I changed it a little to follow the logical arugment path of "IRAC" Presening Issue, Rule (quote law) Analysis (of Facts and How it relates to law), Conclusion
***
Jehovah’s Witness Violate Hate Crimes Law
On September 11 th , a worldwide religious order declared that all dissenters were “mentally diseased” who sought “to infect others with their disloyal leadership.” The religion’s heirachy commanded followers to avoid contact with all dissenters at any costs by likening objectors to having a “contagious, deadly disease.” No, this did not occur in a radical Islamic sect, but within the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
On Setpember 11th, Jehovah's Witnesses came to these conclusions after presentation of the July 15, 2011 study edition of the Watchtower magazine (article enclosed). This edition also dissuaded followers from watching any TV news items in which former Witnesses are interviewed, or from visiting any websites or forums on which Witness beliefs are debated. These statements were read out at 1,533 congregations throughout the UK, to least 7.5 million followers in 107,210 congregations globally. Clearly, this is an attempt by the Watchtower to control the information that followers receive to evaluate their religious choice.
The newest claim that those who disagree with the Witnesses are “mentally diseased” stems from the Church’s internal version of the Bible, the New Word Translation. Needless to say, it is a highly offensive expression both for disaffected Witnesses and for those who suffer from genuine mental illnesses. Under current UK law, the wording of the article may even constitute a “hate crime” if it is subsequently used as license by individual members to target and intimidate any who speak out against the organisation’s leadership - a group of seven men based in New York who are known as the Governing Body.
(Quote Actual Law Here)
Jehovah’s Witnesses are well known for their friendly but persistent door-to-door preaching. What few people realize is that once you become a Jehovah’s Witness, it is impossible to leave without losing your family and friends, and now being labeled as having a contagious, deadly mental disease. You see, current Jehovah's Witnesses use shunning as an intimidation tactic.
All converts take a baptism oath that acknowledges the Watchtower represents Jehovah God on Earth. If the convert later concludes that Jehovah God does not direct the Church leadership or disagrees with any tenant(s), the objector is excommunicated, shunned and labeled as apostate. The Church leadership strongly encourages church elders, followers, and family members to severely shun the opposers. this means that followers are not allowed any contact with the apostate opposer. Business relationships are severed, families broken apart, and friendships cut-off. There are exceptions, such as between a parent and minor child and when there is very important family business. Followers who refuse to follow these orders are excommunicated themselves.
As a result, many Witnesses remain trapped in the religion for years, pretending to recognize the authority of the Watchtower for no other reason than to maintain contact with their family members. Untold numbers of “trapped” Witnesses therefore live in constant fear of having their true beliefs discovered, and being ousted from their own families. Even during weekly services, followers do not show any dissention out of fear.
The newest claim that those who disagree with the Witnesses are “mentally diseased” stems from the Church’s internal version of the Bible, the New Word Translation. Needless to say, it is a highly offensive expression both for disaffected Witnesses and for those who suffer from genuine mental illnesses. These words are taken by individual Jehovah's Witnesses as a license to target and intimidate any opposer, dissenter, or apostate who speak out against the organisation’s leadership or its beliefs. It bolsters their reasons to impose severe shunning on opposers. In my opinion, the July 15 th study edition Watchtower does violate the hate crime law because it targets and intimidates dissenters and apostates, all of whom speak out against the Jehovah’s Witness church and its leadership.
All over the Middle East, the Arab Spring is freeing people from oppression and tyranny at the hands of ruthless dictators, and yet even in developed countries such as the UK and within seemingly benign Christian religious, there are those whose lives are influenced on a daily basis by a tyrannical religion that they desperately wish to leave but are unable to, for fear of being separated from their loved ones. To add insult to injury, such ones are now being labelled as “mentally diseased” if they make the mistake of speaking out against the Church’s leadership.