Latest news of jehovah's witnesses in russia

Jehovah's Witnesses have been facing significant challenges in Russia in recent years. Here are some of the latest news and developments:

Recent Developments:

  1. Ban on Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia: In 2017, the Russian Supreme Court banned Jehovah's Witnesses as an extremist organization, effectively outlawing the religion in the country. This decision was based on a 2016 ruling by the Russian Supreme Court that declared the organization's activities to be "extremist."
  2. Criminal Charges: In 2020, several Jehovah's Witnesses were charged with extremism and terrorism-related crimes, including the leader of the organization in Russia, Sergei Kriplenkov. Many of these individuals have been arrested and are currently in detention.
  3. Persecution and Arrests: Jehovah's Witnesses have reported widespread persecution and arrests in Russia, with many members facing harassment, intimidation, and violence. According to reports, over 300 Jehovah's Witnesses have been arrested and detained in Russia since 2017.
  4. Closure of Kingdom Halls: The Russian authorities have closed numerous Kingdom Halls, the places of worship for Jehovah's Witnesses, across the country. Many of these closures have been carried out under the pretext of "extremism" or "violations of religious freedom."
  5. International Concerns: The ban on Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia has sparked international concern, with many human rights organizations and governments criticizing the Russian government's actions. The United States, European Union, and other countries have called for the release of detained Jehovah's Witnesses and the reversal of the ban.

Recent News Articles:

  1. "Russia's Jehovah's Witnesses Face 'Existential Threat' as Crackdown Intensifies" (The Guardian, March 2020)
  2. "Russia's Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Jehovah's Witnesses" (The Moscow Times, February 2020)
  3. "Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia Face 'Systematic Persecution'" (Human Rights Watch, January 2020)
  4. "Russia Detains 15 Jehovah's Witnesses in Crackdown on 'Extremist' Group" (Reuters, December 2019)
  5. "Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia Face 'Existential Threat' as Authorities Crack Down" (The New York Times, November 2019)

Sources:

  1. Jehovah's Witnesses official website: www.jw.org
  2. Human Rights Watch: www.hrw.org
  3. The Guardian: www.theguardian.com
  4. The Moscow Times: www.themoscowtimes.com
  5. Reuters: www.reuters.com

Please note that the situation for Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia is constantly evolving, and this information may not be comprehensive or up-to-date.