In a blow to religious liberty, Russia’s Supreme Court has banned Jehovah’s Witnesses from operating anywhere in the country. The high court accepted a request from the justice ministry identifying the religious organization as an extremist group.
The court ordered the closure of the group’s Russian headquarters and its 395 local chapters, as well as the seizure of its property.
Justice Ministry attorney Svetlana Borisova said in court that Jehovah’s Witnesses pose a threat to Russians. “They pose a threat to the rights of citizens, public order and public security,” she told the court. Borisova also said Jehovah’s Witnesses’ opposition to blood transfusions violates Russian health care laws.
Yaroslav Sivulsky, a spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, said in a statement they are “greatly disappointed by this development and deeply concerned about how this will affect our religious activity.” Jehovah’s Witnesses said they would appeal the ruling.
Jehovah’s Witnesses claim more than 170,000 adherents in Russia. The group has come under increasing pressure over the past year, including a ban on distributing literature deemed to violate Russia’s anti-extremism laws.
Human Rights Watch criticized the decision as an impediment to religious freedom in Russia. “The Supreme Court’s ruling to shut down the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia is a terrible blow to freedom of religion and association in Russia,” said Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
The rights group also expressed concern that if the ruling takes effect, Jehovah’s Witnesses could face criminal prosecution and punishment ranging from fines to prison time.
Religious freedom is being challenged on many fronts around the world. This is just the latest in a serious of religious liberty issues in Russia, which supports the Russian Orthodox Church as the state church.
Will your church also face the same challenges some day in countries all around the world? The Bible predicts that those who do not go along with the ecumenical movement and the soon-coming worship laws will be considered extremists, experience religious discrimination and suffer persecution. See Psalm 94:20-22 and Revelation 13:15-17.
“When we reach the standard that the Lord would have us reach, worldlings will regard Seventh-day Adventists as odd, singular, strait-laced extremists. ‘We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.’” Fundamentals of Education, page 289.
Comments
Tan
Tuesday April 25th, 2017 at 09:43 AMPersonally I agree that peaceful Christians should be given freedom of worship; however, as an worldwide religious organization, JW should have done something about sexual abuse cases in their organisation, double standard dealing and having negative attitude towards worldly education. Remember the case of Achan in the Book of Josuah. It is a very serious sin to be hypocritical. If the leading group in JW do not treat those problem in a positive way, Achan effect surely will take a heavy toll, damaging the fame of JW and bringing Jehovah shame.
Marie
Wednesday April 26th, 2017 at 07:01 PMI think in my opinion. Its probably best they are ban. They taking a wrong message to poor souls, who needs to know the present truth.
admin
Wednesday April 26th, 2017 at 07:24 PMBut what happens when they think your message is wrong?
Marie
Thursday April 27th, 2017 at 09:43 PMThis is it! Dont we all see this coming first hand. First of all, its a communist government! And by seeing what they have exercised against the JWs is no suprise. Everyone is well within their rights of what they practice according to. their beliefs, faith, and religion. It’s either sharing it, door knocking and any other form of evangelist. There is no restriction whatsoever. I’m afraid it is not so ! time of freedom of religion is coming to an end very soon. And places like Russia and other communist country in particular will follow suit. It’s the devils way of pushing the button to start from somewhere. Oh don’t we see the devil cunning ways. He is very smart with caniving ideas.
My message is no less or any difference as it is all under Christianity banner. Protestanism as we called ourselves.
Secondly we are dealing with an ethiest country if I can call it or uncircumcised gentiles who have no understanding of the truth or Bible knowledge . These Russians are the ones that have the power to control their country by enforcing their laws of the land to Christian minority. They have seized their freedom of worship. If they can enforced this to JWs where do we stand as SDA with our message. It’s coming and very soon Sunday laws enforcement will take place. Don’t you think this is reveling to us what is to take place. I think we all do aware of it. In one way I looked at it. I have nothing against JWs the faith in door knocking is something we as SDA should all do. Except their message is not Bible based. E.g. Sabbath. Exodus 20. What took place in Russia to me is saying Adventist WAKE UP! This is our time to spread the message to all, every tongue, nation and kindred. Before it’s TOO LATE!!
We all can’t save people but to take the message and let it be planted as a seed of a mustard we all can do that. The choice is individually. God will take care of the rest. We do our part and spread the truth. God will do His. ☺
Tim
Friday May 26th, 2017 at 12:54 PMWhat don’t you understand? We’ve been told what is going to happen. This action is simply a check-mark in a box for evil in the last days “In India, China, Russia, and the cities of America, thousands of men and women are dying of starvation. The monied men, because they have the power, control the market. They purchase at low rates all they can obtain, and then sell at greatly increased prices. This means starvation to the poorer classes, and will result in a civil war. There will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book…. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.”—Manuscript 114, 1899. (General manuscript, untitled, typed August 13, 1899.)