXACTLY what you James just said. Except Putin unknowingly already destroyed that entire concept that we destroy families just last month with the award given to a Witness family for "family values". But they don't care as this is all political.