This is directly from the horse's mouth. It is a rather old press release on jw-media.org. Note that the WT claims there is no change in doctrine, where the settlement language (in what we have seen translated from French) clearly shows dropping the DF over the ban on blood.
"For Immediate Release
October 8, 1998
Victory for human rights in Eastern Europe:
Christian religion sets legal precedent in Bulgaria
After years of arrests, beatings, and loss of property, Jehovah’s Witnesses have regained legal recognition in Bulgaria. They are the first religion in the country to successfully appeal to an international body in order to regain legal recognition. Dozens of religions were banned in 1994.
This legal recognition, which was received Wednesday, October 7, 1998, represents an important victory for religious freedom in the country and throughout Eastern Europe, said Lubomir Kutchoukov, spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Bulgaria. “We are grateful that appeals to international standards of human rights have led to this reasonable and peaceful conclusion,” he said. “All people of Bulgaria will benefit from this victory.”
This important legal victory came after intervention from the European Commission of Human Rights of the Council of Europe. In July 1997, the Commission suggested that the government of Bulgaria enter into a friendly settlement with Jehovah’s Witnesses. On March 8, 1998, the Commission accepted the terms of the settlement, which included the government’s promise to grant legal recognition to Jehovah’s Witnesses. As part of the settlement, Bulgaria also agreed to create a bill that will allow alternative civilian service for conscientious objectors. The terms of the agreement involved no change in the doctrine of Jehovah’s Witnesses." (emphasis mine)
Source here.
Am I reading this wrong? Isn't part of the JW doctrine that there should be NO BLOOD, and the offenders are condemned to spiritual death?
Is this an outright lie, or is it a cleverly worded legal statement?
What do you think?
-Yan