Month: May 2016

Russia – Jehovah’s Witnesses face possible liquidation

If prosecutors proceed with their threat to liquidate the Jehovah's Witness headquarters near St Petersburg, thousands of local congregations across Russia could also face prohibition of their activities and individuals could be vulnerable to criminal...

RUSSIA: 2015 prosecutions for publicly sharing beliefs

Unapproved sharing of beliefs were a quarter of 2015 prosecutions for public events in Russia. Forum 18 found 119 individuals and 3 religious organisations prosecuted, a sharp rise on 2014. Initial punishments were 80 fines,...

Rule of Law Prevails in the Republic of Rwanda

Thanks to the efforts of Rwanda’s Ombudsman and clear-thinking judges, Jehovah’s Witnesses received justice after a long legal battle. The Supreme Court initially ruled against the Witnesses and ordered them to pay compensation to the...

RUSSIA: Jehovah’s Witness Bible to be “extremist”?

Russian prosecutors are trying to ban the Jehovah's Witness New World Bible as "extremist", Forum 18 notes. However, a Pervouralsk court refused to ban two Islamic texts citing the Koran as "extremist", in the first...

Earthquake in Ecuador and Jehovah’s Witnesses

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake thundered along Ecuador’s Pacific Coast on April 16, 2016. The quake and subsequent aftershocks caused extensive damage and killed more than 650. While the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ecuador was not...

Earthquakes in Japan and Jehovah’s Witnesses

On April 14 and 16, 2016, two massive earthquakes shook the island of Kyushu in southern Japan. The first registered magnitude 6.5, and the second, 7.3. Hundreds of aftershocks have since followed. Over 70 congregations of...