Defenders of the Faith? Jehovah's Witnesses Preach to Migrants in Denmark

[Jack Ryan]

Jehovah's Witnesses do not think twice before looking for new members, and are now targeting refugees, according to the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.

Jehovah's Witnesses are well-known for their attempts at evangelism, and have taken to the task of finding new members among the migrants in Denmark, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten reported.
The newspaper referred to the small Danish town of Flauenskjold, where about 22 refugees currently reside; some of them are reportedly already contacting members from a local branch of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Jyllands-Posten quoted locals as saying that they had the impression that Jehovah's Witnesses are making special tours of the refugee centers in order to recruit future followers there.
In a move that reflected their ever-increasing clout in Denmark, the Jehovah's Witnesses launched an Arabic language speaking group in the country two years ago, in February 2013.

The past few years have seen more migrants in Denmark become Jehovah's Witnesses, with the group's press secretary Dag-Erik Kristoffersen repeatedly claiming that refugees are not being forced to join.  This allegation, however, was rejected by refugee center head Nina Svendsen, according to the newspaper Jyllands-Posten.
Jehovah's Witnesses are evangelical millenarians who believe that the destruction of the current world as we know it in the Biblical Battle of Armageddon is imminent, and that the establishment of God's kingdom over the Earth is the only solution for all problems faced by humanity.

The group, which claims a worldwide membership of more than 8.2 million adherents, has more than once been harshly criticized over issues surrounding their translation of the Bible, doctrines, their handling of sexual abuse cases, and the alleged coercion of members.
Several cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses have been heard by Supreme Courts all across the world.
The cases are, as a rule, related to their right to practice their religion, displays of patriotism and military service, as well as blood transfusions, which nearly all Jehovah's Witnesses refuse. They may find an unwelcome reception among dedicated Muslims, who see apostasy, the act of converting to another religion, as an abhorrent sin which many who advocate Sharia Law believe should be punishable by death.

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