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Russian authorities have stepped up their campaign of terror against the Witnesses, arresting and imprisoning them for practicing their faith. Source

The US State Department has called on Russia to release all of its political and religious prisoners, urging the government of President Vladimir Putin to cease using its legal system to "suppress dissent and peaceful religious practices". All together, the total number of prisoners the US said are “unjustly imprisoned” exceeds 150. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the administration was “deeply concerned” by the Kremlin’s increasing detainment of human rights activists and others identifying with minority religious groups across the country. “We call on Russia to release all those identified as political or religious prisoners immediately and cease its use of the legal system to suppress dissent and peaceful religious practice,” a statement read. ”The Russian people, like people everywhere, deserve equal treatment under the law and the ability to exercise their rights without fear of retribution.” READ MORETrump's lawyer Among those identified by human rights organisations as political and religious prisoners are more than a dozen Muslim followers of Turkish theologian Said Nursi, several Jehovah’s Witnesses, five leaders from the Church of Scientology and a human rights activist whose been detained in Chechnya, according to the state department’s statement. “We are especially concerned about the welfare of four Ukrainians unjustly imprisoned who are currently on hunger strike—Oleg Sentsov, Stanislav Klykh, Oleksandr Shumkov, and Volodymyr Balukh,” the statement said. ”We are likewise troubled by the case of Oyub Titiyev, a human rights activist prosecuted on trumped-up drug charges in Chechnya, whose pre-trial detention was recently extended,“ it added. Oleg Sentsov is one case the US has raised with Russia as 'unjust' ( AP ) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/us-calls-on-russia-to-release-unjustly-jailed-political-and-religious-prisoners-a8405461.html View the full article

Patriarch Kirill, the Russian Orthodox leader, supports President Putin’s ban on “imported” religionsALEXEY NIKOLSKY/AFP/GETTY IMAGES Armed police officers have arrested at least 17 JehovahÂ’s Witnesses during raids on their homes across Russia. A court ruled last year that the Christian denomination was an extremist organisation, placing it on a par with Islamic State and neo-Nazi groups, and its followers face up to ten years in jail. Roman Markin, 44, was detained after officers with automatic weapons broke down his door in the Arctic city of Murmansk. “They forced him and his 16-year-old daughter to the floor at gunpoint,” Yaroslav Sivulskiy, a spokesman for the European Association of JehovahÂ’s Christian Witnesses, said. The police are alleged to have tried to force followers to renounce their faith in exchange for their freedom. Read more:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russia-rounds-up-jehovah-s-witnesses-s3rsd97b8 View the full article

