WE ARE ALL EXTREMISTS IF JEHOVAH’S WITNESS ARE – EX UN RAPPORTEUR ON RELIGION

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – As Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide await the decision of the Supreme Court of Russia today on whether to liquidate and ban the activity of all legal entities used by Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout Russia on the basis of trumped up charges of extremism, human rights group have continued to comment on the implication of branding the Witnesses an extremist group.

For many, a ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses would affect not only the Witnesses but also Russia’s international reputation and religious freedom for its citizens.

Speaking on the development, a former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Heiner Bielefeldt said that “If Jehovah’s Witnesses are extremist, I think we all are”(including President Vladimir Putin).

A Sociologist and Former Representative of the Organisation of Security Cooperation in Eirope, (OSCE) on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, Dr. Massimo Introvigne said “The only relationship between Jehovah’s Witnesses and violence is that they have been victims of violence”.

Associate Professor/Head of Studies, Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen, Annika Hvithamar said ‘If Jehovah’s Witnesses are extremist, then most versions of Christianity could be accused of the same thing’