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Replying to post 12 by Clownboat]
Court statement by Vasily Kalin (respectfully reproduced from the translation by Anton Chivchalov) :
MOJ = Ministry of Justice
AC = Jehovah's Witness Russian HQ
LROs= Local congregations of JWs
I am not a lawyer, so I will try to speak as simply as possible for you, your honor, and for the MOJ. The MOJ filed a motion to declare the AC extremist and liquidate all LROs in Russia. There are 395 LROS. Is this lawful? I don’t think so. The AC disagrees with this. For 26 years the AC has never been charged with violations of the Federal Law on Religion or the Law on Extremism. I have a question as the Chairman. If we were good for 26 years, on what date did we become extremist? What did the AC do that all of a sudden it's considered extremist?
The MOJ alleges that they intend to protect the public in the fight against terrorism. However, if the judge grants the claim we will return to the dark history of our past, rather than fight extremism. We will restrict the rights of 175,000 people. Liquidation of all LROs will be interpreted as a ban of the peaceful worship of JW, gathering together and reading the Bible.
The activity of the AC has been suspended, the bank accounts frozen. The AC cannot even pay state fees. The AC has been included by the MOJ in the list of extremist and terrorist organizations, such as Al Qaeda and ISIS. Granting the claim would be the extremist activity and return us to the dark history of our past. JW are [legally recognized] in 240 countries, including all countries of Europe. There can only be one just decision: deny the MOJ claim.
JW are not extremist and they will never be. They are peaceful citizens who follow Bible’s commands to pray and live a quiet life (Timothy 2:1,2; Romans 13:1). JW have deep respect for the authority and for the neighbor. We are not extremists. We have been active in Russia for over 100 years. We have never been charged with extremism. Rather, we often receive praise and appreciation for our good works. The Christian teachings of JW are based exclusively on the Bible and do not encourage extremist activity. Based on this situation, it is a shame that we are returning to the past.
I received a [certificate] that I was [recognized] as a victim of political repression. What does the MOJ plan on doing for people who are viewed as extremist? Therefore, I believe that the claim by the MOJ is a return to the past. We face prison time and other persecution. In the Soviet times we faced charges as “enemy of the state�, now we are being charged with "extremism". If the court returns to the path offered by the MOJ to liquidate the AC and all LROs, we will return to the dark past. I like what one official said, “You can liquidate a legal entity, but never someone’s faith." In Taganrog [our] people have already been sentenced and their families persecuted.
Our Fundamental Beliefs indicate that we treat others like we want to be treated – (Matthew 7:12). We share our faith in harmony with the Bible’s command to preach (Matthew 24:14). We want people to draw close to God and live forever on earth.
In Soviet Times JW were subject to serious persecution. Thousands of JW were exiled to Sibera, their homes were confiscated, they were viewed as anti-Soviet and persecuted in the Gulag just for being JW. My family was exiled and later rehabilitiesd. I was born in Ukraine. On 8 April when I was 4 years old, together with my family I was exiled to Siberia, to Irkutsk. It took 20 days to arrive. There were men, women, children, without toilets, without food. We were exiled in harmony with Stalin’s command to wipe out JW.
My parents and all other JW at that time could have escaped this fate. We simply could have signed a document renouncing our faith. Interestingly, a criminal would never have this ability. Thus it is clear: JW are not criminals, yet they were persecuted. The state simply was against the position of these people. Those who exiled continue to preach and share their faith with others. JW have not lost their deep convictions, they continue to be honest people who show love to all others despite their nationality and race. This is because they value the Bible’s command to love your neighbor as yourself. Yes, my childhood was full of hunger, poverty, and mockery. I asked my mother for some bread, and she would turn around so that I would not see her tears. Mom said, “Son, wait a bit, soon we will have lots of bread!" At that time I thought, “Lots of bread! We may have an entire loaf!"
(Some in the audience are in tears)
I want to remind the MOJ that the request to ban the JW would hurt those people who wish to live a peaceful, happy life. I call on the court not to return to the past and reject the MOJ’s claim
Source Russian Audio (scroll down)
https://jw-russia.org/pages/17040614-132.html#0407