Russia bans Jehovah’s Witnesses
Russia’s supreme court has banned Jehovah’s Witnesses from operating in the country.
The court declared the religious organisation an extremist group.
The Russian government had on March 16 filed a suit to outlaw the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“The Supreme Court has ruled to sustain the claim of Russia’s ministry of justice and deem the ‘Administrative Centre of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia’ organisation extremist, eliminate it and ban its activity in Russia,” said Yuri Ivanenko, a judge, in his ruling.
The court also ordered the closure of the group’s headquarters in Russia and its 395 local chapters.
“The property of the Jehovah’s Witnesses organisation is to be confiscated to the state revenue.”
Russia’s justice ministry attorney Svetlana Borisova was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying that the Jehovah’s Witnesses “pose a threat to the rights of the citizens, public order and public security”.
Sergei Cherepanov, a Jehovah’s Witnesses representative, was quoted as saying that the group will appeal the decision in the European court of human rights.
“We will do everything possible,” he said.
Jehovah’s Witnesses first registered as a religious group in Russia in 1991 and registered again in 1999.
The group, which was founded in the US in the late 19th century, was banned during Joseph Stalin’s reign in the Soviet Union.
The religious organisation has over 175,000 members in Russia.
Your comment..persecution of true Christians started long before now, to us it’s nothing new. Jehovah’s will see d brothers through
Your comment..That’s true my brother.in fact seeing such things happening strengthens of faith in bible prophecies.Jesus foretold that true Christians will be handed over to the law court and will be brutally rejected.Russian government is only fulfilling that but we are very sure that Jehovah willvnotvleave his own inheritance in Russia.He will supply them with power beyond what is normal
I am surprise that there are people in 20th century that are still ignorant to the bible principles, the religion that extremely preaching and advocating global peace are called extremist and band for their believes about a kingdom that will be peaceful, we are not surprise, Jesus Christ the leader of the true Christians was persecuted and even impaled. True Christians are the preachers of the Government that will put an end to all human’s sufferings and stop corruption throughout the world, but if a Government does not want such except corruption may not like Jehovah’s Witnesses, but Jehovah is a wonderful God, remember who persecuted Jehovah’s people in the past, the consequences. But that will happen for the scriptures to fulfill. Brothers in Russia be strong you have been counted worthy, so be joyful.
Satan the Devil is the opposer of God’s kingdom. He once used a serpent to deceive Eve, and today too he is using the spirit of the world to be deceiving many people. If the world knows what is true or real Love,it’s through this religion. Justice ministry,extremist you called us, the sovereign Lord is watching.
Your comment..let us just watch how events will unfold. future developments will clarify who really are the extremists. Fighters against God cannot prevail. Its really appalling when a government begins to interprete the Holy scriptures and to determine which is acceptable or unacceptable.
Let’s leave matters in Jehovah’s hands