The U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Religious Freedom issued a statement that bothered me. While I agree with religious freedom, I don’t agree if that freedom is used to impose upon the rights and civil liberties of someone else.
As a former Jehovah’s Witness, I’ve experienced harassment and discrimination myself. You’d think they could find the grace not to shun a victim.
I’m going to respond inline with each paragraph of the release follow by my own:
As members of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, we note with grave concern the increased repression of Jehovah’s Witnesses in a number of countries. We uphold the right of Jehovah’s Witnesses to practice their religion and their beliefs and their ability to adhere to being apolitical and pacifist without fear, harassment, discrimination, or persecution.
As citizens of the United States, we wonder what concern you have for the oppression of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses in this country. We believe in the right of Jehovah’s Witnesses to practice their religion and their beliefs and their ability to adhere to being apolitical and pacifist without fear, harassment, discrimination, or persecution. Who will uphold our right to practice a different religion and other beliefs and our ability to be political and police and military without fear, harassment, discrimination, or persecution?
In countries around the world, governments investigate, detain, arrest, and imprison Jehovah’s Witnesses on account of their religious beliefs. They are falsely designated as “extremist.” Officials conduct home raids against Jehovah’s Witnesses, place them in prolonged pre-trial detention and require excessive prison sentences due to their religious practices and beliefs, and deny citizenship under domestic law. They also are subjected to violence and discrimination.
In the United States, by the Watchtower governing body, elders investigate, question, hold judicial committees, and shun or disfellowship Jehovah’s Witnesses on account of changing their religious beliefs. They are correctly designated as “extremist.” (Acts 26:9) Elders conduct home visits against suspect Jehovah’s Witnesses, place them in scenarios of prolonged shunning and require excessive family limitations due to their change in religious practices or beliefs, and basic deny rights of citizenship under domestic law. They also are subjected to violence and discrimination.
We affirm that the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) includes the ability to conscientiously object to military service. We note that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides that parties may not derogate from their obligations with respect to Article 18 in times of public emergency which threatens the life of a nation. States should not, therefore, discriminate against individuals based on their religious beliefs when considering conscientious objection from military service.
We affirm that the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) includes the ability to conscientiously object to military service as much as we affirm the same right and freedom to serve. We note that according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Article 14, even “Children have the right to think and believe what they want and to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights. Parents should guide children on these matters.” Jehovah’s Witnesses should not, therefore, discriminate against individuals based on their religious beliefs when considering military service, political activity, or other religious beliefs.
We call upon all states to, where applicable:
We call upon the United States to, where applicable:
- Immediately release all Jehovah’s Witnesses jailed for exercising their religious beliefs, including charges for their religious expression, activities, and conscientious objection to military service.
Immediately release all ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses from discrimination for exercising their own beliefs—including for their religious expression of their personal beliefs, other religious activities, military service, and political activity.
- Immediately end the torture and physical abuse of Jehovah’s Witnesses in detention.
Immediately end the emotional torture and the physical impacts from the abuse of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses in oppression.
- Immediately end home raids against Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Immediately end the Watchtower’s home & work visits of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- Immediately address harassment of and discrimination against of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Immediately address harassment of and discrimination against of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- Immediately eliminate any discrimination against Jehovah’s Witnesses in decisions with respect to citizenship and/or issuance of national identification documents.
Immediately eliminate any discrimination against ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses in decisions with respect to children in the issue of divorce and custody cases.
- Create space for conscientious objection through non-military alternative civilian service.
Create space for non-conscientious objectors, voters, and politicians.
- Allow Jehovah’s Witnesses access to their religious literature and equal access to legal registration for religion or belief groups.
Allow ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses equal access to legal registration and rights for religion or belief groups.
- Desist from targeting Jehovah’s Witnesses with ‘anti-extremism’ laws and forced conscription.
Desist from allowing targeting of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses with ‘extremism’ tactics and other cult methods of coercive control.
- Review current “anti-extremism” legislation that severely limits or prohibits all activities of Jehovah organizations.
Consider “anti-extremism” legislation that severely limits or prohibits all activities of Jehovah’s organization that infringe upon the civil rights and liberties of ex-Jehovah’s witnesses and other citizens.
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