![]() The ECtHR is the judicial arm of the Council of Europe which was formed after the Second World War in an effort to deter violations of human and civil rights. The Supreme Court decision and other governmental actions taken against the Witnesses are being contested by both public opinion the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Russia and the European Court of Human Rights Whatever the reasons behind the drastic action taken and sanctioned by Russian courts, the effects of the decision place Russia in an almost unique position in the international community of modern nations when it comes to constraining religious freedoms. Finally, according to yet another theory, the campaign against the Witnesses is an attempt to distract the populace from Russia’s real economic and political problems, both at home and abroad. The second idea is that the Witnesses developed within the United States and that the harassment is part of an anti-American campaign. One prominent suggestion is that the Russian Orthodox Church has encouraged the actions as part of its campaign to deter groups that compete for the allegiance of Russian citizens or are otherwise critical of the dominant denomination. This puzzling situation has led to much speculation about the real reasons for government’s change of rhetoric. However, the Russian government seems bent on forcing the Witnesses and a few other minority religious organisations to cease activities.įew observers accept the claim that the Witnesses are an extremist organisation and in any way involved in activities that promote terrorism. It has long expressed strong support for conscientious objector status, which thanks to Witnesses’ advocacy of alternative modes of serving their countries, has become the norm among many nations. The designation of the Witnesses as extremist is especially ironic given the church’s official opposition to violence. This designation has been widely criticised internationally and within Russia by those supportive of individual rights such as religious freedom. The court decision was based on the Ministry of Justice claim made on March 15th 2017 that the Witnesses are an extremist organisation and should, therefore, be liquidated. ![]() Moreover, some Russian citizens, emboldened by the official rhetoric, have taken vigilant, often violent, actions against individual Witnesses. What this means for members of Witness communities in Russia is unclear, but there have already been a number of actions taken by authorities in various parts of the country that have targeted the peaceful efforts of Witnesses to meet and share their faith with others. ![]() The 175,000 members of Witness congregations are thus subject to criminal charges for practising their faith. The decision was upheld on July 17th by the appellate chamber of the Supreme Court, and on August 17th the Ministry of Justice added the church to the list of banned extremist organisations.īy virtue of these official actions at the highest levels of the Russian government and its judicial system, the Witnesses have been effectively liquidated and banned throughout Russia. The court ruling also authorises confiscation of all property belonging to the church and directs them to cease all activities. On April 20th 2017, Russia’s Supreme Court issued a ruling liquidating the administrative centre of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, as well as all of their 395 local religious organisations. ![]()
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