‘OUR RELIGION ISN’T A THREAT TO GOVT’

MANZINI – Local Jehovah’s Witnesses followers have written a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, explaining that their religion poses no threat to government.

According to thestar.com website, on April 20, 2017, Russia’s Supreme Court banned Jehovah’s Witnesses from operating anywhere in the country, accepting a request from the Justice Ministry that the religious organisation be considered an extremist group. An extremist is a group or person who advocates or resorts to measures beyond the norm, especially in politics.

Russia’s Justice Ministry’s Attorney Svetlana Borisova, was quoted as saying, Jehovah’s Witnesses posed a threat to the rights of the citizens, public order and public security, and she further said their opposition to blood transfusions violated Russian health care laws. 
Phumlani Mhlanga, an elder at Jehovah’s Witnesses, said the stance by the Supreme Court would not affect any other region except the Russians.

However, local followers are in full support of their members in that country as they have written a letter along with countries around the world to President Putin explaining that their religion aimed at working peacefully with their governments.

Mhlanga clarified that the only headquarters that was shutdown was that of Russia, as their other headquarters were based in the United States of America. He said they too were waiting for the decision on the appeal.
According to the website, the Supreme Court ordered the closure of the group’s Russian headquarters and its 395 local chapters as well as the seizure of their property.

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