Posts by Corney

10

Any more info on DARKSPILVER'S case?

by The Fall Guy in

according to the latest info i could find, his i.d.

has to be revealed to the wtbts's lawyer.

lol - they'll keep his identity secret from the watchtower imams - not!.

Corney

Darkspilver didn't claim to be a "devout" JW. His declaration states: "My parents raised me as a Jehovah’s Witness, and I have been a member of that community my whole life. Many of my friends and family members today are active Jehovah’s Witnesses. I still consider myself a practicing Jehovah’s Witness, but like people of many faiths, there are aspects of the organization’s teachings and practices that I have issues with."

My English isn't perfect but I think "devout" and "practicing" aren't one and the same. And I see no reasons to question Darkspilver's sincerity and to think he had any hidden agenda. Maybe he didn't "condemn" the org and didn't preach the choir, but he posted valuable information (sometimes overlooked by others) that often made WTS look unfavorably. Also, assuming he had the purpose to "expose & disrupt" dissenters and spent five years doing this - is there a single person harmed by Darkspilver?

Finally, do I correctly understand you - do you think or assume that the purpose of Darkspilver's attempts to quash the subpoena is to chill dissenters?

10

Any more info on DARKSPILVER'S case?

by The Fall Guy in

according to the latest info i could find, his i.d.

has to be revealed to the wtbts's lawyer.

lol - they'll keep his identity secret from the watchtower imams - not!.

Corney

EFF filed motion for reconsideration, and all the paperwork is over. The hearing date is still unknown.

Case docket and documents: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/8509534/in-re-dmca-subpoena-to-reddit-inc/

a serving UK Bethelite

https://youtu.be/eKQOk5UlQSc

45

China Crisis | 18 members of Jehovah's Witnesses arrested and indicted

by jwleaks in

on april 15, 2019, total of 18 jehovah's witnesses in china were arrested and charged with indictable offences relating to, "using an evil religion organization" to "incite the obstruction of law enforcement," and one charge relating to, "obstructing law enforcement by organizing and using an evil religious organization.".

since the arrests, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses have remained silent on the plight of these 18 jehovah's witnesses in china.. link to translation of indictment:.

https://jwleaks.org/2019/07/09/china-crisis-for-jehovahs-witnesses-18-members-indicted/.

Corney

It is difficult to judge who is in the first place, Russia or China.

VP Pence delivered an anti-China speech; analysts compare it to Churchill’s “iron curtain” speech of 1946.

VP Pence: "Perhaps the greatest challenge NATO will face in the coming decades is how we must all adjust to the rise of the People’s Republic of China." Newsweek: "Forget Russia, Mike Pence warns China will be one of NATO's greatest challenges in coming decades."

Washington Examiner: US Dept. of State is developing a 'new Cold War' strategy on China.

Is there something similar in respect to Russia?

I believe that the GB will not do anything about the international strategic opponents of the United States, without the orders of the State Department!

https://youtu.be/lN-Y242GOgk

I hope that someday you will be able to realize how stupid is this "explanation". Your baseless claim that the org is directed by the Gosdep isn't very different from claims that it's a spirit-directed or illuminati-directed. Just utterly ridiculous bullshit.

13

Finland: significant (nearly 1/10) reduction in number of Kingdom Halls

by Corney in

according to a recent helsingin sanomat article, there are over 200 kingdom halls in finland.

and over the last three years, 22 khs have been sold and five new halls have been built.

currently, seven khs are listed for sale and two new ones are under construction.

Corney

According to a recent Helsingin Sanomat article, there are over 200 Kingdom Halls in Finland. And over the last three years, 22 KHs have been sold and five new Halls have been built. Currently, seven KHs are listed for sale and two new ones are under construction. Finally, one Assembly Hall is also on the market.

32

READ: Watchtower's SCOTUS petition

by Corney in

on june 25, 2019 watchtower ny filed petition for a writ of certiorari in the u.s. supreme court.

the society asks to reconsider a $4 million judgment against it in a california child abuse case.

docket: https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/19-40.html .

Corney

On June 25, 2019 Watchtower NY filed petition for a writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Society asks to reconsider a $4 million judgment against it in a California child abuse case.

Docket: https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/19-40.html

Petition: https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/19/19-40/104104/20190625174601258_288149_Petition.pdf (103 pages)

The questions presented are:
1. Did California violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments when it held the former national offices of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Watchtower) responsible for the criminal act of a congregant during non-church activity?
2. Did California violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments when it ordered Watchtower to produce intra-faith communications regarding ii Bible-based religious appointment processes and thereafter punished Watchtower for protecting the privacy rights of non-parties?
3. Whether the Seventh Amendment’s guarantee of the right of trial by jury is incorporated against the States under the Fourteenth Amendment?

AFAIK, it's the first time Watchtower asks the Supreme Court of the United States to hear a child abuse case.

45

China Crisis | 18 members of Jehovah's Witnesses arrested and indicted

by jwleaks in

on april 15, 2019, total of 18 jehovah's witnesses in china were arrested and charged with indictable offences relating to, "using an evil religion organization" to "incite the obstruction of law enforcement," and one charge relating to, "obstructing law enforcement by organizing and using an evil religious organization.".

since the arrests, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses have remained silent on the plight of these 18 jehovah's witnesses in china.. link to translation of indictment:.

https://jwleaks.org/2019/07/09/china-crisis-for-jehovahs-witnesses-18-members-indicted/.

Corney

ROFLMAO

As I understand, it's your opinion that Watchtower criticize Russia not because Russian authorities have launched a war against Jehovah's Witnesses, routinely intimidate, harass, humiliate and imprison them, not because Russian cops torture them with total impunity, not because the state has robbed the org etc. etc. Watchtower does it just because of the Gosdep, right?

