Today (12/8/09) in Moscow the Supreme Court is ruling on a case about Religious Freedom. The local and appellate courts in the city of Taganrog have ruled that Jehovah's Witnesses religious literature is “extremist” and should be banned. While their rulings are not yet enforceable because of the appeal process, local city officials have begun raiding local places of worship and private homes to confiscate the material. In addition, all religious gatherings have ceased at the current time. While many only know Jehovah's Witnesses as the people who knock on your door Saturday morning, their message promotes peace and unity. Like all religious groups they exercise their freedom of religion. I think it will be very interesting to hear Russia’s Supreme Court ruling and how other nations view the controversial issue.
http://www.jw-media.org/rus/20091118.htm
http://www.jw-media.org/rus/20091118.htm
It's too bad. Old time JWs have been under ban since Stalinist times, often going into Siberian exile. They've enjoyed a period of freedom in the past ten years or so, but it looks like conditions are getting cramped for them again.
ReplyDeleteIt really does fit with Jesus words that his followers would be 'objects of hatred by all the nations on account of his name,' in spite of the peace and unity that they promote.