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How Russia is increasingly violating minority religious rights while its Orthodox Church increases its power

For the first time, Russia has been officially included among the worst countries in the world for religious freedom because of its ongoing crackdown against religious minorities, foreign missionaries and evangelists and last week's ban...

EU Local Statement on the Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia

The claim filed by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on 15 March before the Supreme Court is the latest crackdown on, and a further escalation of the harassment and judicial persecution suffered...

The decision of the Supreme Court provoked a severe act of religious intolerance in St. Petersburg

A few hours after the Russian Supreme Court announced the decision to liquidate the center of Jehovah's Witnesses, late on the evening of April 20, 2017, a group of men drove up to two passenger cars to...

Why Russia’s ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses is so troubling

MOSCOW, Russia – The Jehovah's Witnesses have been banned as an extremist group in a Thursday Supreme Court decision that observers feared signalled a further step back for religious liberty.“For Jehovah's Witnesses, this is going...

Foreign Office urges Russia to uphold human rights after Jehovah’s Witnesses ruling

The Foreign Office has condemned a decision by the Russian Supreme Court to label Jehovah's Witnesses "extremists."Baroness Anelay, the foreign office minister with responsibility for human rights, said the judgement was alarming.She said that the...

Moscow court dismisses lawsuit filed by Jehovah’s Witnesses over suspension of activities

MOSCOW, April 24 (RAPSI) – The Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Jehovah's Witnesses against Russian Justice Ministry over suspension of the organization’s activities in Russia, RAPSI reported from the courtroom...

Berlin troubled over Jehovah’s Witnesses’ ban in Russia

On April 20, Russia’s Supreme Court declared Jehovah’s Witnesses to be an extremist organization and outlawed its activity throughout Russia, thereby upholding the Justice Ministry’s requestBERLIN, April 21. /TASS/. Germany’s government has voiced concerns over...

British Government ‘alarmed’ at Russian ban on ‘extremist’ Jehovah’s Witnesses

The British Government says it is “alarmed” by Russia’s ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses and has launched an appeal for Vladimir Putin to uphold religious freedom.Baroness Anelay said a ruling by the Russian Supreme Court “effectively criminalises the peaceful worship...

EU Denounces Russian Ruling Banning Jehovah’s Witnesses

The European Union has denounced a Russian Supreme Court decision to brand the Jehovah’s Witnesses an extremist organization and ban its activities.EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini's office said on April 21 that the ruling...

Why banning the Jehovah’s Witnesses won’t work for Russia

The Supreme Court of Russia has a decision to make this week about whether to label the Jehovah’s Witnesses an extremist organization and liquidate its assets. This act would transform the religious community into a...