EdenOne

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Posts by EdenOne

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  127

  PORTUGAL: Filed a petition to the parliament to erase the legal entity of the Jehovah's Witness

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  based on legal arguments that revolve around violations of several articles of the portuguese constitution, and of the law of religious freedom, a petition to the portuguese parliament has been set in motion to extinguish the legal entity that represents the jehovah's witness in portugal and remove this community from the national register of recognized religions protected by law.

  the petition does not seek to ban the jehovah's witness as a whole in the country.

  the petition denounces the institutional policy of shunning former members as a violation of basic human rights and psychological torture, and asks the portuguese legislators and judicial authorities to take action to stop this abuse, and suspend legal recognition to the branch office entity until the policies of shunning are changed.

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  EdenOne

  Update: 200 signatures
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  127

  PORTUGAL: Filed a petition to the parliament to erase the legal entity of the Jehovah's Witness

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  based on legal arguments that revolve around violations of several articles of the portuguese constitution, and of the law of religious freedom, a petition to the portuguese parliament has been set in motion to extinguish the legal entity that represents the jehovah's witness in portugal and remove this community from the national register of recognized religions protected by law.

  the petition does not seek to ban the jehovah's witness as a whole in the country.

  the petition denounces the institutional policy of shunning former members as a violation of basic human rights and psychological torture, and asks the portuguese legislators and judicial authorities to take action to stop this abuse, and suspend legal recognition to the branch office entity until the policies of shunning are changed.

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  EdenOne

  Eden I couldn't get it to Google translate for me. If you just tell me what info they ask for in what order I can do it. - Diogenesister

  They ask for (Field 1) Your name, (Field 2) An identity document number, (Field 3 - optional) Leave a comment.

  The public won't be able to see the full name of the person. The petitioner won't be able to see the ID document number. After voting you will receive an email to reconfirm that you have voted. Remember, only votes from citizens from E.U. countries count, even if you are living outside the E.U.
• 
  127

  PORTUGAL: Filed a petition to the parliament to erase the legal entity of the Jehovah's Witness

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  based on legal arguments that revolve around violations of several articles of the portuguese constitution, and of the law of religious freedom, a petition to the portuguese parliament has been set in motion to extinguish the legal entity that represents the jehovah's witness in portugal and remove this community from the national register of recognized religions protected by law.

  the petition does not seek to ban the jehovah's witness as a whole in the country.

  the petition denounces the institutional policy of shunning former members as a violation of basic human rights and psychological torture, and asks the portuguese legislators and judicial authorities to take action to stop this abuse, and suspend legal recognition to the branch office entity until the policies of shunning are changed.

  1. 
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  EdenOne

  This is the text of the press release translated to English.

  PRESS RELEASE

  SUBJECT: PUBLIC PETITION REQUESTS THE EXTINCTION OF THE "ASSOCIATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES" AND THE CANCELLATION OF ITS STATUS OF RELIGION RECOGNIZED BY THE PORTUGUESE STATE.

  Lisbon, February 9, 2018

  March 9, 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the publication in Diário da República, I Series A, No. 57/78, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; November 9, 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the Portuguese legal order of the European Convention on Human Rights. These conventions contain a number of fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of thought, opinion and expression, the freedom to have a religion or to change one's religion or belief, and not to be disturbed, discriminated against or prejudiced by that.

  In line with these conventions, the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic enshrines a number of rights, freedoms and personal guarantees, including the right to freedom of conscience, religion and worship, as well as the right to freedom of expression, association, the right to moral and physical integrity, the right not to be treated with cruelty or inhumanity, the right to a good name and not to be treated with discrimination, among others.

  It sometimes happens that the right to religious freedom conflicts with other fundamental rights of individuals. What are the limits of religious freedom? Does the freedom to practice a religion override other fundamental human rights? Can one allow everything to a religious organization in the name of religious freedom enshrined in the constitution? This is a debate that our society needs to make.

  At stake is the treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses to individuals, adults and minors, who for some reason are no longer affiliated with this religious organization. Jehovah's Witnesses have a practice of excommunication that entails the complete social ostracization of former members and hatred of dissenters of conscience; this institutionally taught and implemented practice separates families and friends, causes deep psychological damage that can, ultimately, end in suicide, coerces individuals, limits one's self-determination, destroys one's self-esteem, and harms human dignity. Should a church that advocates cruel, inhumane and law-breaking practices, and the violation of Constitutional and human rights continue to receive official recognition of the state? Can and should the state intervene to regulate this conflict and protect citizens?

