The case against Jehovah's Witnesses as an "extremist organization" in the Orenburg region

May 5, 2012 The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Orenburg region announced the initiation of a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (inciting hatred or enmity) on the fact of the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses in Orenburg and Orenburg region.

According to investigators, from 1994 to the present during public sermons Witnesses made statements " aimed at inciting hatred and enmity, as well as humiliating human dignity and groups of persons on the grounds of their attitude to religion . "In addition, they distributed Literature " containing signs of extremism " is considered in the TFR.

During the course of the investigation, 15 searches were reportedly carried out, including during which the literature was withdrawn.

As a reminder, we consider the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses and the banning of their texts for extremism is unlawful and we perceive it as religious discrimination.

Sources

• In the Orenburg region, a criminal case was opened on the fact of the activities of the extremist religious organization "Jehovah's Witnesses" // Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. 2012. May 5.