Russia Seizes 123 Jehovah’s Witnesses Properties Despite Global Outcry

The Russian government has confiscated 123 assets belonging to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, marking a sharp escalation in the Kremlin’s targeted campaign against the religious group.

The widespread property seizures, first reported by Al Jazeera, come despite repeated warnings from international human rights organizations and global legal bodies.

A Decade of Escalating Persecution

The Jehovah’s Witnesses—a Christian denomination known globally for its strict political neutrality—have faced intense state-sponsored persecution in Russia since the country officially banned their operations in 2017.

Russian authorities heavily penalize the group under the nation’s sweeping anti-extremism laws. The Kremlin officially designates the peaceful organization as an “extremist group,” putting them in the same legal category as violent terrorist networks.

However, this designation has been fiercely contested internationally. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) previously declared both the ban and the extremist label unlawful, ruling that Russia is violating fundamental rights to religious freedom.

Imprisoned for Bible Study

Since the 2017 prohibition, hundreds of believers have been arrested, subjected to home raids, and handed lengthy prison sentences.

Among those currently jailed is Anatoliy Marunov, a 72-year-old Jehovah’s Witness whose health is rapidly deteriorating behind bars.

According to updates published by the organization, a Moscow court sentenced Marunov to six and a half years in prison on July 12, 2023. His primary charge was “organizing the activities of an extremist organization.”

The state’s evidence heavily relied on audio recordings of Marunov discussing the Bible with an undercover agent from the Federal Security Service (FSB).

During his trial, Marunov maintained his innocence, defending his actions as a protected right. “My worship of Jehovah God was completely within the framework of the right granted to me by the law of our country,” Marunov stated before his incarceration.

Global Footprint, Local Crackdown

The ongoing crackdown stands in stark contrast to the group’s massive global footprint. Headquartered in New York, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have a worldwide membership of over 9 million active adherents operating across more than 190 lands.

The group is globally recognized for its door-to-door public preaching, distribution of literature, and advocacy for the Kingdom of God, which they teach is the sole solution to humanity’s crises.

As the asset seizures continue, human rights watchdogs warn that Russia’s systematic dismantling of the group’s infrastructure sets a dangerous precedent for all religious minorities in the country.