  A petition was filed online to the parliament in order to request the extinction of the collective religious entity representing Jehovah's Witnesses in Portugal and to cancel their registration as a religious legal person, thus removing the status of religion officially recognized by the Portuguese State, until this practice of social ostracization is canceled definitively by the religious group and its victims relieved of the suffering they are subjected to because of it. It is very important to point out the following: It is not a matter of asking for the proscription or banishment of this religion, nor of preventing individuals who profess this faith from freely meeting or spreading their beliefs; we understand that these are peaceful rights and do not conflict with other individual rights. This petition addresses only the status of the collective religious entity that represents them, and if the violation of human and constitutional rights ceases in a satisfactory and permanent manner, we understand that Jehovah's Witnesses should once again enjoy official recognition.

  The petition can be found at the following address:

  http://peticaopublica.com/pview.aspx?pi=ExtRegistoATJ

  We are grateful for the attention and dissemination of the initiative and the promotion of the debate on this theme in society. For more information you can get the contacts of those who propose this initiative by sending a message to the email: XXXXXX

  **************

  The petition has gathered 163 votes so far. If you are voting from outside Portugal, it would be interesting to say from what EU country you are voting from and also leave a comment.
• 
  127

  PORTUGAL: Filed a petition to the parliament to erase the legal entity of the Jehovah's Witness

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  based on legal arguments that revolve around violations of several articles of the portuguese constitution, and of the law of religious freedom, a petition to the portuguese parliament has been set in motion to extinguish the legal entity that represents the jehovah's witness in portugal and remove this community from the national register of recognized religions protected by law.

  the petition does not seek to ban the jehovah's witness as a whole in the country.

  the petition denounces the institutional policy of shunning former members as a violation of basic human rights and psychological torture, and asks the portuguese legislators and judicial authorities to take action to stop this abuse, and suspend legal recognition to the branch office entity until the policies of shunning are changed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  Update: 156 signatures.

  A press release was unleashed to the portuguese news agency Lusa and all the main newspapers, TV and radio stations in Portugal. Ex-JW reddit communities in other EU countries are also promoting this petition now.
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  127

  PORTUGAL: Filed a petition to the parliament to erase the legal entity of the Jehovah's Witness

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  based on legal arguments that revolve around violations of several articles of the portuguese constitution, and of the law of religious freedom, a petition to the portuguese parliament has been set in motion to extinguish the legal entity that represents the jehovah's witness in portugal and remove this community from the national register of recognized religions protected by law.

  the petition does not seek to ban the jehovah's witness as a whole in the country.

  the petition denounces the institutional policy of shunning former members as a violation of basic human rights and psychological torture, and asks the portuguese legislators and judicial authorities to take action to stop this abuse, and suspend legal recognition to the branch office entity until the policies of shunning are changed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  Update: 141 signatures

  A journalist from the main printed newspaper in Portugal contacted me today and we spent a lengthy time discussing the petition.

  I have a press release ready for the Portuguese press and as soon as I gather all the necessary email addresses I will release it and will leave a translated copy of it here.

  If you have email addresses of other main european newspapers, namely in England, Spain, Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Ireland, where this document can be sent to, please share.
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  127

  PORTUGAL: Filed a petition to the parliament to erase the legal entity of the Jehovah's Witness

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  based on legal arguments that revolve around violations of several articles of the portuguese constitution, and of the law of religious freedom, a petition to the portuguese parliament has been set in motion to extinguish the legal entity that represents the jehovah's witness in portugal and remove this community from the national register of recognized religions protected by law.

  the petition does not seek to ban the jehovah's witness as a whole in the country.

  the petition denounces the institutional policy of shunning former members as a violation of basic human rights and psychological torture, and asks the portuguese legislators and judicial authorities to take action to stop this abuse, and suspend legal recognition to the branch office entity until the policies of shunning are changed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  Update: 138 signatures

  If you're a citizen of the E.U. and you vote for this petition please use your real name, not an alias and not an email address or else it will be void.
• 
  127

  PORTUGAL: Filed a petition to the parliament to erase the legal entity of the Jehovah's Witness

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  based on legal arguments that revolve around violations of several articles of the portuguese constitution, and of the law of religious freedom, a petition to the portuguese parliament has been set in motion to extinguish the legal entity that represents the jehovah's witness in portugal and remove this community from the national register of recognized religions protected by law.

  the petition does not seek to ban the jehovah's witness as a whole in the country.

  the petition denounces the institutional policy of shunning former members as a violation of basic human rights and psychological torture, and asks the portuguese legislators and judicial authorities to take action to stop this abuse, and suspend legal recognition to the branch office entity until the policies of shunning are changed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  121 signatures in less than 3 days.

