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| (C) JW.org |
Jehovah's Witnesses have been in Russia for over 126 years and their numbers have had peaks and troughs depending on the economic and political environment and the prejudice, and at times persecution that they have faced since 1891. So for the JW's it is a shame but no surprise that the latest religious prejudicial campaign by activists against the witnesses for over ten years has culminated in the latest restrictions of over 170,000 Jehovah's Witnesses that currently try to practice their faith in mostly all parts of Russia. Is the latest verdict going to stop them? NO, not in my opinion in fact they often grow when persecuted. ...........
Why has the Ministry of Justice acted now
Jehovah's Witnesses have been legally recognized in Russia for some time now first registered in 1991 then again in 1999, and have fulfilled every legal requirement asked of them. But over the last ten years have faced some difficult times and been attacked by religious and non religious activists aggressively. Since the rise of the internet and social media a great tool for activists, they have targeted individual jurisdictional provinces knowing that eventually when the economic and political climate is right that the Russian Ministry of Justice will have to investigate and deal with the issues as a whole. The Ministry of Justice can only make judgements on the information it receives and the JW's have now appealed against the decision. Hearings in the Appellate College of the Supreme Court of the Russian federation on the appeal in the case of the "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" have been scheduled for 13 June 2017 at 11:40. If you want to read about the details on the difficult time the JW's have been having over the years, one good source is http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2265
Fake news about the JW finances - What is the Russian decision really?
‘Fake news’, the dissemination of disinformation and propaganda through traditional and online media and the associated negative repercussions for the freedom of religious expression. This technique is often used by religious activists to spread hate, which prevents individuals from freely forming their opinions, and can distort public opinion and the open exchange of ideas. You may have read in the papers that the Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide organization is in decline or that they are in financial trouble, even worse that due to the many legal challenges they face that finances are drying up. This in my opinion is false and spread mostly by those who actively spread fake news about the JW's, I am not going to explain here about what exactly the JW governing body are doing with their expansion, but one thing you need to realize is that JW's are increasing worldwide and when persecuted they actually gain financially. Here is a quote from the very reliable source - This year's review of the constituents of the haysmacintyre / Charity Finance Charity 250 Index sees -
"the second highest riser, International Bible Students Association, which jumps 72 places from position 202 to position 130. Its annual income has more than doubled from £18.9m to £38.9m in the three years under review, resulting in an average of £28.7m. The Association earns most of its income from voluntary donations and legacies from Jehovah’s Witnesses in over 1,600 congregations across the UK. It also received grants from Jehovah’s Witnesses in other countries including a £12m grant received in 2014/15 from a related charity in Germany. The Association’s trustees describe “the voluntary support we enjoy from congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses” as consistent and reliable, making it unnecessary for the charity to engage in fundraising activities." (6)
The Russian decision - Firstly unlike much that has been reported wrongly in the media here is the decision -
"To liquidate the centralized religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia and also all 395 local religious organizations."
This sadly means if they lose the appeal then the Russian government is going to make a very large amount of money when it takes all the buildings the Jw's own in Russia, it is not just Kingdom Halls they own but also farmland as well. The current ruling is against the administrative Russian organization and not the Witnesses themselves.
"The only basis of the decision of the Supreme Court is distribution of extremist literature. The only reason for ruling this literature to be extremist is "propaganda of the exceptional nature of their religion." (4)
Russia changed its legal definition of extremism in 2006, removing requirements for violence or hatred but stating the “incitement of religious discord." There has been no order to stop individual witnesses from having their faith and will deal with this a bit more later on.
In the United Kingdom it was nice to see our government actually stick up for the JW's and here is a quote from a reliable article by Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden Saturday 22 April 2017 11:56 BST, the Independent newspaper -
The British Government says it is “alarmed” by Russia’s ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses and has launched an appeal for Vladimir Putin to uphold religious freedom. Baroness Anelay said a ruling by the Russian Supreme Court “effectively criminalises the peaceful worship of 175,000 Russian citizens" and contravenes rights enshrined in the country’s own constitution.
