Jehovah's Witnesses Charged with Extremism - Moscow Times

[Brother_Bliss]

Sigh! Here we go again...

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Jehovah's Witnesses Charged with Extremism

Ten Jehovah's Witnesses in Chuvashia were charged Monday with criminal acts including the incitement of hatred and extremism in a case that is raising new worries about religious freedom in Russia.

"This situation is a serious breach of the rights of believers in Russia," said Sergei Tarasov, a Chuvash human rights activist following the case.

"This is something new — we have not seen anything like this before," he said by phone. "It creates instability amid an effort to establish an atmosphere of calm and tolerance in our country."

The 10 suspects, ages 31 to 64, are accused of distributing banned literature among residents of the towns of Cheboksary, Novocheboksarsk, Kanash and Alatyr. The literature, which is included on a federal list of extremist materials, spreads ideas of exclusivity and superiority and brands those with alternative religious beliefs as inferior, the Investigative Committee said in a statement.

According to investigators, the suspects organized a network in the Chuvash towns in November 2009 that spread a religious message denying traditional cultural and moral values and facilitating the incitement of religious and social hostility among residents.

Authorities became aware of the "extremist community" during the course of a separate criminal investigation involving one of the suspects, a 39-year-old Cheboksary resident, the statement said.

The Jehovah's Witness community in Russia, which numbers over 130,000 members, has endured a continuous struggle with authorities over its religious beliefs. In 2004, the country's highest court labeled 34 of the group's publications extremist and banned the activities of its Moscow branch.

Tarasov said 29 Jehovah's Witness groups have recently ceased activities in Russia through personal choice or because of state intervention.

Source: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/jehovahs-witnesses-charged-with-extremism/462887.html

[Brother_Bliss]

Ten Jehovah's Witnesses in Chuvashia were charged Monday with criminal acts including the incitement of hatred

The Russian Government is run by thoughtless mongrels. Incite to hatred? Gimme a break! Our message is that of love and peace.

[NSSewer]

Those Russian brothers seem to have it especially hard. My prayers go out to them. Satan has a sure tight grip on them. Even their little community in Brooklyn, NY is troublesome and dangerous. The evil is so great is clouds out any rational thinking. Oh by the way D_ Bliss you are so handsome and happy!

[rich krzyz]

I feel your anger and frustration.... but remember, its Satan using these authorities to carry out his work.And as we move ahead,we will all feel persecution to some degree from the authorities.

[kwame]

these things are happening because satan knows his end is near.i pray that jehovah strenghtens our brothers in russia.

[rocket]

Puttin and his government are just a puppets of the Russian Orthodox Church. Both corrupt bed fellows if you will.

[razor297]

Our dear brothers and sisters in the Russias are truly a source of inspiration. They have endured so much considering they are supposed to have freedom of religion. Putin is still the old KGB school doing the dirty work of the Russian Orthodox Church who are riding fairly high on the back of the political beast. Still her day will come for "Jehovah who judges her is strong." May we keep our dear Russian brothers in our prayers daily for the struggle for them and all of us is daily and the great tribulation is in sight. All I can say is the same as the apostle John, Come Lord Jesus.