  In a couple days I will issue a press release.

  The date of March 9th marks the 40th anniversary of the incorporation of the Declaration of Human Rights into our internal Law system. Seems to me like a suitable symbolic date to hand over the petition to the portuguese parliament.

  it would be awesome if it could be done with at least 1000 signatures.
• 
  127

  PORTUGAL: Filed a petition to the parliament to erase the legal entity of the Jehovah's Witness

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  based on legal arguments that revolve around violations of several articles of the portuguese constitution, and of the law of religious freedom, a petition to the portuguese parliament has been set in motion to extinguish the legal entity that represents the jehovah's witness in portugal and remove this community from the national register of recognized religions protected by law.

  the petition does not seek to ban the jehovah's witness as a whole in the country.

  the petition denounces the institutional policy of shunning former members as a violation of basic human rights and psychological torture, and asks the portuguese legislators and judicial authorities to take action to stop this abuse, and suspend legal recognition to the branch office entity until the policies of shunning are changed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  100 signatures so far.

  A journalist from a national online newspaper contacted me and we spoke for about one hour.
• 
  127

  PORTUGAL: Filed a petition to the parliament to erase the legal entity of the Jehovah's Witness

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  based on legal arguments that revolve around violations of several articles of the portuguese constitution, and of the law of religious freedom, a petition to the portuguese parliament has been set in motion to extinguish the legal entity that represents the jehovah's witness in portugal and remove this community from the national register of recognized religions protected by law.

  the petition does not seek to ban the jehovah's witness as a whole in the country.

  the petition denounces the institutional policy of shunning former members as a violation of basic human rights and psychological torture, and asks the portuguese legislators and judicial authorities to take action to stop this abuse, and suspend legal recognition to the branch office entity until the policies of shunning are changed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  What impact will the suspension of the legal status of the WT society have on its members? - Derearyweather

  In principle, none. The constitution ensures individuals the right to worship, gather and share their beliefs freely, so in principle this has no impact whatsoever on the rank and file lives.

  Depending on the legal situation of each Kingdom Hall (who owns it), if the deed is made to the "Associação das Testemunhas de Jeová", then it might be subject to property tax. Same thing with the bethel building in Alcabideche. And the donations received might also be considered profit and therefore taxable.

  IF .... IF things would go the best possible way, the meetings and literature might be monitored randomly by the authorities to ensure there is no hate speech against ex-members.

  84 votes so far
• 
  127

  PORTUGAL: Filed a petition to the parliament to erase the legal entity of the Jehovah's Witness

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  based on legal arguments that revolve around violations of several articles of the portuguese constitution, and of the law of religious freedom, a petition to the portuguese parliament has been set in motion to extinguish the legal entity that represents the jehovah's witness in portugal and remove this community from the national register of recognized religions protected by law.

  the petition does not seek to ban the jehovah's witness as a whole in the country.

  the petition denounces the institutional policy of shunning former members as a violation of basic human rights and psychological torture, and asks the portuguese legislators and judicial authorities to take action to stop this abuse, and suspend legal recognition to the branch office entity until the policies of shunning are changed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  73 signatures and the press is already sniffing around ...

  There are technical reasons why the request to dissolve the legal entity that represents the Jehovah's Witnesses in Portugal was necessary in order to get them to lose their legal recognition. It's the only possible legal avenue, and even so it's not a straight arrow. The reasons are too technical and specific to our legislation for me to explain here, and in a language that isn't my first language anyway.

  Again, the objective is NOT to forbid their religion (that would never happen anyway), but to curtail their legal status, so that they are forced to review their anti-constitutional shunning policies and only then they can file again for legal recognition.

  And in the meantime, there is press and public awareness ....