JehovahsWitness wrote:
Monta wrote:
[
Replying to post 59 by JehovahsWitness]
Thanks for that article by a JW Administrator. I have been following the story and still have not found anything conclusive why is Russia singling out JW as extremist, a rather strong word. Interpreting the Bible differently having different views in other areas unless they preach hatred and violence against citizens or the govenment, does not fall under extrimism; imo.
I am looking for more information.
Hopefully, by posting the historical context, conclusions of Human Rights experts, as well as the commentaries from Lawyers, Professors, international diplomats, Religious leaders, news reports from all over the world, links to the court testimonies, documentation, actual statements made in court and a full summary procedures, I have provided at least a little information in this thread as to where you (and anyone interested) can start looking for more information.
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 