“I am alarmed by the decision of Russia’s Supreme Court to recognise the Jehovah’s Witnesses as ‘extremists’,” the Foreign Office minister added. “The UK calls on the Russian government to uphold its international commitment to freedom of religion.” “We are greatly disappointed by this development and deeply concerned about how this will affect our religious activity,” said spokesman Yaroslav Sivulskiy. “We hope that our legal rights and protections as a peaceful religious group will be fully restored as soon as possible.” “The Supreme Court has ruled to sustain the claim of Russia's ministry of justice and deem the 'Administrative Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia' organisation extremist, eliminate it and ban its activity in Russia,” said judge Yuri Ivanenko.
“The property of the Jehovah's Witnesses organisation is to be confiscated to the state revenue.” A lawyer for the justice ministry, Svetlana Borisova, told the court adherents “pose a threat to the rights of the citizens, public order and public security”. Jehovah's Witnesses, who are known for door-to-door preaching and handing out literature, reject some of mainstream Christianity's core beliefs and have more than 8.3 million members around the world. The US-based group has generated controversy for stances including its rejection of blood transfusions and opposition to military service, facing court proceedings in several countries.
Jehovah’s Witnesses first registered as a religious group in Russia in 1991 and registered again in 1999, but have been targeted repeatedly by authorities in a wide-ranging crackdown on religious freedom. Russia changed its legal definition of extremism in 2006, removing requirements for violence or hatred but stating the “incitement of religious discord” as criteria, leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses with the same legal status as Isis or Nazis. The group's international website was blocked in Russia two years ago over alleged extremism, with its Bibles banned the following year, while a local chairman was jailed for two years on charges of possessing “extremist literature” in 2010.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was among the international bodies condemning a “state sponsored campaign of harassment and mistreatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses” it said dated back to the 1990s in Russia. It listed police searches, assaults, arson attacks, vandalism, seizures and raids on places of worship, as well as the arrest of several members and criminal investigations.
The Russian Orthodox Church, which enjoys close ties with the Kremlin and the patronage of Mr Putin, is the country’s largest religion, with followers representing around 41 percent of the population. Other Christian denominations also make up a significant proportion, as do atheists, Muslims and spiritual movements including “neopaganism”. (5)
I would love to have gone to the Court for the hearing, but sadly not yet well enough. Anyone who knows me well is aware I have been campaigning for religious tolerance for over 27 years now and I fully uphold Article 18 of the United Nations Charter. So I want to deal now with what issues Russian government really has with the JW's as a whole. I am basing this on my own information from my sources in Russia.
Why Russia Is Concerned About The JW's With the growing global concerns with extremism, the Russian government has sort to protect its citizens by regulating internet sites and literature and the spread of fake news and many other sources that could upset and mislead. This has fitted very well for those who oppose the JW's and they have acted accordingly with organized campaigns to my knowledge especially over the past ten years. This is a good example taken from an OSCE meeting in 2007 -
"Attempts were made by the authorities in some cities to disrupt district conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses scheduled for the summer of 2007 in Russia. However, we are pleased that all 56 planned conventions have been successfully held, despite the fact that instructions on how to disrupt conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses were published on the Orthodox antisect website of the Saint Irenaeus of Lyon Informational-Consultative Centre." (1)
Now ten years later you will see the same group mentioned below. Here are some views from Highly regarded experts inside and outside of Russia debunk these studies. One such scholar, Dr. Mark R. Elliott, founding editor of the East-West Church and Ministry Report, observes:
“State-approved ‘expert’ witnesses on religious questions, including those who disapproved Jehovah’s Witnesses’ scriptures, typically lack expertise and credibility as they issue ill-founded ‘opinions’ on matters of faith.” (2)
Specifically addressing the Center for Sociocultural Expert Studies, Dr. Roman Lunkin, head of the Center for Religion and Society at the Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, notes that
“Not one of the experts has a degree in religious studies and they are not even familiar with the writings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their analysis included quotes that were taken from information provided by the Irenaeus of Lyon Centre, a radical Orthodox anti-cult organization known for opposing Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as many other religions and denominations.” “Unfortunately, I would have to agree with Dr. Lunkin,” states Dr. Ekaterina Elbakyan, professor of sociology and management of social processes at the Moscow Academy of Labor and Social Relations. “It is true that in Russia today religious expert studies are often performed by people who are not specialists, and are made-to-order, so to speak, where an expert is not free to state his true findings.” (2)
Dr. Elbakyan, who participated in two trials in Taganrog and was present as a specialist-expert in the appellate court in Rostov-on-Don, further explains:
“I saw with my own eyes the video material on the basis of which Jehovah’s Witnesses were charged with extremism. Twice I gave a detailed commentary in court explaining that this was a typical Christian religious service and had nothing to do with extremism, but the court did not take the expert opinion into consideration. It is impossible not to see this as a clear and systematic trend toward religious discrimination. As long as this trend continues, there are, of course, no guarantees that believers will cease to be classified as ‘extremists’ because of their beliefs.” (2)
Russia has always been concerned that the JW's in their view is an American based organization and takes direction primarily from the US. This concern has been compounded as the JW.org website is one of the most visited websites in the world and as an organization keen to make sure its teaching material has consistent and the delivery of the teachings in the Kingdom Halls are also carefully prepared to ensure a uniformed and united conformity is related to all 8 million plus worldwide.
