WTS in trouble in Denmark
by zed is dead 36 Replies latest jw friends
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zed is dead
Jehovah’s Witnesses under fire
25. jul. 2013 13.26 English
At the recent summer conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Silkeborg and Herlufmagle, speakers likened lapsed members to a deadly virus, snakes and contaminated soil that should not be mixed with clean soil.
The rhetoric was so strong that the movement may have breached article 266b of the Danish Criminal Code, under which “a ny person who publicly or with the intention of dissemination to a wide circle of people makes a statement or imparts other information threatening, insulting or degrading a group of persons on account of their race, colour, national or ethnic origin, belief or sexual orientation shall be liable to a fine, simple detention or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years” .
Overstepping the markThis is the conclusion of lawyer Niels-Erik Hansen, head of the Documentation and Advisory Centre on Racial Discrimination (DRC), after having read excerpts from the sermons delivered at the summer conventions, reports Danish newspaperKristeligt Dagblad.
“The speeches clearly overstep the mark. When someone compares another group to deadly diseases and snakes, we’ve moved into the core area of the anti-discrimination article,” said Hansen.
Harsh attitude towards defectors“The speeches are the same type of rhetoric that we heard against the Jews in Europe in the 1930s. This is precisely what the anti-discrimination article was introduced to restrain,” said Hansen.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for having a harsh attitude towards those who choose to leave the movement. Among other things, many defectors find that existing members refuse to have any contact with them.
Nevertheless, Poul Dal, chairman of the Support Group for Former Jehovah’s Witnesses, believes the language used at the summer conventions represents a stepping up in rhetoric.
Could be reported“The rhetoric has become more intense in recent years, when they have begun to use terms such as ‘mental illness’ and ‘Satan’s workers’ in relation to former members who now oppose the religious community,” said Dal.
The support group is now considering reporting Jehovah’s Witnesses to the police for violating the anti-discrimination article.
Carit Stypinsky, a spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses, denies that the summer conventions’ sermons and denunciations of former members are in breach of Danish laws. -
Lied2NoMore
Yea!
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Gayle
The exJWs are very proactive in Denmark and Norway. Such laws are more advanced in these countries than in U.S.
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rip van winkle
Perhaps they are purposely inciting in order to be 'persecuted' where there are laws against this type of speech.
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Amelia Ashton
I have thought that for a while Rip.
There has to be persecution to prove they are "the true vine".
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Mum
They lambast us, but we are "persecuting" them? That argument is so weak it can't stand up. Is that any way to talk about the "mentally diseased" anyway. Don't the mentally ill have some protection under the law?
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rebel8
deadly virus, snakes and contaminated soil that should not be mixed with clean soil
srsly, that makes them sound like the Westboro people.
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DATA-DOG
Awesome! If they are trying to drum up persecution, it will eventually backfire. It aint 1920 anymore. The internet exists....
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Billy the Ex-Bethelite
Interesting. Yet another reason to love the Danish!