Russia has recently stepped up expulsions of Christian missionaries and is also focusing on foreign rabbis, despite Judaism being legally recognised in the secular state as having historic roots in RussiaAlexander NEMENOV (AFP/File) Foreign Christian believers and missionaries have also been targeted For the past three months, Asher Krichevsky, Siberia's chief rabbi, has been battling to stay in the country after the Russian authorities accused the Israeli citizen of attempting to overthrow the state. Russia has recently stepped up expulsions of believers and missionaries from Christian denominations that originated abroad such as Mormons, Pentecostal Christians and Jehovah's Witnesses. But it is also focusing on foreign rabbis, despite Judaism being legally recognized in the secular state as having historic roots in Russia, along with Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. Thousands of Israelis are currently visiting Russia for World Cup matches, while some 1.5 million Russian-speakers live in Israel. Krichevsky, 40, is an emissary for the Chabad Hasidic movement, which has an emphasis on outreach activities. He has served as the chief rabbi of the city of Omsk and its region since 2001 and also holds the post of chief rabbi of Siberia. He had his Russian residence permit annulled on the basis that he had "attempted to destroy Russia's constitutional order", an official at the Omsk synagogue where he served told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. Few details of the case are available since the accusations against Krichevsky were classified as secret. A judge reportedly said in court that Krichevsky's residence permit was annulled on the basis of information from the FSB security service that he had called for the violent overthrow of constitutional order or otherwise threatened state security. "Neither the rabbi nor his lawyer were informed of the exact nature of the charge because the case was immediately classified as secret," the synagogue official said. Krichevsky and his wife, who have seven children, previously had their residency permits annulled in 2014 after being accused of minor offences, but they successfully appealed against the ruling. At the time, Russian media suggested he was spying for Israel. The next step is for Krichevsky to appeal against the annulment of his residency permit at Russia's Supreme Court, according to the official. Krichevsky is still living in Russia. He is one of nine rabbis -- citizens of Israel, the United States and Canada -- known to have faced similar moves by the authorities since 2003. All except Krichevsky have left Russia. "It's a humiliating and insulting practice," the president of the Russian Jewish Congress Yury Kanner told AFP. He questioned how Krichevsky could pose a threat to the state. "What kind of (constitutional) order is this if it can be threatened by rabbis?" In January this year in the Ulyanovsk region on the Volga, US rabbi Yosef (Yossi) Marozov, along with his wife and six children, lost their residency permits after Marozov was accused by the FSB of planning or supporting "terrorist activity." The Supreme Court rejected his appeal. In February last year, the same happened to Rabbi Ari Edelkopf, a US citizen in the Black Sea city of Sochi, who was also accused of posing a threat to national security.          - Clean-up operations -        In 2016, authorities strengthened their control over missionaries through "anti-terrorism" amendments authored by Irina Yarovaya, a prominent pro-Kremlin lawmaker. The forcing out of rabbis is "a consequence of Yarovaya's law," said Olga Sibireva of the SOVA Center think tank, which monitors extremism and hate crimes. Rabbis fell victim to a "cleanup operation targeting foreign missionaries and particularly religious organisations considered as sects," she said. "But it is absurd to suspect rabbis who have worked in Russia for years of extremism," she added. The Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, which nominates rabbis to work in Russian regions, said the recent deportations reflected "a new scenario". "Previously, (rabbis) got expelled after being accused of minor violations like traffic offences. Today, expulsions are linked to accusations from the secret services," said the federation's spokesman, Rabbi Boruch Gorin. "Their case papers are classified as secret and even lawyers cannot access them. It's easier to get rid of a foreigner when there are no concrete charges," he said.         - 'Suspicion of foreigners' -          Foreign Christian believers and missionaries have also been targeted. The Kremlin denied any generalized crackdown, however. "One can't give an overall opinion on this topic. You need to look at each case individually," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told AFP. Indian missionary Victor-Immanuel Mani from God's Love Evangelical Church was deported in 2016 by a court in the city of Naberezhniye Chelny on the Volga river. He submitted a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights and was later allowed to return because he had Russian family members. Mani's lawyer Damir Gainutdinov pointed to a number of reasons for the expulsions. "There is a traditional suspicion of foreigners in Russia," he said, while some regional authorities "are rushing to apply the new law." Expulsions of Protestant missionaries are "done for the benefit of the Orthodox Church which doesn't want competitors" and which considers their churches to be sects, the lawyer said. The actions against rabbis may be down to "local conflicts" with the authorities, he suggested https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/177547-180619-russia-seeks-to-force-out-foreign-rabbis-as-national-security-threat View the full article

