Jehovah’s Witness jailed in Turkmenistan for refusing to take up arms

 

 TURKMENISTAN – Turkmen Military Court has for the second time sentenced  one of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Brother Ruslan Artykmyradov to two years imprisonment for remaining neutral and refusing to join military and take up arms.

Artykmyradov was sentenced by the military court on January 11, 2021 but he was demoralized by the verdict of the military court. After the verdict was announced, Ruslan, who was in good spirit  smiled as he was  taken away by the military.

“As he was being taken away, he quoted Jesus’ words at Matthew 24:13: “The one who has endured to the end will be saved,”  he was quoted by Jw.org.

Brother Ruslan Artykmyradov, just like all members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in being neutral in world affairs and will not take up arms against anybody by joining military service. They  may however take part in community service so long as it is devoid of arms.

They do this because they have already  beaten their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shares: Micah 4:3. Besides, they believe in spreading love instead of hatred. Mathew 22:38 and 30 among other laws in the scriptures.

“We are encouraged by the faith of our young brothers in Turkmenistan. They willingly follow our Exemplar, Jesus, who endured much “for the joy that was set before him.”—Hebrews 12:2, the Jehovah’s Witnesses said on their official website, Jw.org.