MOSCOW -- In a bright, spotless apartment in a Moscow suburb, a small circle of people sat around a table in December 2019. Bowls of candies and teapots were set out, along with salads.

The group opened the meeting with a prayer and a hymn -- most of them shy and just murmuring along, raising their voices a little above some background music played on a television showing a preacher in a suit.

The people present were Jehovah's Witnesses -- a Christian religious group first founded in the United States in the 19th century but now has an estimated 8 million followers around the world.

In many countries, such meetings would be nothing unusual. But in Russia, authorities now treat them as illegal, designating them as gatherings of "extremists."

That means attendees meet in secret. Before arriving, they check the street for police. As they meet, they know there is a risk of officers knocking at the door or even breaking it down. If they are arrested, they could face years in prison.

These are the fears Jehovah's Witnesses have lived with in Russia since the group was outlawed in the country in 2017. The Russian supreme court that year banned the religion as "extremist," and in doing so unleashed what is perhaps one of the worst but most mysterious persecution campaigns in Russia.


The estimated 175,000 adherents in Russia are now equated with members of dangerous terrorist organizations. The community has been subjected to hundreds of raids and arrests by Russian security forces and, in some places, alleged torture. Across Russia, hundreds have been charged as "extremists," and dozens have been jailed in a campaign that human rights groups have struggled to explain.

Banned under the Soviet Union and authorized in the liberal years following its collapse, the renewed persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses is seen by some as the frightening return of Soviet oppression once thought gone as well as a reflection of how security services under President Vladimir Putin are turning the clock back on dissent.

"We are talking about a group of people who are practicing their religion peacefully, who are not carrying out any violent actions, who are not interfering with public order," said Tanya Lokshina, the Human Rights Watch associate director for Europe and Central Asia.

"And those people are treated as dangerous criminals. As, quote unquote, 'extremists.'"

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLFTXMErU2Q

Putin is an insane being

Jehovah's Witnesses are peace loving people and we follow and obey the law of whatever country we reside and seek peace with our neighbors without the use of FORCE. We pay our taxes and no country has anything to FEAR from US.

We are encouraged by the FAITH of our Russian brothers and sisters and their enduring heart in this critical times. Their strength and faithfulness is a joy to behold. They are in our prayers and Jehovah will continue to SUPPORT them.

Russia's government under Putin is not too different from the Chinese communist party.
If you're enjoying democracy as it should be, better thank God and seek to protect it at all costs. I have never seen any JW group that is forceful or violent. They won't force you to become their members, yet they're proscribed.
Anyway, time and time again, persecution ends up strengthening the church

temitope27:
Putin is an insane being

Putin is just a POLITICIAN. Times past, he has bestowed this 'extremist' JWs parent as model family worthy of emulation.

However, Putin(Russia) actions now really come’s down to the governments strong relationship with the Russian Orthodox church and how they (the orthodox church) have for a long time felt very uneasy about the massive growth of Jehovah’s witnesses within that country.
Putin still needs ROC support and members if he's serious add wants to continue as a politician.

Very good move...

kayuseful:
Russia's government under Putin is not too different from the Chinese communist party.
If you're enjoying democracy as it should be, better thank God and seek to protect it at all costs. I have never seen any JW group that is forceful or violent. They won't force you to become their members, yet they're proscribed.
Anyway, time and time again, persecution ends up strengthening the church

Hmnnn...
Kayus, thanks for your kind comment. I couldn't agree more with you. Some might see my agreement with your comment as a self-serving one because I'm one. Nice to hear this from a non-witness
Have a terrific day

XXXXTENTACION:
Very good move...

But your pastors use hell fire to scare you not to talk after they sacked pastors who couldn't extort tithes and offerings from gullible church members?

At least they are non- violent unlike the islamist of northern Nigerian persuasion who will behead somebody for blasphemy. And call that the will of God.

haddeylium:
Jehovah's Witnesses are peace loving people and we follow and obey the law of whatever country we reside and seek peace with our neighbors without the use of FORCE. We pay our taxes and no country has anything to FEAR from US.
We are encouraged by the FAITH of our Russian brothers and sisters and their enduring heart in this critical times. Their strength and faithfulness is a joy to behold. They are in our prayers and Jehovah will continue to SUPPORT them.

Weldone my brother.

Yes. It’s really shocking. People who have the highest regard for human life and are normally opposed to violence, who would not even ‘hurt a fly’ at it seems are put on par with terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda, Isis etc.

