The Jehovah’s Witnesses have been banned as an extremist group in a Supreme Court decision that observers fear signals a further step back for religious liberty.
“For Jehovah’s Witnesses, this is going to be a frightening time,” Lorcan Price, ADF International legal counsel in Strasbourg said. “It effectively means that holding their beliefs and manifesting them is tantamount to a criminal act in Russia. They risk new levels of persecution by the Russian authorities,” which reverses positive trends seen in Russia in recent years.
“What we’re seeing really is the slide back into the type of attitude that characterized the worst of oppression in the 20th century by the Soviet regime in Russia,” he added. “It’s obviously very sad and disheartening to see that happening again.”
The Russian Orthodox Church, which is the official state church in Russia and its predominant religion, fears the influence of minority religions, in particular the Jehovah’s Witnesses. But will this lead to the persecution of other churches not favored by the Russian Orthodox Church as well? Russia’s federal security service, the FSB (formerly the KGB), also holds the denomination under deep suspicion.
Russia’s Justice Ministry in March ordered that the Jehovah’s Witnesses denomination be liquidated and disbanded. Judges ordered the closure of the denomination’s Russian headquarters and almost 400 local chapters. The denomination’s property would also be seized.
The denomination’s lawyer, Viktor Zhenkov, said the group would appeal the court ruling upholding the order. “We consider this decision an act of political repression that is impermissible in contemporary Russia,” Zhenkov told the New York Times.
The Supreme Court’s decision is more accurately characterized as religious repression with political consequences. For instance, Russia has duties under the European Court of Human Rights to protect freedom of worship and belief.
Svetlana Borisova, who represented the Justice Ministry in the Supreme Court, charged that the denomination’s members had shown “signs of extremist activity that represent a threat to the rights of citizens, social order and the security of society.”
“Last year in particular the government adopted some very draconian and far-reaching legislation that has severely disrupted the right of worship and freedom of belief in Russia,” he said. The government made it illegal to invite someone to a religious meeting, even on Facebook and other social media.
Also, anti-terrorism measures have given Russian police powers to disrupt private worship services, to arrest and detain individuals handing out unapproved religious materials, and to outlaw any public preaching without prior approval from Russian authorities.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses suffered intense persecution under the Soviet era until the fall of communism in 1991. A 2002 anti-extremism law and a broader definition of extremism in 2006 once again put legal pressure on the denomination.
Price said an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights could produce a positive response, but Russia has “a long history of ignoring decisions” from that court, which relies on diplomatic pressure to enforce its decisions. “For Christians and minority faiths in Russia this is a frightening time,” he said.
“What we hope is ultimately the Russian government will take notice of international condemnation and reverse these policies.”
The persecution of the Jehovah’s Witnesses lays a foundation for persecution of other religious minorities in Russia once case law has established precedents. The enemy is angling to restrict the true followers of Jesus by first establishing hatred and persecution of others.
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” II Timothy 3:12.
Comments
Javier
Thursday April 27th, 2017 at 01:04 PMIn our city God allowed that all other denominations would cease to preach on the radio (government regulations denied them the permit) while the SDA radio program remained on the air for almost three years.
Even though the persecution done on JW’s denomination opens the door to our persecution, we MUST take advantage of this window of opportunity and preach with all our heart, love and compassion, so that when the time comes, we have done our duty.
Andrew
Thursday April 27th, 2017 at 08:16 PMDid the Russian authorities specify the type of behaviour they believe to be extremist? Here in New Zealand we get quite regular neighbourhood visits from members of the JW’s and while I haven’t engaged with them for a while when they have come to the door, on the occasions when I have engaged I have found them to be very nice people. Nothing about them is extreme. They do have an urgency to tell people about the soon return of the Lord. I guess that could interfere with Svetlana’s and the Justice Ministry’s plans, how inconvenient. A test case to be sure. Next time a JW comes to the door let’s engage and let them know we care just as we would like them to care about us.
Shadrach m.Habeenzu
Saturday April 29th, 2017 at 01:11 AMComment:for jw’s,is a sad development .Nevertheless it is a wake up call to every seventh day Adventist worldwide.
Nancy B.
Saturday April 29th, 2017 at 12:42 PMFrom the looks of it.., we are next. They’re already petitioning to ban Adventists.
admin
Sunday April 30th, 2017 at 09:45 AMWe have been following this situation. The only comment we have found about SDAs in Russia and a potential ban is a comment on a forum that doesn’t have a credible source or sources. We will continue to watch this, but we think this is not yet a credible report.
David
Sunday April 30th, 2017 at 07:19 AMIs this a foreshadow of what could happen to the SDA church starting in USA?
So if anyone preaches the bible, he is a fundamental and an extremist. An enemy of the state.
Will the SDA church capitulate to the state when they are deemed extremists?
Or will we stop preaching the truth to save our church?
When the MOB is enforced, what will happen to the SDA church? All our precious assets that we have built up for the future, our shares and our impressive buildings? Our hospitals?
Will they all be taken away?
Lessons for us.
Roberto Ferrada
Tuesday May 9th, 2017 at 11:41 PMThank you for the information. Time is short.
God bless.