Also, did you spend the last two years in coma? The Trump administration considers China to be America's biggest enemy, and Trump is extremely reluctant even to criticize Russia or Putin. Another enemies are Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria; and Watchtower is virtually silent about that countries. How do you explain it?

No, I don't know exactly why Watchtower is silent in this case, and I'm not going to speculate. It doesn't make your "explanation" less ignorant and illogical.

45

China Crisis | 18 members of Jehovah's Witnesses arrested and indicted

by jwleaks in

on april 15, 2019, total of 18 jehovah's witnesses in china were arrested and charged with indictable offences relating to, "using an evil religion organization" to "incite the obstruction of law enforcement," and one charge relating to, "obstructing law enforcement by organizing and using an evil religious organization.".

since the arrests, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses have remained silent on the plight of these 18 jehovah's witnesses in china.. link to translation of indictment:.

https://jwleaks.org/2019/07/09/china-crisis-for-jehovahs-witnesses-18-members-indicted/.

Corney

DD The specific consequences are irrelevant as the JWs knew they were breaking the law.

No, they aren't irrelevant. Nulla poena sine lege. Just because a person has broken a legal rule, doesn't mean government is authorized to break the law, and its fundamental principles. The opposite contradicts the very idea of law. Or do you think that it would be OK for authorities to suddenly, arbitrarily and retroactively declare some copyright violations, say, "acts of cyberterrorism" and punish them accordingly?

DD They willingly volunteer to enter China

All the defendants are Chinese citizens born in China. Did you read the indictment?

Dmitriy So, 18 people will be guaranteed to sit, but GB is silent. Goats! Does anyone else have doubts that their priority is the US state interests?

Can you explain your "logic"? Now, when the confrontation between the US and China is escalating, and the US Government repeatedly accuses China of human rights violations, Watchtower's silence about those Witnesses proves... What does it prove? And can you provide a single fact really supporting your claim?

45

China Crisis | 18 members of Jehovah's Witnesses arrested and indicted

by jwleaks in

on april 15, 2019, total of 18 jehovah's witnesses in china were arrested and charged with indictable offences relating to, "using an evil religion organization" to "incite the obstruction of law enforcement," and one charge relating to, "obstructing law enforcement by organizing and using an evil religious organization.".

since the arrests, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses have remained silent on the plight of these 18 jehovah's witnesses in china.. link to translation of indictment:.

https://jwleaks.org/2019/07/09/china-crisis-for-jehovahs-witnesses-18-members-indicted/.

Corney

cofty,

You're right - certain expressions in my comment were inappropriate.

jwleaks,

I want to apologize to you for the offensive language in my comment. I don't retract other parts of the comment and still think you were wrong, but it doesn't excuse name-calling. I'm sorry.

yalbmert99,

Bitter Winter is one of the most informative resources about religious freedom in China. And their translation is better than ChinaAid's one.

smiddy3,

Those JWs couldn't know the consequences. Wording of Article 300 is extremely vague, and the same applies to interpretation provided by the Supreme People's Court. And JW religion never has been placed on any xie jiao list.

They knew, or should have known they could be prosecuted for administrative "offence" of violating Religious Affairs Regulations, not for "crime". That prosecution violates not only freedom of religion but also fundamental rule of law values including the well-established principle of nullum crimen, nulla poena sine lege certa (the prohibition of determining criminal offences and penalties by means of void, undefined, or unclear concepts).

45

China Crisis | 18 members of Jehovah's Witnesses arrested and indicted

by jwleaks in

on april 15, 2019, total of 18 jehovah's witnesses in china were arrested and charged with indictable offences relating to, "using an evil religion organization" to "incite the obstruction of law enforcement," and one charge relating to, "obstructing law enforcement by organizing and using an evil religious organization.".

since the arrests, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses have remained silent on the plight of these 18 jehovah's witnesses in china.. link to translation of indictment:.

https://jwleaks.org/2019/07/09/china-crisis-for-jehovahs-witnesses-18-members-indicted/.

Corney

Bitter Winter provides the better translation of the indictment.

https://bitterwinter.org/jehovahs-witnesses-in-xinjiang-how-to-become-a-xie-jiao/

45

China Crisis | 18 members of Jehovah's Witnesses arrested and indicted

by jwleaks in

on april 15, 2019, total of 18 jehovah's witnesses in china were arrested and charged with indictable offences relating to, "using an evil religion organization" to "incite the obstruction of law enforcement," and one charge relating to, "obstructing law enforcement by organizing and using an evil religious organization.".

since the arrests, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses have remained silent on the plight of these 18 jehovah's witnesses in china.. link to translation of indictment:.

https://jwleaks.org/2019/07/09/china-crisis-for-jehovahs-witnesses-18-members-indicted/.

Corney

OP, you're a freaky dishonest state terrorism apologist. Do you really believe you may demand anything?

Also, did ChinaAid Association authorize you to use its translation? And why didn't you even mention who made this translation?

Also, in fact, Mr. Christensen doesn't appear in the photo you used; the person in the center of the photo is Robert Delahaije, and you did or should know this.

Also, your claim that "Christensen came under the watch of Russian officials after he assisted Sanderson and his entourage ‘flee underground from Russia’" is totally false.

Also, your claim that Mr. Christensen was a "Watch Tower official" and "representative" is misleadingly vague, if not wrong. Why didn't you just write that he was a local elder and a COBE who lived in Russia for decades?

sir82 How much real estate does the WTS own in China? There's your answer.

How much real estate does the WTS own in Eritrea? in Uzbekistan? in Tajikistan? in Turkmenistan?

Do you understand now why your answer is not just clichéd, but also wrong?