The Supreme Court is expected to make a ruling on conscientious objectors who refuse mandatory military service, amid increasing acquittals made by lower courts. According to the Supreme Court on Monday, two cases of conscientious objectors, which two panels of its judges have been reviewing, have been transferred to an “en banc session,” in which all justices of the top court participate in the cases. It has also scheduled a public hearing for the cases on Aug. 30. All able-bodied South Korean men are required to serve in the military for about two years, and only those with “justifiable grounds” are exempted, according to the Military Service Act.In the past, religious and conscientious reasons behind refusing mandatory military service were not accepted as “justifiable” by the judiciary, and conscientious objectors -- many of whom were Jehovah’s Witnesses -- were subject to prison terms of less than three years, according to the law. It was in May 2004 that the first acquittal was made for a conscientious objector, by the Seoul Southern District Court. But two months later, the Supreme Court opened an en banc session and ruled that freedom of conscience cannot take priority over military service. The accused was sentenced to 1 1/2 years in prison. Since then, despite the top court’s final decision on the case, 89 cases of conscience objectors have been acquitted by lower courts, with 28 of them occurring this year.For the upcoming public hearing in August, all 14 of the top court’s justices will participate, with Chief Justice Kim Meong-su leading. The two convicts are Jehovah’s Witnesses who have been sentenced to both prison terms and monetary penalties by lower courts. One person reportedly refused to serve his military service after receiving a notice of enlistment in 2013, and the other has turned to the religion after he finished his mandatory military service and refused to take part in the reserve forces training that is required of those who have completed their duty. Since 2013, nearly 2,500 people were prosecuted for failing to enlist in the military, according to data from the Military Manpower Administration.By Jo He-rim (herim@heraldcorp.com) http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180619000688View the full article

Russia has said the U.S. government has “no moral right” to demand the release of religious or political prisoners, such as detained JehovahÂ’s Witnesses. On Monday, the U.S. State Department issued a statement calling on Russia to release more than 150 prisoners being held for religious or political reasons. WashingtonÂ’s demand came as Moscow has been rounding up JehovahÂ’s Witnesses in the country. Among other prisoners, the U.S. specifically called for the release of Dennis Christensen, a Danish citizen who has been detained for more than a year due to his affiliation with the religious group. Jarrod Lopes, a communications representative for the World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses told Newsweek that 20 mebers are currently detained in Russia. Two others are under house arrest, and 15 have been forced to sign agreements to not leave the area where they reside. http://www.newsweek.com/russia-says-us-no-moral-right-demand-jehovahs-witnesses-release-983932 A picture taken in Moscow on May 6, 2016 shows the Russian Russian Orthodox church of the Archangel dedicated to the Archangel Michael View the full article

“Rejoice in the hope. ... Persevere in prayer” (Ro 12:12) "Light Bearers" District Conventions held in the United States, Britain, Ireland, and Canada. [4,071,954 publishers with 211 countries reporting in 1991, 5.9% increase over the 1990 service year, 66,207 congregations.] see w92 vol., pgs. 10-13. yb92-E * Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnessesw-E * The Watchtowerg-E * Awake!dg * Does God Really Care About Us? (cover)sg * Theocratic Ministry School GuidebookFamily Care and Medical Management for Jehovah's Witnesses (1992, revised 1995)Jehovah's Witnesses-A Christian Community (Arabic only)wi * Will There Ever Be a World Without War?District Convention - Light Bearers. PostcardComfort for the Depressed - Tract (revised 2000)T-22-e Who Really Rules the World?No. 15—Life in a Peaceful New World—1987, revised Safeguarding Your Children From Misuse of Blood 1992 KM.docx  Part of the archive:

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Jéhovah veut que nous ayons des objectifs spirituels. Quels sont les tiens ? la source

@Bible.Truth You are referring to a different source than the one referred to above: Â

There is a scripture that says “not all who partake will enter into the kingdom of heaven” - Contributed [Note to self with the comment someone sent it: He is probably thinking of Matthew 7:21 " "Not everyone who calls me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do."] After doing a little more research: ● How can one determine whether he is of the anointed class, and hence should partake of the Memorial emblems? https://wol.jw.borg/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2016450?q=memorial+emblems&p=par A 2016 article referencing a 1952 'Questions from Readers', so that's around 50 years of consistent doctrine. Notice even the wording of the question directly correlates partaking and anointed. So, where have you read that "all partakers are not actually assumed anointed", since this would be a fundamental change of doctrine? More details on The AnointedView the full article

