Charges brought against the leader of Tobolsk Jehovah's Witnesses

In December 2013, the contents of the accusation against the leader of the Tobolsk community of Jehovah's Witnesses became known. Ilnur Ashirmametov is accused of "promoting the superiority of the dogma of Jehovah's Witnesses" in 2011-2012.

On December 13, 2013, the prosecutor's office of Tobolsk approved the indictment. conclusion on h. 1 Article. 282 of the Criminal Code (inciting hatred and enmity) and part 1 of Art. 239 Criminal Code (creation of a religious association whose activities are associated with violence against citizens or other harm to their health), initiated against the head of the Tobolsk community of Jehovah's Witnesses Ilnur Ashirmametov.

From the report of the prosecutor's office of the Tyumen region it follows that Ashirmametov still did not engage in "inciting hatred" in the hospital where he tried prevent a Jehovah's Witnesses from having a blood transfusion, but printed and distributed the literature of the Witnesses (" which propagated the superiority creeds of Jehovah's Witnesses over other religions, aroused hatred for representatives of other faiths ," the prosecutor's office said), and conducted preaching work, and also owned 35 Witness books that were seized during the search in November 2012. The episodes imputed to him refer to 2011-2012.

The materials of the case were transferred to the Tobolsk city court. As a reminder, we consider the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses to be extremism unlawful and perceive it as religious discrimination. Besides, propaganda of the superiority of one's religion over others cannot be considered a sign of extremism, since it is contrary to both the law and common sense.

Sources

• In the city of Tobolsk, the head of the religious group Jehovah's Witnesses, because of which a follower of this faith almost died, will appear before the court // Website of the prosecutor's office of the Tyumen region. 2013. December 13.