In the old days up to the early 1990's, the JW organization had many well known speakers who would all have their own unique spin when giving talks at conventions, they often became well know celebrity speakers within the JW organization, this was a concern to the governing body and they wanted to ensure that the material was all presented in an equal and uniformed way, guidelines for talks were tightened. So for the those looking in from the outside at the Witnesses, you could argue that this regulated and uniformed approach and constant guidance from the governing body for the US sent alarm bells ringing for those responsible in protecting the Russian interests in relation to extremism.
Next the JW literature, having one of the most successful printing organizations in the world publishing magazines, books, and now keen on production of films and other forms of media which is again US based operating in the Russian Federation and often with views that when read can appear to many as not following Russian official values, you can hardly blame the Ministry of Justice for getting alarmed especially when much of the evidence provided was form biased sources and from activists who really hate the JW's.
Further in relation to the concerns of evangelism of the JW faith and the personal views of JW's spreading within Russia, the Ministry of Justice is naturally concerned with the accusations made against JW's. Part of the major challenges facing the JW organization as a whole is the policy not to defend itself when the many allegations are laid at it's door especially by fake news media publications who publish stories about the witnesses in various countries around the world, many of the stories have been encouraged by activists and have been badly fact checked by the media or simply not checked at all it seems. Activists know about this policy and so exploit it to the maximum they can get away with. Here is part of the policy -
"Jehovah’s Witnesses follow the Bible’s advice not to respond to all accusations and instances of ridicule. For example, a Bible proverb says: “The one who corrects a ridiculer invites dishonor.” (Proverbs 9:7, 8; 26:4) Rather than being pulled into quarreling by an undue concern over false accusations, we focus on pleasing God.—Psalm 119:69." (3)
Unlike in the United Kingdom, Russia has a written constitution which is actually easily read and the Ministry of Justice will take this into account. My sources tell me that concern is over not so much JW's holding private views on religion as citizens but how they act on those religious opinions in outside their homes, these especially I am told from the Russian constitution they are particularly concerned with -
Please note that my translation may not be WordPerfect -
Russian Constitution
Article 19
1. All people shall be equal before the law and court.
2. The State shall guarantee the equality of rights and freedoms of man and citizen, regardless of sex, race, nationality, language, origin, property and official status, place of residence, religion, convictions, membership of public associations, and also of other circumstances. All forms of limitations of human rights on social, racial, national, linguistic or religious grounds shall be banned.
3. Man and woman shall enjoy equal rights and freedoms and have equal possibilities to exercise them. I am told that the alleged concerns are in relation to extremism in the JW's literature which mainly is due to misunderstandings and misinformation spread by activists.
Article 29
1. Everyone shall be guaranteed the freedom of ideas and speech.
2. The propaganda or agitation instigating social, racial, national or religious hatred and strife shall not be allowed. The propaganda of social, racial, national, religious or linguistic supremacy shall be banned.
3. No one may be forced to express his views and convictions or to reject them.
Here I am told it is evangelism of the JW's that is of concern and the perception of how they spread their message. The right for the Russian Government to enforce and further restrict the activities of the Jw's is with the use of Article 55. Although the Russian government uphold the rights of every citizens to believe in any ideology or religious or non religious belief, it is when the actions of citizens come into question is when the local authorities get involved.
Article 55
1. The listing in the Constitution of the Russian Federation of the fundamental rights and freedoms shall not be interpreted as a rejection or derogation of other universally recognized human rights and freedoms.
