Russia Outlaws Jehovah's Witnesses

[Guest Kurt]

The Russian Supreme Court formally banned Jehovah's Witnesses on Thursday, labeling the group an extremist organization. The religious group in Russia will now be forced to dissolve.

The decision equates Russia's 175,000 Jehovah's Witnesses to terrorist groups like the Islamic State, and makes it illegal for congregations to meet or distribute literature.

The court refused the group's earlier appeals to recognize the organization as victims of political repression, and declined to hear testimony from witnesses who claimed that the Russian police have falsified evidence against regional religious groups.

 

Russia's Justice Ministry asked the Supreme Court to ban the organization on March 17, after formally warning the group's headquarters in near St. Petersburg to halt “all extremist activity.”

Prosecutors later expanded the case to all 396 registered Jehovah's Witnesses organizations across the country.

The Islamic State and al-Qaeda are terrorist groups banned in Russia.

Source

Russian court bans 'extremist' Jehovah's Witnesses

Russian court bans Jehovah's Witnesses, rules group is extremist: agencies

BREAKING: Russia Supreme Court bans Jehovah’s Witnesses

 

Russia Supreme Court bans Jehovah's Witnesses INDIAN EXPRESS

Russia bans Jehovah's Witnesses after supreme court rules Christian sect 'extremists' INDEPENDENT

Russia Supreme Court bans Jehovah's Witnesses WORLD BULLETIN

Russia bans Jehovah's Witnesses as 'extremist' group ITV REPORT

Supreme Court bans Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia POLITICAL NEWS

Russian Supreme Court Deems Jehovah's Witnesses Extremist RADIO FREE EUROPE

Supreme Court bans Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia Associated Press

 

 

 

 

[David Normand]

Very sad. I really thought by some of the questions that the Justices asked that they would have dealt with us in an even handed manner. They even allowed fabricated evidence. What a travesty. We will see what the future holds for our friends in Russia and how the situation will play out. 

[Evacuated]

@David Normand said: "really thought by some of the questions that the Justices asked that they would have dealt with us in an even handed manner."

Sounds like a decision already made. Sad day for Russia.

But............Jehovah and Jesus know what they are doing even if we are not always sure. This issue has resulted in massive media interest worldwide, and comment from all sorts of people, some in very high places. How long would we have taken to accomplish the same? And how much more with the appeal now? Reminds me of Paul when imprisoned in Rome. 

"my prison bonds for the sake of Christ have become public knowledge among all the Prae·toʹri·an Guard and all the rest. Now most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence because of my prison bonds, and they are showing all the more courage to speak the word of God fearlessly." Ph.1:13-14

 

[JW Insider]

28 minutes ago, Eoin Joyce said:

But............Jehovah and Jesus know what they are doing even if we are not always sure. This issue has resulted in massive media interest worldwide, and comment from all sorts of people, some in very high places. How long would we have taken to accomplish the same? And how much more with the appeal now? Reminds me of Paul when imprisoned in Rome. 

Agree. This was going to be a win for the Witnesses no matter which way the court had ruled. Even the European Union had a statement in favor of the Witnesses. (Rejected for inclusion, of course.)

Putin, although he is far from fulfilling the role, has been projected as a kind of "hitler" recently in US mainstream news. It was a perfect time for persecution by his state if we were looking for publicity. For Witnesses personally, both worldwide and in Russia, this also energizes even the most inactive among us as persecution anywhere always does. All that is really lost is some of the material benefits of having a religious organization. Spiritual ties can grow even stronger under such circumstances.

But this is high profile publicity. The world has taken notice. Furthermore, as the recent post from Ann O'maly shows, it will hardly have any effect on the Russian Witnesses themselves, who will likely grow at the same rate or better.

 

[David Normand]

We can try to guess what Jehovah's plan is, but a has been demonstrated time and time again we generally do not see how it will work out until it does. Christians in Jerusalem were probably concerned about what the future held in 67 CE, yet Jehovah made a way out for them that they could not see at the time. Everyone will be amazed when they see what becomes of this and other actions that will be taken by the actors in Satan's system. Be strong, have faith, trust in Jehovah and his loving organization.