Russian ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses hits the five-year mark
Today, Wednesday 20th of April, marks 5 years that the Russian Supreme Court criminalized the peaceful organization of Jehovah’s witnesses in Russia, declaring it as extremist.
Besides houses of worship and several legal entities that were shut down, there continued to be gross human right abuses with 1,740 homers and 320 members unjustly imprisoned including women and the elderly.
Men and women of conscience including many international figures had decried the disregard for human rights in Russia. As Rachel Denber, Deputy Director, Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch put it, “For Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, practicing their faith means risking their freedom. There is nothing remotely justifiable about this. It is time for President Putin to ensure that law enforcement stop this harmful persecution”.
Her comment was coming against the backdrop of continued nationwide persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses since the Supreme Court’s ruling. In a tepid pronouncement to ostensibly to mask his Government’s human right violations, President Vladimir Putin had promised to look into the crackdown on the Christian group, the number of house raids and people under criminal investigation have more than doubled.
In a world that is desperately yearning for freedom and respect for human rights, the Human Rights Watch is unequivocal in demanding that “Russian authorities should release detained Jehovah’s Witnesses immediately, drop any outstanding charges, expunge all related criminal records, and halt their persecution”.
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In a statement issued to the media in Nigeria to mark the 5th year of Russian ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses, the organization stated that since that particular Supreme Court ruling, about 400 of the Witnesses’ legal entities, including houses of worship, have been shut down.
“More than 1,740 homes have been raided. Despite a persistent international outcry from human rights bodies, Russia has imprisoned over 320 Witnesses, with over 80 still in custody.
“Over 600 Jehovah’s Witnesses, including 40 men and women over the age of 70, have been charged criminally. During the 2017 Supreme Court hearing, the Russian government claimed that although it was liquidating the legal entities of Jehovah’s Witnesses, individual Witnesses would be free to practice their faith. However, the government’s claim of allowing freedom to worship has been inconsistent with its actions”, the statement added.
The statement reads:
Russian ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses hits the five-year mark
April 20, 2022 will mark five years since Russia’s systematic persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses began.
Since then, some 400 of the Witnesses’ legal entities, including houses of worship, have been shut down. More than 1,740 homes have been raided. Despite a persistent international outcry from human rights bodies, Russia has imprisoned over 320 Witnesses, with over 80 still in custody.
Over 600 Jehovah’s Witnesses, including 40 men and women over the age of 70, have been charged criminally. During the 2017 Supreme Court hearing, the Russian government claimed that although it was liquidating the legal entities of Jehovah’s Witnesses, individual Witnesses would be free to practice their faith. However, the government’s claim of allowing freedom to worship has been inconsistent with its actions.
Andrew Wood, former British ambassador to Russia, said of the Witnesses in a statement: “Their arrest, ill treatment, and confinement are a breach of elementary human rights together with the infringement of the freedom of all souls to seek their path to the truths of religion as best they may. The targeting of particularly vulnerable people of whatever gender or age adds to the injustice.”
Media Contact:
Olusegun Eroyemi
[email protected]
Nigeria Branch Office of Jehovah’s Witnesses
