Orthodox Christians protest against the construction of a lecture hall for Jehovah's Witnesses

A rally was held in Inta (Komi Republic) against the construction of a lecture hall for Jehovah's Witnesses in the city. The participants of the rally were Orthodox believers. Clerics of the Syktyvkar diocese believe that the presence of the lecture hall will lead to the fact that representatives of Jehovah's Witnesses from other regions will come to Inta, and already now there are about five hundred members of this religious organization in the city.

The representative of the diocese, Fr. Philip told REGNUM news agency: "According to the Orthodox canons, Jehovah's Witnesses are nothing but a sect. Therefore, with the support of the Inta city authorities, we must at all costs prevent the construction of a lecture hall."

Until now, Jehovah's Witnesses have rented a room in one of the city's clubs.

Meanwhile, as follows from the publication in the AiF-Komi newspaper for June 5, participants in public hearings on the opening of a prayer house (as the article, apparently, refers to a lecture hall. - Ed) "Witnesses " , despite the objections of the Orthodox, they approved this idea. Vladimir Lavrov, chairman of the city council, commented on the situation: “Usually, public hearings are held in open mode, but these, in my opinion, were held incorrectly. The community did not invite many interested persons, including from the leadership and the city council. Therefore, it turned out that the majority at the hearings were the sect members themselves."

The newspaper writes that, “according to Lavrov, the Jehovah's Witnesses are asking to let them rent several apartments from the municipal housing stock. This issue was considered at the city housing commission, but was rejected.

So far, there has been no talk of leasing non-residential premises to Jehovah's Witnesses; the city council has not considered the request of the sectarians."

Sources

• Orthodox Komi held a rally against Jehovah's Witnesses // IA REGNUM. 2005. May 31.
• "AiF-Komi": "Jehovists were denied a home" // Interfax. 2005. June 5.