Germany-Trial Over Abuse Among Jehovah's Witnesses. At least two boys were raped...

by AndersonsInfo 9 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

  • AndersonsInfo
    AndersonsInfo

    Trial Over Abuse Among Jehovah’s Witnesses

    At least two boys were raped in the beliefs community at Greifwald

    By Cornelia Meerkatz

    May 10, 2016

    Greifswald. Abuse trial before the Greifswald District Court: It’s alleged that a now 53 year old man from the Hanseatic city in 2005 during religious ceremonies at the Greifswald Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses molested two children, both boys. One of the boys at the material time was twelve, and abused twice by the defendant. The other boy in 2005 was over 14 years old but not yet of age. The spokesman for the prosecutor of Stralsund, Martin Cloppenburg, confirmed the charges. The trial starts Tuesday. Quoted is a day of the trial.

    According to the central office for information besides this one case there are far more cases of abuse among Jehovah's Witnesses. It has been stated that there have been at least 20 assaults. However, up until beginning with the two young men, who are now in their early and middle 20’s none of the victims have yet spoken up or given evidence.

    A person knowledgeable of Jehovah's Witnesses in regard to the intimidation of victims or potential witnesses may be testifying in court. "Child abuse must be severely punished, because is in our Bible that we are to protect our children and to take care of them," said members of the religious community in contrast to the office of information.

    Original Article In German: http://www.ostsee-zeitung.de/…/Missbrauch-bei-Zeugen-Jehova…

    Info about Greifswald in northeastern Germany https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greifswald

    Rough translation by google

    In der Glaubensgemeinschaft in Greifswald sollen mindestens zwei Jungen genötigt worden sein.
  • wifibandit
    wifibandit
  • LevelThePlayingField
    LevelThePlayingField
    Well, I hope they get every thing that's coming to them.
  • joe134cd
    joe134cd

    You have just got to wonder how big this is going to get. How long will it before the R&F have to face the fact that Wt policies regarding sex abuse were flawed

  • zeb
    zeb

    Perhaps when the worlds police forces start kicking in doors to search for paedophile computer files. Then it will be "No one told us; What! ...brother and sister blogs but they are so ...'spiritual."

  • vivalavida
    vivalavida

    In the kingdom hall and during a meeting!!! Wow sometimes it's hard to grasp what these predators are willing to do to engage in their attacks. What annoys me is that he will get only 1 year and 2 months prison time. It's unbelievable that if it's tax evasion or some hacking of some company's data then the prison times are much longer. This world is upside down, really!

    vlv

  • crazy_flickering_light
    crazy_flickering_light
    It's maybe is a wrong information that it happens at the hall. There is some discussion about this fact.
  • AndersonsInfo
    AndersonsInfo
    SEX ABUSE: JEHOVAH’S WITNESS SENTENCED, His victim was only eleven; May 10, 2016 http://www.nordkurier.de/anklam/sexueller-missbrauch-zeuge-jehovas-verurteilt-1022473505.html
    The district court for Greifswald (northeaster Germany) has condemned a man for the sexual abuse of a child to one year and two months probation and a fine of 900 euros. Thus, the Court largely followed the request of the prosecutors. The defendant had given a fully comprehensive confession and so spared the victim from having to testify in court, according to Judge Wittke. He show recognizable remorse and did not commit any further offenses since 2005.

    The Greifswalder confessed to having carried out sex acts in 2005 against eleven boys in two cases. The boys had come to think of him as a "fatherly friend" that "was all too close," the accused said. He regrets these acts and has claimed to have apologized to the family.

    Other allegations

    A then 14-year-old boy, kept money for satisfying him orally. The defendant was acquitted of this charge, since it alone remained as an issue at trial and at the time of the act was not criminal.

    The Baltic newspaper had earlier reported that the man was said to have abused the boy during "Jehovah religious ceremonies in Greifswald Kingdom Hall.” The defense attorney and judge Daniel Wittke expressed surprise at this. "I did not see that in the file," said Wittke.

    The 53-year-old testified that he had begun long-term therapy after the incidents. He was abused as a child by his own father and his brother. He discussed staying away from children with a therapist. He did not feel attracted any more to children.

    Witnesses responded late

    The defendant was a member of Jehovah's Witnesses. About a year after the abuses he had turned to the "elders" and confessed to the deeds. They did not react until years later and expelling him from their community in 2012.

    He was not allowed to attebd the church in Greifswald, so as not to meet his victims. Moreover, it is part of his sentence, that the parishioners are not to talk to him.
    Sein Opfer war erst elf: Sexueller Missbrauch: Zeuge Jehovas verurteilt | Nordkurier.de
  • zeb
    zeb
    "...They did not react until years later and ..." unquote. This wretched case might have had a better ending if it hadn't been for the wts blind eye policy on child abuse.
  • sowhatnow
    sowhatnow

    how simple things would have been for the wt society [or any religious org] if they simply would not get involved in such abuses, instead encouraging victims and families to go to authorities, and then simply DF the offenders period.

    wash their hands of it more or less.

    none of this coming back to god and being forgiven rubbish.

    if a jw is raped ,robbed, or attacked, they are told to go to police, but if its by a admitted Jw do they?

    probably yes, so whats the difference when it comes to child abuse?

    if not then they think they are like the Vatican, and have their own laws.

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