Surely, it doesn’t surprise us since our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ faced a similar situation. This man while on earth taught his disciples to always be peaceable with all sorts of men and not to retaliate when wronged. Matthew 5:9, 39

But imagine him being considered worse off than someone who was known as a robber, seditionist and a murderer ?
Surely that doesn’t make sense since this man was always opposed to violence. Matthew 26:52, John 18:11

Since that happened to our Master, we who are his slaves should not expect anything less to happen to us(Matthew 10:22-25, John 15:18-21) and in the end it proves that we are Jesus’ true disciples. Matthew 5:10-12



P.S. I do hope you’re enjoying the regional convention program my brother. I’ve already picked quite a number of points I’m going to steadily work on in the field ministry.

Aidejay:
At least they are violent like the islamist of northern Nigerian persuasion who will behead somebody for blasphemy. And call that the will of God.

I think the word you're looking for is 'non-violet'.
They don't believe in the use of force as a resolution for PEACE. They don't even participate in war and kill people.

haddeylium:


I think the word you're looking for is 'non-violet'.
They don't believe in the use of force as a resolution for PEACE. They don't even participate in war and kill people.

corrected!

kayuseful:
Russia's government under Putin is not too different from the Chinese communist party.
If you're enjoying democracy as it should be, better thank God and seek to protect it at all costs. I have never seen any JW group that is forceful or violent. They won't force you to become their members, yet they're proscribed.
Anyway, time and time again, persecution ends up strengthening the church

Good morning.
What you ended your comment with is aptly covered at this lovely Bible scripture: Romans 8:37-39
“On the contrary, in all these things we are coming off completely victorious through the one who loved us. For I am convinced that neitherdeath nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Russia government can only persecute JEHOVAH witnesses, but our sole loyalty is to Jehovah. Our love for all men, whether jw or not, will never be broken. Hopefully, even some of the persecutors may even realise and worship Jehovah for the rest of their lives

DappaD:


Weldone my brother.

Yes. It’s really shocking. People who have the highest regard for human life and are normally opposed to violence, who would not even ‘hurt a fly’ at it seems are put on par with terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda, Isis etc.

Surely, it doesn’t surprise us since our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ faced a similar situation. This man while on earth taught his disciples to always be peaceable with all sorts of men and not to retaliate when wronged. Matthew 5:9, 39

But imagine him being considered worse off than someone who was known as a robber, seditionist and a murderer ?
Surely that doesn’t make sense since this man was always opposed to violence. Matthew 26:52, John 18:11

Since that happened to our Master, we who are his slaves should not expect anything less to happen to us(Matthew 10:22-25, John 15:18-21) and in the end it proves that we are Jesus’ true disciples. Matthew 5:10-12



P.S. I do hope you’re enjoying the regional convention program my brother. I’ve already picked quite a number of points I’m going to steadily work on in the field ministry.

That Jesus wasn't joking when he said to his disciples that;

“Keep in mind the word I said to you: A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have observed my word, they will also observe yours” - John 15:20

Yeah! Alotttttt. Nothing more that I need . Can we be having this program everyday? lol
Have a great day brother!

Okay

9

Many people have died from the extremist’s view of Jehovah witness that their members should not receive blood transfusion because of the twisted Bible verse that children of God should not drink the blood of animals like the occultists do.

How does drinking animal blood and receiving blood transfusion to save one’s life be interpreted as the same?

Jehovah witness should stop this extremism and allow people live.


Blood loss is the number killer of women during childbirth in this part of the world, and to reduce or stop death from blood loss is by blood transfusion which the teachings of JW stand against and this has been leading many into early grave.

You mean those idiats that will be knocking loud on people's doors without invitation? Then please crack down on them.

chatinent:



But your pastors use hell fire to scare you not to talk after they sacked pastors who couldn't extort tithes and offerings from gullible church members?

Irrational comment like the person that typed it

Jehovah witness like seriously?.. if Jehovah witness is really a problem in this country, everything for don better...

But no campaign against unnecessary nuclear weapons on natures.

haddeylium:
I think the word you're looking for is 'non-violet'.They don't believe in the use of force as a resolution for PEACE. They don't even participate in war and kill people.

Wrong. The phrase he wants is 'not violent.'

Putin is a sick wicked leader.

Deep Quote:
People suffer when there is a bad leadership in power.

Jmarjr:

can u compare the condition of russia n nigeria?

What's your point exactly? What is bad remains bad no two ways explaining it.
So if someone has a terminal disease you'll wait till the person has several before u'll agree he has a terminal disease right?
SMH @your comment...kindly don't quote me for just quoting sakes ...i prefer productive comments one can learn from.
Be guided.

@Seniorwriter

In as much as I detest jehovah witnesses,I don't support this......As a matter of fact,I think this is an indirect fight against the whole of christianity......Na small small na....After dem don succeed pursue jehovah witnesses comot finish,dem go cor enter the other christians...

Wetin even concern me self....I'm just a holy pagan who believes in God..