Members of Parliament in Norway - from all parties - now wants to reconsider JW funding - read story

[Jack Ryan]

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Google translate of today's development:

-Remove the state aid for Jehovah's Witnesses

MDG (Green Party) believes Prime Minister Kjell Ingolf Ropstad has only one choice: -Remove state aid from Jehovah's Witnesses. Ap (Labour Party) thinks he should have taken hold of the religious community a long time ago.

Vårt Land revealed last week that members of Jehovah's Witnesses can be expelled from the faith community if they vote in elections. Kjell Ingolf Ropstad (KrF), who is in charge of the Solberg government's belief and life policy, went out saying that voting rights for Jehovah's Witnesses could be the basis for withdrawing state aid.

At the Storting (parliament), the parties look differently at what reactions the religious community should meet with.

The clearest

MDG says it clear. The party believes the practice revealed must have serious consequences for Jehovah's Witnesses, spokesman Arild Hermstad said.

«Should Ropstad Withdraw State Aid When Religious Communities Urge Members Not to Participate in Democratic Elections?»

-«Yes. It is not acceptable for religious communities to put pressure, ban, or punish those who choose to vote. It is an obvious violation of human rights and a violation of Norwegian law. If they do not change practices, we believe they should not receive state aid,» says Hermstad.

The point of view is far supported by Rødt («Red»). Vice President Silje Kjosbakken says they "are looking into the possibility of depriving Jehovah's Witnesses support":

-«We will not ban religious communities that ask members not to exercise their voting rights, but we see no reason to give them public support either.»

Boundaries

Kari Henriksen in the Labour Party believes that Ropstad as Minister of Religion should have addressed this earlier.

«I'm a little surprised that Ropstad didn't know about the practice of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is known that they will not vote, but perhaps less well known what the consequences it will have for members who choose to vote,» says Henriksen, who is a member of the the cultural and family committee in the parliament.

«Ropstad should be invited to dialogue with Jehovah's Witnesses before threatening to deprive the state aid,» says Henriksen.

She believes that state aid should be an active tool for engaging in dialogue with closed faith communities.

«Today, the state would rather report after the aid has been distributed. Now that this has happened, Ropstad should have invited Jehovah's Witnesses to dialogue, stating clearly where the boundaries of the larger community are going.»

Surprised

SV's Freddy Øvstegård sits on the same committee as Henriksen.

«When I was younger, I knew several Jehovah's Witnesses who were politically interested but had to hide this. Therefore, they were secret members of youth parties. This was talked about in the Christian environment, so I'm quite surprised that the reactions from Ropstad are only coming now,» says Øvstegård.

He believes that Jehovah's Witnesses are not alone in having a problematic religious practice.

-«We have to be consistent in the treatment of human rights violations in several faiths. Norway must become better at cracking down on all forms of social control across religious groups.»

«Do you think it was right for Ropstad to threaten to wothdraw the state aid?»

«Yes, certainly given that they deny their members the right to vote. This is serious, and it is only now that we see this kind of abuse so clearly.»

The Center Party (SP) spokeswoman - and member of the same committee, Åslaug Sem-Jacobsen, says that the party "has noted that the Minister of Religion is now addressing the matter and will discuss it with the concerned county people":

«We hope it does not take too long and will listen to the government's assessments as they come.»

Reactions

The ruling parties are careful to comment on the possibility of state aid cuts for Jehovah's Witnesses. But KrF's parliamentary representative Jorunn Gleditsch Lossius says she "responds":

«If it is true that members of Jehovah's Witnesses can be excluded and excluded if they use the right to vote, I react strongly to this.»

«Should state aid be withdrawn when religious communities urge members not to participate in democratic elections?»

«The prime minister has now asked the individual county council to assess whether there have been violations of democratic rights and principles. And there will always be a delicate balance towards upholding freedom of belief.»

Basic

Kristin Ørmen Johnsen (H), chair of the Storting's Family and Cultural Committee, has one comment:

«It is a fundamental right to be able to vote in elections, and it is unacceptable if someone is prevented from using their right to vote.»

Left-wing faith and life-spokesperson Grunde Almeland says voting "one of the most fundamental rights of Norwegian citizens":

«If authorities threaten individuals using this fundamental right with sanctions, it is, as I feel it, an abuse of power.»

Undermines

The Progressive Party (FrP), as the only government party, is clear that they do not want to distribute state aid to any religious community.

«I think the matter gets extra serious when religion is used as an anti-democratic press», says Frps representative in the Family and Culture Committee, Morten Wold, and add:

«Faith is a private matter. Once we have public support for communities of faith and beliefs, it is absolutely essential that they do not undermine democracy and violate fundamental human rights.»

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Picture in article. Photo: Xueqi Pang - the journalist.