JehovahsWitness wrote:
Clownboat wrote:They don't need to be criminalized [...]
Idont agree either with what the Russian government has done, but we have to accept that believers have indeed been criminalized by the state. That is a statement of fact.
Indeed, if I were in Russia instead of in the west I would be considered part of a criminal organization and as I said, inevitably this will lead many to "take the law into their own hands".
There has been a worldwide reaction to the measure, as highlighted below by the following links.
JehovahsWitness wrote:
THE UNITED NATIONS
UN rights experts urge Russia to drop Jehovah’s Witness lawsuit which threatens religious freedom
GENEVA (4 April 2017) – Moves by the Russian Government to ban the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses using a lawsuit brought under anti-extremism legislation have been condemned as “extremely worrying� by three United Nations human rights experts*.　
“This lawsuit is a threat not only to Jehovah’s Witnesses, but to individual freedom in general in the Russian Federation,� the experts said.　
“The use of counter-extremism legislation in this way to confine freedom of opinion, including religious belief, expression and association to that which is state-approved is unlawful and dangerous, and signals a dark future for all religious freedom in Russia,� they stressed.　
Read the full article HERE
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Page ... 9&LangID=E
THE HELSINKI COMMISSION
Helsinki Commission Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (MS), Co-Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), and Commissioner Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-08), issued the following statements:
“It is wrong to apply flawed counterterrorism laws to those who seek to practice their faith,� said Chairman Wicker. “The Russian government is exploiting genuine threats of violent extremism to undermine what little religious freedom remains in that country. This distracts from real efforts to fight terrorism. I urge the Russian government to drop the case immediately.�
Read the full statement HERE
https://www.csce.gov/international-impa ... ding-legal
THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
On June 26, 2014, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their right to worship without unlawful interference from the Russian authorities. In its unanimous judgment, the Court found that Russia violated Articles 5 (right to liberty and security) and 9 (freedom of thought, conscience, and religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights (Convention)
Read full and related judgement HERE
https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-reg ... -religion/
THE EUROPEAN UNION
The decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to ban the activities of the Administrative Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia on grounds of "extremism" could make it possible to launch criminal prosecutions against Jehovah's Witnesses for mere acts of worship. Jehovah’s Witnesses, like all other religious groups, must be able to peacefully enjoy freedom of assembly without interference, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation as well as by Russia's international commitments and international human rights standards.
Read the full statement HERE
https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/hea ... -russia_en
HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS
MICHAEL GEORG LINK ,
Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE): “I urge the Russian authorities to ensure that rights to freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association of individuals belonging to the Jehovah’s Witnesses community are upheld, in compliance with the obligations of the country under international human rights law and OSCE commitments,�
RACHEL DENBER, Deputy
Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling to shut down the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia is a terrible blow to freedom of religion and association in Russia [...] Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia are now given the heartrending choice of either abandoning their faith or facing punishment for practicing it.�
Read full report HERE
https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/04/20/rus ... -witnesses
WORLD LEADERS & POLITICIANS
SCHOLARS & EXPERTS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES
ROMAN LUNKIN - Russian religious studies scholar and leading research fellow of the Center for Religion and Society Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Europe
"After the Supreme Court ruling, Russia will appear in all reports on religious freedom as a country violating this freedom. Besides, this decision will be condemned by all Western countries. The Jehovah’s Witnesses ruling can become a symbol of violating the right to religious freedom. [...] "I am sure that, if Jehovah’s Witnesses files a petition with the European court, it will make a decision in favor of the believers,"
Read the full interview HERE
http://tass.com/politics/942578
ALEXANDER VERKHOVSKY, Director of the SOVA Center for Information and Analysis, which monitors extremism in Russia
I cannot imagine that anyone really thinks [Jehovah's Witnesses] are a threat, [...] but they are seen as a good target. They are pacifists, so they cannot be radicalized, no matter what you do to them. They can be used to send a message.�
As reported by the New York Times - Full article HERE
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/worl ... emist.html
Press releases & statements
http://www2.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relne ... ces.shtml
Historical context
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 597#862597
Here in the West, you can believe whatever you want at least.
However, in Russia, the Orthodox Church is the dominate flavor of Christianity. Anyone that is not with them, would be against them and is thus worshiping the wrong god or version of said god. Some religions even treat his name as if it holds some sort of power while others focus mostly on worshiping the god.
Perhaps they just want to spread the good news and part of doing that is getting rid of the JW version of Christianity thereby assuring more people will hear the actual, real good news.
It is truly astounding the division that religions cause. Even within Christianity (for example) itself. Will Catholics and Baptists step up the the plate? Their version, which of course is believed to be the one true version of Christianity is not under threat. Why would they want to protect a belief that they honestly think will cause people to go to hell?
IMO, we need mothers and fathers to stop telling their children that there is a god that loves them so much that it will send them to heaven, and hates the others so much that it will send them to a hell. We need to educate people out of myth belief, not encourage them with empty promises about what will happen after they die.
Jehovah's Witness, if this was a ban on the Heaven's Gate cult, would you be concerned for any reason besides the survival of your own religion when its time comes?
From where I sit, they are going about freeing these people in the wrong way. They are victims of a controlling religion, but not criminals.
You can give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day, or you can teach a man to pray for fish and he will starve to death.
I blame man for codifying those rules into a book which allowed superstitious people to perpetuate a barbaric practice. Rules that must be followed or face an invisible beings wrath. - KenRU
It is sad that in an age of freedom some people are enslaved by the nomads of old. - Marco
If you are unable to demonstrate that what you believe is true and you absolve yourself of the burden of proof, then what is the purpose of your arguments? - brunumb
