Jehovah's Witnesses: Robert Hendricks Statement of faith

Jehovah's Witnesses: Robert Hendricks Statement of faith

I write about Jehovah's Witnesses for two reasons, first I used to be one and continue to communicate with them in a respectful way; secondly, as they are the most persecuted and misunderstood faith-based organization in the world.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are socially integrated, attentive to the needs of the community in which they live, and respectful of the right of others to adhere to their personal beliefs. In our modern world of ever changing and fluctuating morality world models, all they as is that people respect their right to make their faith their own as well.

The Michael Trust

The purpose of the Michael Trust (MT) today is to encourage the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion and belief by upholding the Charter of the United Nations. The Michael Trust is non-sectarian.

Quick links about us -

History of The Michael Trust

The Michael Trust - United Nations

The MT wants to promote tolerance, to bring people together from across the world to improve mutual respect between cultures and to support civil society working for a common future for tolerance and respect in matters relating to religion and belief with the emphasis on a persons right to health, quality of life and to ensure that the use of religion or belief is consistent with the Charter of the United Nations.

Combatting Online Hate Speech and Disinformation Targeting Religious Communities USCIRF

USCIRF - It was good to be a part of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing hearing that took place in October it was about how some governments use and enable others to use social media platforms to sow disinformation and hate speech that target religious communities and incite violence against them.

During the past two decades, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms have emerged as invaluable tools for connecting people around the world. However, we have also witnessed the use of social media to spread false and discriminatory information that dehumanizes specific groups of people, including faith communities and religious minorities. Online hate speech and misinformation has been

OSCE Conference Human Dimension Meeting (SHDM) II on Freedom of Expression, Media and Information

In July the Michael Trust took part in the OSCE Conference: Human Dimension Meeting (SHDM) II on Freedom of Expression, Media and Information. This was a two day event that was held online.

The Conference was organised by the Albanian OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)


The second Human Dimension Meeting provided a platform for an exchange of views among OSCE participating States, OSCE institutions and other executive structures and a variety of international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders on the implementation of commitments related to addressing the promotion freedom of expression, media and information.

ODIHR says..The power of digital technologies must be harnessed to counter hatred based on religion or belief

ODHIR Article

The Michael Trust is glad to see the continued work by ODHIR and OSCE on protection of religion and belief or non belief. In this latest press release they say..

"Digital technologies can play an integral role in celebrating and upholding freedom of religion or belief when harnessed for outreach and dialogue. At the same time, the rise in intolerant discourse and hate speech directed at religious or belief communities during the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrates the risk of the digital space becoming a forum for incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence on grounds of religion or belief."

As a trust that has worked hard for over 30 years to protect the right to freedom of belief, including the right to change your belief. It has been sad to see the increase of digital platforms being used to single out and target minority faiths such as Jehovah's Witnesses. The MT is always grateful for the work done by the ODIHR. They further state in their article....

Sudan to become 'secular state'

Anadolu Agency website

Government, rebels agree to make Sudan 'secular state'

Transitional gov't reaches understanding with rebel group that opted out of peace deal signed earlier this week.

This was the headline of an article by Mohammed Amin |04.09.2020

Sudan’s government has reached an agreement with a rebel leader laying out conditions for his faction to recognize the peace deal signed with rebel groups earlier this week.