Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia

Why is the ethnic group facing prosecution?

On the 20^th April 2017, the Supreme Court of Russia declared Jehovah’s Witness, Christian denomination as extremist. All activities of the Jehovah’s Witness administrative centre were banned along with the seizure of the property. The decision upheld the Russian Ministry of Justice’s earlier order to shut down the organisation’s headquarters in St. Petersburg. The ruling would come into legal force with 30 days unless an appeal challenging the ruling is filed earlier.

Who are Jehovah’s Witness?

Under the leadership of Charles Taze Russel, the Christian denomination was founded in the late 19^th century in USA.  There are 8,340,982 active Jehovah’s Witnesses in 253 countries in the world with 170,000 adherents in Russia. This Christian denomination is not recognised by traditional Christian churches because it rejects Christian doctrine of the Trinity regarding it as irrational and unbiblical.  

What is the opinion of Russian authorities?

The Justice Ministry attorney termed the group as a threat to the rights of the citizens, public order and public security. The attorney also stated that Jehovah’s Witnesses opposition to blood transfusions violates Russian healthcare laws. Russian authorities have put several of the group’s publications on a list of banned extremist literature, and prosecutors have further categorised it as an organisation that destroys families, fosters hatred and threatens lives.

What is the opinion of the world community?

The European Union has denounced a Russian Supreme Court decision to brand the Jehovah’s Witnesses an extremist organization and ban its activities. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has stated that the treatment of the Jehovah’s Witnesses reflects the Russian government’s tendency to view all independent religious activity as a threat to its control and the country’s political stability.

The High Court of Australia in Adelaide Company of Jehovah’s Witness v. Commonwealth, state that, Jehovah’s Witnesses are an association of persons loosely organized throughout Australia and elsewhere who regard literal interpretation of the Bible as fundamental to proper religious beliefs.  In the light of various civil liberty cases of the Jehovah’s Witness the Courts in United States and Canada held that even though the religion may appear strange or even bizarre to us, but the sincerity of their beliefs is beyond question.

In India; in the case of Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala, the main issue before the Court was whether the expulsion of three children from school for their refusal to sing the national anthem of India was consistent with the constitutional rights to freedom of expression and freedom of religion. Similar to the precedence of US cases the Jehovah’s Witness, the court here held that as per Article 19 and 25, that that the expulsion from school violated the children’s rights to freedom of expression and religion. Contrasts exist between the two nations but the wide spectrum of Russia’s

Assessment

Members of the Jehovah’s Witness Community is Russia have decided to appeal against the decision of the Supreme Court and the orders of the Ministry of Justice. Vladimir Putin’s support towards domination of Orthodox Church in Russia puts the lives of the people of other religions such as Muslims and minorities like the Jehovah’s Witness into jeopardy. Imposition of restrictions on freedom to practise and propagate religions goes against the basic principle of UNHRC. People should be allowed to choose and practise the religion of their choice, regardless of the effect that it has on society.