Russian Embassy Press Release

[Evacuated]

Has anyone seen this press release? Is it real?????  (my underline)

It appears at:    https://www.rusemb.org.uk/fnapr/6172

PRESS RELEASES AND NEWS

19.07.2017

Embassy Press Officer on Lord Ahmad’s comments regarding the judicial ban of Jehova’s Witnesses in Russia

On 20 April, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation satisfied a legal claim of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation by enforcing a ban against Jehova’s Witnesses and its subsidiaries in Russia on the grounds of extremist activities under Federal Law “On Counteraction of Extremist Activity” 114-FZ of 25th July 2002. On 17 July 2017, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal against the decision lodged by the Administrative Centre of the Russian branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The decision was based on the findings of the Ministry of Justice, which confirmed that at least 95 publications and materials of “Jehova’s Witnesses” could be classified as extremist according to the Russian law, or had already been included in the national list of extremist materials. Moreover, according to Russian law enforcement agencies, the management of Jehova’s Witnesses in Russia has also been involved in other crimes such as money laundering and seizure of its followers’ property.

Thus, Lord Ahmad’s allegations of a crackdown on religious freedom appear unsubstantiated. The ban has nothing to do with religion. They are also unacceptable. Russia doesn’t interfere in other nations’ judicial authorities’ decisions. Hope HMG will abide by the broader international principle of non-interference in internal affairs.

 

[TrueTomHarley]

It's just the government trying to defuse a firestorm of international condemnation. If there was anything to it, it would have been part of the court case.

[Evacuated]

 

2 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

If there was anything to it, it would have been part of the court case.

I mean is it a real announcement? The claim is obviously bogus.

[Evacuated]

6 hours ago, tromboneck said:

Eoin....have you found out anything, yet?

Appears to be a serious announcement on the legitimate site owned by the Russian Embassy in London so is "genuine".

As for the accusations, I suspect they will relate to matters in connection with how contributions for the Worldwide work are handled and issues relating to property ownership regarding Kingdom Halls. Of course all sorts of base accusations can be made once an organisation is declared illegal and criminal. Any of their activities can be designated thus.

But I can only surmise. I do not know the details. I was hoping someone on the forum might throw some light on the matter. 

[John Houston]

I am a subscriber to this media outlet. It is real.

[John Houston]

Trying to pull up Lord Ahmad's comments that caused the Russian embassy to respond.

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

There is a very simple test to see if the allegations that the Society confiscates private property of its followers is true ... or is NOT true.

The Brothers (and Sisters) who saved up or borrowed money to build their Kingdom Halls locally, and used their sweat and time to build it .. often with the help of Friends ... do they specifically have the right to sell it as they see fit, and use the money as they see fit?

Yes, or no?

You only "own" something, when you can control its use, and disposition. And when you pay off any mortgage, to reap the fruits of your labor. It works the same way when buying and selling cars.

I, as an example, am a home owner ... I own my house, although I borrowed money from my bank to buy the house. If I decide to sell my house ... the bank DOES NOT get the value of property, beyond the amount of my loan obligation. I look foward to the day my mortgage is paid off, even if I am not here to see it.

For those in Rio Linda, that means "died".

Today, how do mortgages work with respect to Kingdom Halls?

If my bank one day unilaterally should cancel the loan, I would naturally ( confusedly) have no objection, because I would STILL OWN THE HOUSE.

But I would wonder what nefarious scheme they have in mind for getting THEIR money.

Today, how do mortgages work with respect to Kingdom Halls?

If, however, my bank could unilaterally cancel the loan, or usurp my right to sell it .... but until the end of time, I had to make equivalent payments each month, as "contributions", that would show that in reality THEY owned the house.

.... ursurp my right is euphemistic for confiscate ...  which means STEAL!

I would have become merely a sheep to be sheared all the days of my life, and my wife's life, and my children's lives etc., thankful that they did not also unilaterally decide to EAT ME.

Today, how does this all work with respect to Kingdom Halls?

The reality is that my house would have been confiscated, (stolen from me...) as I, my wife, and children no longer had control over it.. and I no longer owned it.

Years ago, I was in the Congo, where the government of Mobutu Sese Seko "nationalized"  the sheep.

If in driving down a dirt road near Kananga, I  accidentally killed some of the Government's sheep (which the Zairian citizens were allowed to shepherd and tend...), it was a federal crime.

If a Zairian citizen  accidentally hit and killed a sheep, it was tantamount to treason.

I was told by my employer that if I hit a sheep while driving, to get to a British Embassy as quick as possible, as the U.S. Embassy was never any help at all.

Does any or all of this sound familiar?

Yes, or no?

 

 

 

 

[TrueTomHarley]

10 minutes ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

The Brothers (and Sisters) who saved up or borrowed money to build their Kingdom Halls locally, and used their sweat and time to build it .. often with the help of Friends ... do they specifically have the right to sell it as they see fit, and use the money as they see fit?

Many grousing Israelites in Moses' time bellyached similarly with regard to the tabenracle they had donated towards.

[TrueTomHarley]

On 7/22/2017 at 9:56 AM, Eoin Joyce said:

I mean is it a real announcement? The claim is obviously bogus.

Now the wicked Western powers will spot a way to defeat the Surly Bear. Simply keep submitting false JW reports. The Russians will go apoplectic, taking their eye off the ball while they chase each one down.

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

TTH:

Could you please quote a SPECIFIC scripture that would show the same thing was taking place in ancient times?

Just because prostitutes wear shoes does NOT mean that everybody that wears shoes are prostitutes.

Oh ...and because you missed my point, I will repeat it here, as once again you switched to an ad hominum attack to NOT answer the question ....

""There is a very simple test to see if the allegations that the Society confiscates private property of its followers is true ... or is NOT true.

The Brothers (and Sisters) who saved up or borrowed money to build their Kingdom Halls locally, and used their sweat and time to build it .. often with the help of Friends ... do they specifically have the right to sell it as they see fit, and use the money as they see fit?

Yes, or no?"

CHOOSE.

.

 

[John Houston]

No. What was so hard about that answer?

[TrueTomHarley]

5 hours ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

The Brothers (and Sisters) who saved up or borrowed money to build their Kingdom Halls locally, and used their sweat and time to build it .. often with the help of Friends ... do they specifically have the right to sell it as they see fit, and use the money as they see fit?

Yes, or no?"

CHOOSE.

Did the Brothers (and Sisters) who saved up or borrowed money to build the tabernacle, and used their sweat and time to build it .. often with the help of Friends ... did they specifically have the right to sell it as they see fit, and use the money as they saw fit?

Yes, or no?"

CHOOSE.