I submit the following for you edification...
1. Report given at London Bethel on the Moscow trial
(Behind the scenes reports on the trial itself---A MUST READ!)
2. "Orthodox priests lead mob attacks on Jehovah's Witnesses while
police refuse to intervene" (March 8 WT official news release)
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Subject: A report on Moscow given at London Bethel
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2001 21:32:00 -0400
From: Darryl & Anna Rose ( [email protected])
We just received this report which gives some of the details of what
went on at the trial and how Jehovah gave the victory.
Paul Gillies, London
Report on the Russia trial, given March 1, 2001
The victory on the 23rd of February will undoubtedly rank as one of the
most outstanding court victories in our modern theocratic history. It
was faith-strengthening and moving to see Jehovah vindicate his name. The
case has been hanging over the Russian brothers for more than 5 years.
Even now, the result was far from given beforehand. It could easily have
gone against us, and would then have meant severe restrictions for the
brothers in Russia, have hindered their preaching-work, literature
distribution, meetings, and all other activities, not only in Moscow but
also later in the rest of Russia and surrounding republics.
Paul Gillies from London was appointed by Brooklyn to travel to Moscow
to handle the press contacts and the dealings with foreign officials. He
managed to get parliamentarians, embassy people, human-rights people,
media people and many others interested in the case and be present in the
courtroom.
Paul says: "The week was one of whirlwind activity. When asked:
'Have you been to the Moscow Circus?' I could say 'Yes, I have been to the
trial!' Background: In 1997, a law on "freedom of conscience and religion"
(meaning the opposite) was passed. It was engineered by the Orthodox
Church and had clauses in it that were directly written as weapons
against the Witnesses. Then a court case began in 1998. In 1999, the
court appointed 5 experts, of whom 4 were backing the charges against
JW's. Most of them did so by quoting each other: 'I believe so because he says
so .' - Acts 25:7.
On the Friday morning when the decision was to be made in the court, the
morning worship at the Society's house in Moscow concluded with a prayer
in which the Russian brother was quite blunt about what he wished Jehovah
to do: 'Let the prosecution say words that will come out as nonsense.'
Jehovah must have heard the prayer. One of the expert witnesses said:
'If all in Russia were JW's, all would just sit around loving one another, and
who would then go out and defend Russia?' This was not even taken up by
the judge.
Another expert witness began by using derogatory names about JW's, calling
them a dangerous cult and so on. The female judge immediately stopped her
and said: 'JW's are recognized as a known religion, and I will not have
them referred to as a sect or anything else in this courtroom. Will you
please restate your entire testimony using different language.'
Another expert claimed: 'Everybody knows that the name of Jehovah is not
to be found anywhere in the Bible.' Then Bibles were handed out to the
lawyers and the judge, and for 45 minutes the defense was able to show
one place after another in which Jehovah's name appears in the Russian
Bible, including the Makarios translation.
A pile of literature was present in the courtroom, since one of the key
questions was whether our literature contains divisive and subversive
material. Much of the time went with loud reading of portions from our
literature. For example from the 'Family book.' When parts were read
out, many would nod their heads and say that this was good stuff. At one
point, the judge asked the expert witnesses if they knew about the good
points made in the books. They had to say yes. Why had they not
mentioned that to the court, then? Well, they thought 'there was no time'
for it at the court hearings.
An expert, Mr. Nabulsin, tried with sweet words to say that he liked the
Witnesses and that they were good people, but their organization was bad.
The judge asked: "How can an organization be bad if it only consists of
people who are good?" Well, when he read in their literature how they
attacked his church, he 'felt insulted.' Our lawyers, however, had found
this man's own writings from the last few years. They read out portions
that were filled with anti-semitic, nationalistic, racist stuff. The judge
asked: "Did you write this?" He answered: "Yes, let them read on .
I am enjoying this."
The 5th expert witness, Ivanenko, gave a very fine witness, though being
a non-Witness. He explained how each Witness has a personal relationship
with Jehovah and acts on his own initiative. Many of the other Witnesses
turned out to be "Balaam's asses," unwillingly telling the truth. An
apostate brought many books that he wanted to read from. But the judge
only wanted him to tell about his own experiences as a JW. So he had to
explain why he became a JW, that no one forced him, that he was a Witness
for a number of years, that he himself decided how much money he wanted
to donate and how much time he would spend in the ministry, etc. Now he
gets paid by church groups to go out and speak against JW's.
One of these experts was asked for specific reasons why he believed JW's
were guilty of the 5 points that they were accused of. The prosecutor said
that she would deal with that matter in her final summary. The judge did
not accept that but wanted to hear what this person could say on the 5
points. He could not say anything definite, and the prosecutor quickly
dismissed him when she saw that he was making a bad impression.
One witness, an ex-boxer, is a Witness who has been disfellowshipped and
is now reinstated. He gave many good reasons for the practice we follow.
"You can't fool God," as he said.
