TD
"Countries like Russia" as I used the term would be countries who have either refused to recognize Jehovah's Witnesses and/or questioned their legitimacy as a Christian religion. I gave the example of Bulgaria. Perhaps you would like to comment on that?
Firstly, Bulgaria is a bad example because:
- it's a 20+-year-old example; JWs a recognized in Bulgaria as a religion since 1998;
- post-Communist Bulgaria didn't prosecute Witnesses for their belief;
- in 1990s, there was a campaign against "non-traditional" religions at all, including Baptists, Seventh Day Adventists as like as Orthodox and Muslim communities outside state-supported organizations. For example, "[u]p to July 25, 1994, the Council of Ministers accepted three decisions which affected 62 [religious] communities and foundations. Only 23 of them, mostly with Christian-Orthodox orientation were permitted to register and re-register. The remaining 39 communities were denied permission. These had mainly Protestant orientation, two Muslim and one Christian-Orthodox organization" (Human Rights in Bulgaria in 1994, p. 5). So, it is possible to conclude the government's decision was driven by bias against religious minorities;
- the decision refusing registration for national JW association (as like as many other religious associations) was adopted by executive branch with irregularities incompatible with the rule of law - it contained no reasons and a judicial review was not available;
- in 1990s, Bulgaria was a poor state in its first post-totalitarian years.
Second, I think governments have not power to decide whether a religion is true, truly Christian or a heresy and whether a belief is "legitimate". That's not their business.
As to mentioned problematic practices. Firstly, I cannot comment on the Bulgarian case since I'm not persuaded by your accusations. Where are complaints from the government or allegations from CoE Committee of Ministers (the body supervising execution of such settlements)? Or maybe you have knowledge about the situation in Bulgaria and enforcement of blood doctrine by national JW association?
Secondly, ok, you've mentioned these issues - we all know about them and what the org is (apart from my partial disagreement with the chosen wording), but what's next? Do they justify the discussed persecutions? Or would they justify an apartheid, concentrations camps or beheadings for JWs? If not, why do you continuously mention them in this thread?
As to allegations of hypocrisy, I don't care about them at all. It is not so difficult to accuse almost any victim of human rights violations of ethically problematic views or behavior but such accusations are irrelevant.
Finally, it is necessary not to oversimplify the question of harmful and controversial practices, not to forget about how such practices and improper influence are widespread in human society (incl. mainstream churches); about the fact that, on one hand, JWs are not zombies or slaves and can chose to obey or disobey their leaders, on other hand, there is strong pressure from the org; about difficulty of distinguishing between proper and undue influence. This is so easy to list blood doctrine, shunning etc. but it's far more harder to come to fair and reasonable practical conclusions.