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Jehovah's Witnesses Denied Registration In Karabakh

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  • Jehovah's Witnesses Denied Registration In Karabakh

    JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES DENIED REGISTRATION IN KARABAKH
    Lusine Musayelian

    Armenialiberty.org
    http://www.azatutyu n.am/content/article/1789989.html
    July 31 2009

    Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh have refused to allow Jehovah's
    Witnesses and another non-traditional religious group to legally
    operate in the self-proclaimed republic, citing their "methods of
    psychological influence" on the population.

    A new law adopted by the Karabakh parliament recently obligated all
    religious denominations to re-register with a government department on
    religious affairs and ethnic minorities within a six-month period. All
    but two faiths active in Karabakh have already been granted such
    registration.

    Ashot Sargsian, head of the department, told RFE/RL on Friday
    that activities of Jehovah's Witnesses and the other group, called
    Rebirth of Fire, were effectively banned on the basis of a "negative
    expert conclusion." "It is mainly conditioned by the fact that those
    religious organizations operate in Artsakh in violation of our laws,"
    Sargsian said, citing their "proselytism" and "methods of psychological
    influence."

    Artur Ispirian, a Yerevan-based lawyer for Jehovah's Witnesses,
    dismissed the explanation, saying that the Karabakh law does not define
    the term "proselytism." Levon Sardarian, a local Fire of Rebirth
    leader, likewise denounced the government claims as "unfounded" and
    "ludicrous." He said no Karabakh official has ever attended religious
    services held by his sect.

    Both Ispirian and Sardarian said the registration ban will be
    challenged in court. They also made clear that their religious
    organizations will not cease their activities in Karabakh in any case.

    "Will certainly continue to operate," Sardarian told RFE/RL. "We are
    ready for any persecution."

    Sargsian warned, however, both cults against any engaging in any
    "illegal activities." "I'm sure the state would take strict sanctions,"
    he said. "First of all because, we have martial law in place."

    Jehovah's Witnesses has long been at odds with the authorities in
    both Karabakh and Armenia because of its perceived threat to the
    quasi-official Armenian Apostolic Church and strong opposition to
    compulsory military service. Dozens of its young male members have
    consciously gone to jail to avoid the two-year service.

    The imprisonments have continued even after Armenia enacted a law
    on alternative service in June 2004 under pressure from the Council
    of Europe. The Armenian government legalized Jehovah's Witnesses in
    October 2004.
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