Emmanuel Thomas l Monday, June 19, 2017
MOSCOW, Russia – Jehovah’s Witnesses are not finding things easy in Russia. They are constantly being subjected to terror and harasment by Rissians who are enthusiastic about the recent Supreme Court rulling proscribing their activities throughout Russia. They have also not even spared their children, including toddlers in school.
On May 15, the management of a chemical factory in Dorogobuzh, Smolensk Region, dismissed all employees who are Jehovah’s Witnesses and based the action on receipt of an order from the FSB to dismiss all Jehovah’s Witnesses because “extremists” cannot work at the factory.
“In at least three other incidents since the Supreme Court decision, Witness employees have been threatened with dismissal because they belong to an “extremist” religion.
“In the village of Yashkino, Kemerovo Region, the police pressured one Witness, but she refused to divulge information on other Witnesses. The officers said that it was unlawful to be a member of a banned religion and likened Jehovah’s Witnesses to ISIS terrorists”, the witnesses said on their website, jw.org.
On April 30, in Lutsino, the home of a Witness family was burned to the ground, along with the adjoining home of their elderly parents. The arsonist, according to the JWs first expressed his hatred for the family’s religion and then started the fire.
On May 24, in Zheshart, Komi Republic, arsonists caused significant damage to a building used by Jehovah’s Witnesses for religious services.So far over 9 houses of worship have been vandalized since the Supreme Court decision of April 20, 2017.
“On April 26, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Belgorod was leaving his home when an attacker yelled, “You have been banned!” and then he beat the Witness. On May 11, a group of men interrupted the religious services of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Tyumen and, using obscene and insulting language, threatened to harm the attendees”, the witnesses said.
On April 22, police entered place of worship in Dzhankoy, Republic of Crimea, as religious services were concluding.
“The officers insisted that after the Supreme Court decision, the Witnesses had no right to meet together for worship. They searched the building and then sealed it to prevent its use for religious meetings”, the witnesses said.
On April 28, the Conscription Commission of the Cheboksary and Marposadskiy regions rejected the application of one of Jehovah’s Witnesses for alternative service.
“The Commission stated that Jehovah’s Witnesses are “extremist” and cannot be granted alternative service. At least two other male Witnesses similarly had their applications for alternative civilian service denied”, the statement added. In school, their children have become target of hatred.
“On April 24, in the village of Bezvodnoye, Kirov Region, a teacher humiliated two young students whose mother is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The teacher justified her actions by stating that the Witnesses are banned in Russia.
“On May 17, in the Moscow Region, a school principal issued a written warning to the parents of an eight-year-old student who had spoken about God to a classmate. The document referred to the Supreme Court decision and prohibited on school grounds “all actions that do not relate to the educational process.” The principal threatened to report the matter to the police and “to raise the issue of transferring the child to another form of training.”
Speaking on the developments, General Counsel to the witnesses,Philip Brumley said there is contradiction in the government’s stance.
“On the one hand, the government refuses alternative civilian service to young Witnesses because they are ‘extremists,’ while on the other hand, it demands that these ‘extremists’ be inducted into the army. Does it make sense that the government would allow ‘extremists’ to be in the army?”
In his reaction, Director, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Michael Georg Link said he is deeply concerned by this unwarranted criminalisation of the peaceful activities of members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses communities in Russia.
“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 [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] commitments”, he said.