2. In the Russian Federation no laws shall be adopted cancelling or derogating human rights and freedoms.
3. The rights and freedoms of man and citizen may be limited by the federal law only to such an extent to which it is necessary for the protection of the fundamental principles of the constitutional system, morality, health, the rights and lawful interests of other people, for ensuring defense of the country and security of the State.
Russian authorities also show concerns over this piece of legislation in relation to Family and Children issues :
"Family Code of the Russian Federation" dated 29.12.1995 N 223-FZ (ed. By 28.03.2017)
Article 55.
The right of the child to communicate with parents and other relatives
1. a child has the right to contact with both parents, grandfather, grandmother, brothers, sisters and other relatives. The parents ' divorce, annulment or separately
Article 56. The Child's Right To Protection
2. a child has the right to be protected from abuse by the parents (or persons acting in their replacement)
Article 65.
The Exercise of Parental Authority
1. Parental rights may not be exercised in a manner contrary to the interests of the children. Interests of the children must be the main concern of their parents. In exercising their parental rights, parents may not cause harm to the physical or mental health or moral development of children. The manner in which children must not include scornful, cruel or degrading treatment, abuse or exploitation of children.
Some concerns have been alleged in relation to the restricted contact when JW's parents either end their relationship together and leave their faith that the children suffer as direct result due to often religious differences which compounds on the child, children having the right to see family members.
Further to Article 55, I am also told that the concerns in Russia also extend to the United Nations
A/RES/36/55 25 November 1981 Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, where it states the following:
5. Practices of a religion or beliefs in which a child is brought up must not be injurious to his physical or mental health or to his full development, taking into account article 1, paragraph 3, of the present Declaration. (7)
It here that the Russian government will attempt to show concerns in relation to those children who have been brought up the Jehovah's Witnesses faith and upon greater understanding of the world outside this faith leave and have difficulty adapting and integrating into the world at large, in this regard it is alleged that JW's faith is not compatible with Russian values and so would look to restrict the activities of the Jw's further with reference to this:
3. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others. (7)
My conclusion is that the Jw's are peaceful, obey the laws of all countries they reside and practice their faith in, they pay their taxes, do not force others to join their faith, they respect the views of people of other faiths, they do not coerce anyone in order to gain new members, they never discriminate against anyone and often contribute to the communities in which they live.
I think the main real issue for the Russian authorities is the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses is a large global organsation with a head office in the United States and they fear any US influences in the Russian Federation.
I think the main real issue for the Russian authorities is the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses is a large global organsation with a head office in the United States and they fear any US influences in the Russian Federation.
In the United States and other countries local traders love them when it is convention season and thousands of Jw's attend their conventions and spend money in the surrounding communities. They are also well known for disaster relief work around the world and have emergency teams who help when natural disasters strike. It will be a shame if the Russian Government continue to view the JW's as extremists especially as they abhor all forms of violence, it is a further shame if the Russian government is in some way mislead by those who propagate hate towards the witnesses and exaggerate their teachings and some of the misunderstanding they can present for those who view those views from the outside in order to push their own activist agendas. It is true in my opinion that they should do more to explain not just to the wider public about the issues that give rise to contention but also sadly to their own members who often misunderstand and misapply the guidelines, especially in relation to those that have left the JW's for one reason or another. On the latter I will write more in another article. So my view is that presently the actions of the Russian authorities on the Jehovah's Witnesses are rather extreme.
(Copyright AH Michael Trust 2017)
References -
(1) http://www.osce.org/odihr/27068?download=true
(2)https://www.jw.org/en/news/releases/by-region/russia/expert-analysis-identifying-extremismdiscredited/
(3) https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/respond-to-accusations/
(4) For more myth busting on Jw's use this link http://www2.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relnews/170509a.html
(5) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-jehovahs-witnesses-ban-supremecourt-vladimir-putin-british-government-alarmed-criticism-a7696621.html
(6) This year's review of the constituents of the haysmacintyre / Charity Finance Charity 250 Index See more at: https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/haysmacintyre-charity-finance-250- index-a-new-influx.html#sthash.baSqEC9n.dpuf
(7) http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/36/a36r055.htm
( Jehovah's Witnesses In Russia © The Michael Trust 2017) A
Andrew (Co Founder of MT) has worked in promoting religious tolerance and has advised government agencies and law enforcement agencies around the world on new religious movements and cults for 30 years via The Michael Trust. Andrew is considered an expert on the Jehovah's Witnesses with over 42 years of experience in this specific faith.
