Russian buildings
JWs in Moscow
Russian buildings

 Jehovah's Witnesses Fight New Religion Law

MOSCOW prosecutors are trying to ban the Jehovah's Witnesses in the Russian capital under a controversial new law that aims to curb the activity of "non-traditional" religious groups. 

The prosecutor's office of Moscow's northern administrative region has accused the Jehovah's Witnesses of violating the Russian constitution by their missionary activities and says the group should have its registration revoked. 

The Jehovah's Witnesses say they are the latest victim of the 1997 law "on freedom of conscience and religious organisations."

And, on Tuesday, September 29th 1998, a court hearing began which could see other minority religions throughout Russia eventually being shut down.

It is believed that a body called the Committee for the Rescue of Youth had initiated the case by accusing the Jehovah's Witnesses of destroying families, fostering hatred and driving their members to insanity and suicide.

So far the law has been branded by human rights' activists, the Vatican and Washington as discriminatory and politically motivated. 

They say the law, designed to strengthen the Russian Orthodox Church and restrict foreign religions and cults that many Russians consider dangerous, contradicts Russia's constitutional right to freedom of religion.

"This case reflects the anti-religious views of some officials who want to take us back to Soviet days," said Artur Leontyev, a lawyer for the Jehovah's Witnesses. 

"The new religion law is a political document. If the prosecutors win this case it will have reverberations across Russia," he said.

 He said the prosecution had so far failed to explain its grounds for trying to close the Jehovah's Witnesses. 

And that seems to be proven by the fact that trial has been put back until February 9th, 1999 to allow prosecutors to fully prepare their case.


Have your say.....

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More Posts

Rebekah Vardy to host documentary on JWs
Footballer Wife, Rebekah Vardy to Host Documentary on JWs
Rebekah Vardy reinventing herself as a documentary host Wife of Footballer Jamie Vardy plans to host a documentary on her time as a Jehovah's Witness   TV fans will be able to see Ex-JW Rebekah investigating the world of Jehovah’s Witnesses in a new documentary series. The star will travel across the UK to meet […]
JW.org new Governing Body members announcement.
JWs Announce Two New Governing Body Members.
THIS week Jehovah's Witnesses learned that they have two new members of the Governing Body. In an announcement on Wednesday 18th January 2023, on the Jehovah's Witness website JW.org, it was announced that Gage Fleegle and Jeffrey Winder will be the 9th and 10th members of the Governing Body. Gage Fleegle   Jeffrey Winder   […]
Danger at Your Door Tract
Danger At Your Door
WITH the sound of the doorbell still ringing in their ears, thousands of people, all over the world, are talked into joining a cult that will eventually take total control of their lives.First & Last Ministries has launched its own initiative to give householders a fighting chance to repel “the danger at their door.”EVER since First […]
Rebekah Vardy to host documentary on JWs
Footballer Wife, Rebekah Vardy to Host Documentary on JWs
Rebekah Vardy reinventing herself as a documentary host Wife of Footballer Jamie Vardy plans to host a documentary on her time as a Jehovah's Witness   TV fans will be able to see Ex-JW Rebekah investigating the world of Jehovah’s Witnesses in a new documentary series. The star will travel across the UK to meet […]
JW.org new Governing Body members announcement.
JWs Announce Two New Governing Body Members.
THIS week Jehovah's Witnesses learned that they have two new members of the Governing Body. In an announcement on Wednesday 18th January 2023, on the Jehovah's Witness website JW.org, it was announced that Gage Fleegle and Jeffrey Winder will be the 9th and 10th members of the Governing Body. Gage Fleegle   Jeffrey Winder   […]
First & Last Ministries