Our defense attorney, Galina Krilova, argued masterfully. On the question
of Armageddon she said that this is a joyful hope for Christians, and
referred to Revelation 21:3, 4. She also used some revealing comparisons
between JW's and the Russian Orthodox Church, i.e. on the question of
immorality. Both JW's and the Church preach that immorality is wrong, but
only JW's practice what they preach.
A faithful brother who has spent many years in prison - first during the
Second World War and later in Siberia - was asked by the prosecution:
"Did you fight for Mother Russia during the Great War for the
Fatherland?" - "No," he answered. - "Millions were dying for Mother
Russia, and you were not even fighting?" - He replied: "No, because I
was living in Rumania at that time." There was laughter.
The prosecution's material was taken straight from web-sites of the
apostates. The prosecutor just read some of it aloud; if asked what it
meant, she probably wouldn't have understood it.
Our lawyer from America, John Burns, gave a strong defense. At one point
a Witness claimed that JW's are banned in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden,
France and other countries. John Burns jumped up and shouted, "That's a
lie!" He sat down and quietly said to a brother next to him: "Don't
worry, I've got to jump up and shout once in a while, otherwise they
won't respect us." In the end, Brother Burns gave a forceful summary. He
quoted Acts 5:30, 31: "Leave these people alone or you may find yourselves
fighting against God." When read from the Russian Bible, this comes out
even more strongly, because it says: "Back off!"
When the judge retired to her chambers prior to her decision, nobody was
able to tell what the decision would be. Her body language did not tell
anything. Logics, justice, and fairness left no doubts, but who can tell
in Russia what a verdict will be when things like justice do not count?
While waiting in the corridor, a lawyer went up to our Public Affairs
brother from Russia and said to him: "Are you praying to your God right
now?" - The brother said: "Of course I am, and I can assure you that
millions of my brothers are doing the same." The lawyer replied: "Well,
then we will just have to see which side God is on!" The answer soon
came. But up till the very last minute, the outcome was uncertain.
When the judge came out, she just briefly said: 'The prosecution's
charges have been rejected on all counts. The prosecution will pay the
costs.' There was a moment's silence, then the brothers in the corridors
started to cry out: "We have won!" The happiness was tremendous. The
visiting brothers got progressively covered in lipstick.
Additionally, February 23rd was the birthday of Patriarch Alexei. His
various dealings as a KGB agent etc. are mentioned in Awake! of April
22, 2001. This victory was quite a birthday present for him.
It must be remembered, though, that although we have won this case, the
prosecution is going to appeal the decision. And even if we win again,
we may face many other court cases. There is still the reregistration
issue, the situation in Georgia, and many other issues.
But in any case, Jehovah obviously wants more work to be done in Russia.
There must still be many more people to get into the Truth. A battle is
won, but the war is not over.
Isaiah 54:17: "No weapon."
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MORE INFORMATION ON THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA PERSECUTION ON JW's
For Immediate Release
March 8, 2001
http://www.jw-media.org/releases/010308.htm
Orthodox priests lead mob attacks on Jehovah's Witnesses while police
refuse to intervene:
TBILISI, GEORGIA-On March 6, four Orthodox priests led a mob of about
150 men on a violent rampage against Jehovah's Witnesses in the city of
Sachkhere, western Georgia.
According to Alexi Ichkitidze, one of Jehovah's Witnesses living in
Sachkhere, "A mob led by the priest Avto Tshabadze and fellow priest
Bartholomew of the Chorvila parish, invaded my home. They viciously
assaulted me and a visiting friend, Savle Gotsadze. Then they savagely
beat my wife, Nana."
The mob then targeted an adjacent apartment on the same property, where
religious meetings are held. They broke in through a window, looted the
premises and burned the religious literature from the apartment.
The priest-led mob went on a rampage through the city. They found a
local Witness at his workplace and beat him. Witness passengers in a car
were able to escape on foot as the mob damaged and looted the vehicle.
This is the second day of such attacks by the same four Orthodox priests
with Avto Tshabadze in the lead.
Yesterday, on March 5, they led a mob of about 20 men
in an attack on Jehovah's Witnesses meeting on private
property. Four Witnesses were physically assaulted on that occasion.
Alerted to these attacks, the mayor and local police refused to
intervene. Armiran Macharashvil, the local deputy police chief, and
A. Tsutskiridze, the local prosecutor, threatened that there would be
further attacks. Even though this and similar recent attacks on
Jehovah's Witnesses were brought to the attention of the authorities, no
one has been arrested for viciously assaulting members of this religious
group.
On February 22, the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that Jehovah's
Witnesses are not banned in Georgia and are entitled to the
constitutional right to hold religious services and import their
literature.
Contact in Republic of Georgia:
Telephone: 995 (32) 76 23 59; Fax: 995 (32) 76 95 98
Contact in the United States: J. R. Brown: Telephone: (718) 560-5600