Ciudad de México. El pasado 8 de junio 10 esposas de testigos de Jehová presos en Rusia enviaron una carta abierta a MikhailFedotovasesor del presidente Putin y presidente del Consejo Presidencial para la Sociedad Civil y los Derechos Humanos de Rusia. El objetivo de la carta es pedirle su apoyo para que el gobierno ruso detenga la persecución religiosa en contra de los testigos de Jehová y libere a sus esposos que han sido detenidos por el simple hecho de leer la Biblia con sus familias. Estas mujeres señalan en su carta que bajo el pretexto de que se está combatiendo el extremismo, muchas de ellas, han sido amenazadas con armas de fuego por agentes de las fuerzas especiales, quienes les ordenaron permanecer boca abajo en el suelo. Señalan también que sus hogares has sido cateados e inspeccionados, y sus teléfonos y computadoras han sido confiscadas. Dicen así mismo que quieren forzarlas a vivir bajo miedo y que tiemblen cada vez que tocan a la puerta o al sonido de una sirena en la calle, mientras esperan ser arrestadas por su fe. “Sentimos profunda preocupación por nuestros hermanos creyentes que sufren por adorar pacíficamente a Dios. Al mismo tiempo, no podemos dejar de admirar su coraje y la fuerza de sus convicciones. Las autoridades rusas solo necesitan leer la historia reciente de los testigos de Jehová durante la era soviética para saber que la prohibición de sus actividades no debilitará su fe” señala David Semonian, vocero internacional de los testigos de Jehová desde sus oficinas centrales en Nueva York. http://www.ultimasnoticiasenred.com.mx/internacional/esposas-de-testigos-de-jehova-presos-en-rusia-por-su-fe-envian-carta-abierta-a-autoridades-rusas/ View the full article

MANILA - Members of the Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs) have asked Russian President Vladimir Putin's adviser to intervene in the alleged "campaign of terror" against the sect following the arrest of at least 17 members. The wives of the 17 detained JWs, in an open letter to Putin aide Mikhail Fedotov, said dozens more of their fellow believers have been placed under house arrest, while others have been dismissed from their work. The group said law enforcers also seized passports, Bibles and computers from the homes of some of their 175,000 members. "If the Russian government does not quickly put an end to this growing campaign of terror, the administration will be faced with a nation-wide human rights catastrophe," read their open letter. The Russian Supreme Court in April 2017 ordered the seizing of JW's administrative center and other properties. The decision came after the justice ministry said it found signs of extremist activity within the Christian group. The decision, did not ban the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia and only involved legal entities, the wives of the jailed JWs said. They also noted that both the justice ministry and the Russian Federation Government officially stated that "the court’s decision would not result in any violations of the rights of citizens to freedom of worship." "We cannot stop believing in God. It is a right that every individual has from birth. The Russian Federation is a multi-confessional state, and we, as citizens of Russia, have the right to expect that our rights will be respected by the state," the group said. "We are not asking for any special privileges. We are asking for just one thing—please, defend our rights." Religious life in Russia is dominated by the Orthodox Church, which exerts considerable political influence and enjoys Putin's support. Orthodox scholars view Jehovah’s Witnesses as a "totalitarian sect." Prior to the court ruling against JWs, 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 US-based Christian denomination known for its door-to-door preaching and rejection of military service and blood transfusions, says this description is false. http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/18/18/jehovahs-witnesses-cry-for-end-to-religious-persecution-in-russia View the full article

The full bench of the Supreme Court will hold a hearing in August to deliberate on two cases regarding conscientious objectors. For the first time in 14 years, the full bench will decide whether or not such conscientious objectors should be subject to criminal punishment. In 2004, the full bench ruled that those who refuse mandatory military service based on their religious beliefs should face criminal punishment. The Supreme Court said on Monday that it referred the two cases to the court’s 12- member bench and a hearing will be held on August 30th. The two cases involve members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a religious denomination that disapproves of any exercise using guns. The members were indicted for refusing the mandatory military service and mandatory reserve forces training. After the hearing in August, the top court will hold a series of debates for two to four months which will be attended by the chief justice and justices before issuing a ruling. [Photo : YONHAP News] http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Dm_detail.htm?No=137101 View the full article

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