Crimean JW Pressured to Renounce Faith

[Thomas Walker]

http://www.newsweek.com/jehovahs-witnesses-russia-crimea-military-628699

 

Ruh-roh.

[hatcheckgirl]

This is really messy.  Russia is seen by the UN as an  occupying force in Crimea. The Geneva Conventions states, “The Occupying Power may not compel protected persons to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces. No pressure or propaganda which aims at securing voluntary enlistment is permitted.”

That shows Russia is flouting legal and political set rules.

 

And then it gets "personal".  By not allowing alternative duties unless he renounced his faith, this is a violation of the individual's religious liberty.  

It is also reported that Russia has already denied at least one Russian Jehovah’s Witness the right to alternative civilian service, citing the Russian Supreme Court’s ruling banning the faith.  

 

http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1497831415  - website of the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group which works to help people whose rights have been violated and investigates cases involving such abuse, as well as assessing the overall human rights situation in Ukraine. 

[EccentricM]

It's Stalin all over again. 

[Bluebell]

https://jw-russia.org/news/17061611-181.html

 

Recruitment office requires recruits written renunciation of faith

 

In Crimea, the draft commission demanded that the recruit - Jehovah's Witnesses present a document renouncing his faith, and go to a different faith

[Stoffer]

Source: http://www.newsweek.com/jehovahs-witnesses-russia-crimea-military-628699

 

Just the main points...

 

Quote

A Crimean member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses has been ordered to prove he has renounced his faith or else take up arms for the occupying Russian army. The move follows Russia’s banning of the Christian denomination in April and its annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea in 2014.

 

There have since been multiple reports of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia being denied alternative civilian service.

 

But now an even more controversial case has emerged in Crimea. The group’s Russian website has shown paperwork reportedly sent to a Jehovah’s Witness instructing him that he must provide documentation proving that he has either renounced his faith or transferred to another religion.

 

[tekmantwo]

Thanks for posting this,  I read it here yesterday when it was posted,  thanks for keeping it current,  we all need to be concerned,  and prayerful. ..

[Stoffer]

51 minutes ago, tekmantwo said:

Thanks for posting this,  I read it here yesterday when it was posted,  thanks for keeping it current,  we all need to be concerned,  and prayerful. ..

Wow I didn't realise it had already been posted. Old age sorry!

It's incredible that in the 21st century we still have to put up with this from governments. 

[Raven]

Sounds like what the Nazis did to Jehovah's people in concentration camps.

[tekmantwo]

4 hours ago, Stoffer said:

Wow I didn't realise it had already been posted. Old age sorry!

It's incredible that in the 21st century we still have to put up with this from governments. 

Oh, no problem Brother..I enjoy the seeing the diversity of the brotherhood and all the comments,  I agree with you on the putting up with the government and all that...thanks for posting this up..

[Omoyeme]

Quote

A Crimean member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses has been ordered to prove he has renounced his faith or else take up arms for the occupying Russian army. 

"Just sign this paper renouncing your faith and you will no longer be considered "extremist!"

This is simply astounding! Did we not just one year ago watched a series of videos featuring a "young adult Sergei" go through the very same dilemma?!

 

Edited June 25, 2017 by Omo_Yeme

[tekmantwo]

1 hour ago, Omo_Yeme said:

"Just sign this paper renouncing your faith and you will no longer be considered "extremist!"

This is simply astounding! Did we not just one year ago watched a series of videos featuring a "young adult Sergei" go through the very same dilemma?!

Hmmm, almost like  'somebody' knew what was coming..

[Omoyeme]

 

[Thesauron]

 

https://tv.jw.org/#en/mediaitems/pub-jwbcov_201605_2_VIDEO


Johan