Posts by jwleaks

Arguments over the structure of the JW religion in relation to legal entities and theocratic entities. The Ministry of Justice does not fall into the trap from JW lawyers who are trying to confuse the issue. The Ministry explains they are considered the same. (Good answer)

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RUSSIA: (6 April 2017) Day 2 - Jehovah's Witnesses hearing under way

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

tighter security today and much greater police presence.

great weather.. .

lunchtime view over moscow.. .

jwleaks

I get the impression that the JW lawyers have just presented an argument that explains that the JW head office has taken measures to prevent extremist activity because they warned the congregations about the list of extremist publications and that there were Watchtower and JW literature on it.

25

RUSSIA: (6 April 2017) Day 2 - Jehovah's Witnesses hearing under way

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

tighter security today and much greater police presence.

great weather.. .

lunchtime view over moscow.. .

jwleaks

Judge has deferred the decision on the admissability of documents relating to blood issues and blood related court cases.

25

RUSSIA: (6 April 2017) Day 2 - Jehovah's Witnesses hearing under way

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

tighter security today and much greater police presence.

great weather.. .

lunchtime view over moscow.. .

jwleaks

JWs allowed to present their case in defense and to put questions towards the Ministry of Justice.

JWs try to distance themselves from the blood prohibition by claiming the cited cases make no reverence to JWs. They then argue thst the patients decisions on treatment were personal.

JW lawyers argue that there is no 'legal' evidence that the literature of JWs influences people in their decisions. (This appears to be an attempt to show the banned publications did not cause anyone to follow the contents and therefore there can be no one that broke the law.)

25

RUSSIA: (6 April 2017) Day 2 - Jehovah's Witnesses hearing under way

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

tighter security today and much greater police presence.

great weather.. .

lunchtime view over moscow.. .

jwleaks

Claim made that JWs violate the rights of Russian citizens.

Court asks what sort of right violated.

Ministry of Justice explains medical rights. (NOTE: What was not discussed was changes to Russia's law last year that made it an offence to discourage individuals from receiving medical treatment. As this law exists the claim of potential 'rights violated' has basis under law.)

Judge asks if banning JWs will cause those who ignore ban to commit offences.

Ministry of Justice replies only for those who break the law.

Discussion on the list of banned publications. Judge wants to know who reviews the list. (NOTE: Article 13 of Federal law no. 114-FZ and par. 7 of the Regulations of the Ministry of Justice assign the ministry the functions of maintaining, publishing of the Federal list of extremist material which lists JW literature.)

25

RUSSIA: (6 April 2017) Day 2 - Jehovah's Witnesses hearing under way

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

tighter security today and much greater police presence.

great weather.. .

lunchtime view over moscow.. .

jwleaks

The Ministry of Justice has asked tbe Supreme Court to liquidate all organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses, remove them from the register of legal entities and ban their activities.

A further request is for the seizure and confiscation of JWs property and that the court's decision be executed immediately.

This was followed by ten minutes of questions by the judge about the relationship between congregations and the JW headquarters, their involvement with each other, and whether the proceedings apply to the defendants only or all JW entities.

25

RUSSIA: (6 April 2017) Day 2 - Jehovah's Witnesses hearing under way

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

tighter security today and much greater police presence.

great weather.. .

lunchtime view over moscow.. .

jwleaks

Lawyers for the JWs present material that they claim may indicate political motives for the alleged persecution of JWs. However the documents are all from foreign organizations that have not investigated both sides, such as the UN, OSCE, official statements of human rights organizations, as well as archival documents.

Borisov, from the Ministry of Justice, explaining the arguments that justify the necessity of banning all organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. Borisov is listing the decisions of the courts against the local religious organizations of JWs.

48

RUSSIA: (5 April 2017) Jehovah's Witnesses hearing under way

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

the trial has begun.

the crowd on the street (see photo) is now inside and the gallery is packed.. yesterday jehovah's witnesses presented a written legal argument - "objections to the administrative claim of the ministry of justice of the russian federation" - to the supreme court of russia which, in paragraph 254, argued that if the ministry for justice liquidates and bans the activities of jehovah's witnesses then this will force individual members to renounce or abandon their religion for fear of persecution.. download legal argument (russian).

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