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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40635267 Russia Jehovah's Witnesses banned after they lose appeal BBC NEWS

NEWSWEEK: WORLD JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES BAN APPEAL REJECTED BY RUSSIA’S SUPREME COURT, ALLOWING GOVERNMENT TO SEIZE WORSHIP HALLS BY JASON LE MIERE ON 7/17/17 AT 12:45 PM Russia’s Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal launched by Jehovah’s Witnesses against the group’s ban in the country. The decision was made following a single-day hearing in Moscow in which the court swiftly rejected all the defense motions put forward by the Jehovah’s Witnesses' representatives, including a request to have a religious studies scholar. Related: Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kazakhstan fear repeat of Russia ban after ‘scary’ crackdown In April, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the justice ministry, which a month earlier had declared Jehovah’s Witnesses an extremist organization, liquidating 395 of its local religious chapters as well as its headquarters in St. Petersburg. Monday’s ruling means that the Christian denomination must turn over all of its properties, known as Kingdom Halls, to the Russian government. Daily Emails and Alerts - Get the best of Newsweek delivered to your inbox Following the decision, the group's Russia spokesman, Yaroslav Sivulskiy, reportedly told gathered journalists in the packed court room that “religious freedom in Russia is over. It's a very sad situation for our country. As you could see today, there were no real facts of any extremism on part of Jehovah's Witnesses. It's all about bad literature and intolerance. Now anyone who studies the Bible can be jailed.” Follow Anton Chivchalov @Chivchalov Our representative Sivulsky to journalists: "Religious freedom in Russia is over" #jwrussia #StopJWBan 12:21 PM - 17 Jul 2017 The appeal was evaluated by three judges, as opposed to the single judge who ruled on the initial case. However, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, which has 175,000 members in Russia and had operated there since 1991, had little hope of success. A survey from the independent polling agency Levada, released last week, indicated that 79 percent of Russians supported the ban, though more than half of the respondents admitted they knew nothing about the case. The ban also had the powerful support of the Russian Orthodox Church, which enjoys a close relationship with President Vladimir Putin and counts more than 70 percent of the country's population as followers. Yet even though the original decision can only now formally go into effect, a Jehovah’s Witnesses spokesman in Russia told Newsweek in May that “most” of the group’s local chapters had already received documents from the tax department notifying them that they had lost their leases. That was far from the only negative consequence the group has faced since the April verdict declaring that its texts violate an anti-extremism law, effectively placing it in the same category as groups like the Islamic State (ISIS). Police have regularly disrupted group meetings, both at the kingdom halls and in private homes. In one instance, a Danish citizen was arrested during a meeting at home and faces up to 10 years in prison. The verdict has also had a chilling impact across society. There have been numerous reports of harassment and violence committed against Jehovah’s Witnesses, including arson attacks. A report from the group released last week stated that instances of harassment and violence against its followers skyrocketed by 650 percent between March and April. In all, it found that there had been 128 cases of mistreatment, including some against children in schools. The ban has been widely condemned internationally, including by the United States and the European Union. In its 2017 report, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom elevated Russia to its highest tier of violators of religious freedom. Following Monday’s rejection of the appeal, the Jehovah’s Witnesses is expected to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Yet, even if the group is successful, Russia has no requirement to accept the verdict.

12 “But before all these things happen, people will lay their hands on you and persecute you,+ handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors for the sake of my name.+ 13 It will result in your giving a witness." LUKE 21:12,13.

Moscow 17 July, 19:45SporPRe TASS NEWS Russian Supreme Court upholds ruling to disband Jehovah's Witnesses organization Society & Culture July 17, 19:42 UTC+3 The resolution took immediate effect Share 0 © Artyom Korotayev/TASS MOSCOW, July 17. /TASS/. Appeals college of the Russian Supreme Court has upheld an earlier ruling of the court to quality the Jehovah's Witnesses center as an extremist organization, to disband it and to ban its activities on the Russian territory. By passing the resolution, the appeals college down an appeal filed by the Jehovah's Witnesses. READ ALSO Jehovah's Witnesses lawyer asks Russian Supreme Court to question religious expert "The passed by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on April 20 shall remain unchanged and the appeal shall not be entertained," the presiding judge said. The resolution took immediate effect. The defense attorneys of Jehovah’s Witnesses are planning to appeal the ruling of the Russian Supreme Court on disbanding the organization at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), attorney Viktor Zhenkov said. "The chapter has not been closed yet. Since the Supreme Court has violated not only Russia’s legislation but also the norms of international law, we will appeal this decision at the ECHR," Zhenkov said. More:http://tass.com/society/956654

