Emmanuel Thomas l Tuesday, April 25, 2017
MOSCOW, Russia – President Donald Trump of the United States has offered asylum to Jehovah’s Witnesses who are Russian citizens, following the ban on their activities in Russia.
The ban makes it a criminal offence for JW to meet and peacefully worship their God, Jehovah. Trump is calling on the affected JWs in Russia to come and live in the United States.
He also warned President Vladimir Putin to reverse the ban or face dire consequence.
Trump who was reacting to Russia’s Supreme Court judgment which liquidated activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia and an order to confiscate their properties urged the Russian Government to reverse it or he will be forced to stage legal battle with Russia, using their constitution.
“You know right that this is contrary to the constitution of the land of Russian Federation. I request you to reverse the decision immediately before I use your constitution against you”, he said, warning that he will go all out to do that until all religious rights are guaranteed.
“As this is an infringement on your fundamental human rights, I therefore urge you to seek assylum in the United States until your rights are fully reinstated.
On April 20, 2017, despite global denunciation, Russia’s Supreme Court ruled to criminalize the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia. Judge Yuriy Grigoryevich Ivanenko of the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the claim filed by the Ministry of Justice “to liquidate the religious organization ‘Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia’ and the local religious organizations that are part of its structure [and] to turn over to the Russian Federation all property of the liquidated religious organization.”
Judge Ivanenko added that, effective immediately, this decision terminates all activity of the Witnesses’ legal entities throughout Russia. Although Jehovah’s Witnesses are appealing the decision to the Appellate Chamber of the Supreme Court, the ruling effectively bans their 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.”—Statement from the Spokesperson for the European Union External Action Service concerning the decision by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.
Philip Brumley, General Counsel for Jehovah’s Witnesses, stated: “Today’s decision is a great disappointment. Any objective review of the written pleadings and of the evidence presented leads to only one legitimate conclusion—the Administrative Center never engaged in any so-called extremist activity. We are appealing this ruling.”