19:10 July 17, 2017 the Supreme Court of Russia has missed the last chance to restore law and justice for the 175,000 Russian citizens professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Only a 20-minute meeting took a panel of three Supreme Court judges, to leave unchanged the decision taken earlier by the judge Yuri Ivanenko, the liquidation and ban any and all registered organizations of the religion. Since there is no more effective domestic remedies, the believers will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights and other international organizations.

Thats it all done. Pray for our brothers in Russia and others as this will likely have ramifications in the other former Soviet Union countries.

But the Russian Government has already indicated that they will not abide by that court any longer.

No this is the appeal to the Supreme Court in Russia...NOW it will go to the ECHR European Court of Human Rights

"We are very surprised: the whole pyramid the MOJ built is falling apart, but the court still rules this way"

"Many reasonable people can't believe that it's happening in modern Russia: ban a whole religion {this is from our brothers on camera}

It's a very sad situation for our country: now anyone who studies the Bible can be jailed

As you could see today, there were no real facts of any extremism on part of JWs, it's all about bad literature and intolerance

You as reporters can either promote hatred or soften it

Our representative Sivulsky to journalists: "Religious freedom in Russia is over"

They are interviewing our people journalist from many nations represented

https://rus.stream.jw-russia.org/?id=1

we lost

The court rejected ALL the motions of our attorneys so we expect it will not go our way

Still waiting video working now.

judges are still in the room

idk i cant get the video to work

18:40 In the hall are beginning to work, journalists - representatives of the central TV channels. On tripods set of 10 cameras. Watch live video

Unbelievable all they say is we are : MOJ: "Their crimes are dangerous, systematic, deliberate, and gross We may be going to the ECHR

18:21 Permission to speak in the debate given Borisova, the representative plaintiff. 18:22 Borisov: offense "is dangerous, systematic, deliberate and brutal character." 18:24 Borisova quotes from government strategy to counter extremism. He asks to dismiss the appeal, and the decision of the first instance be upheld. 18:27 Court retire to the deliberation room to make a final decision.

18:16 Lawyer Omelchenko: Secondly, it must be recognized that the objective of the proceedings is not a permanent solution to the issue of Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as any other administrative proceedings - the protection of violated or disputed rights, freedoms and lawful interests of citizens, the rights and legitimate interests of organizations. The need to ensure the right to a fair trial. But is justice itself does not mean that it is impossible to eliminate the religious communities, without providing them effective protection possible? It should not be allowed to speak in his defense to those believers who have suddenly been deprived of places of worship and the right to establish a new religious organization, although they have not violated any law and did only good to your neighbor? I am convinced that respected the court can not accept the fact that 395 local religious organizations have not even been heard in court and were eliminated without their participation. 18:18 Lawyer Omelchenko: Third, the organization that I represent before the courts, appeals to the esteemed court on protection against inhuman and degrading treatment, discrimination and political repression. As a lawyer, I have argued that such treatment is unacceptable from the standpoint of the Constitution, the Convention. But now is the time to realize that the administrative claimant calls to commit against the civilian population - Jehovah's Witnesses - inhumane acts of persecution for political and religious reasons. And the most ardent detractors sincerely hope that after the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in force, Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia will be no more, that is, they think, that those who believe this peaceful religions will be destroyed. 18:19 Lawyer Omelchenko: Who can prevent this crime against humanity? You, dear court. Considering the above, I ask the decision of the Supreme Court dated 20 April 2017 to cancel completely and take on the case of the new solution, which in meeting the administrative claim Russian Ministry of Justice to refuse. 18:20 In concluding remarks, the Court Kalin thanks for your attention and ask to make a fair decision.