Russia refuses alternative civilian service to young Witnesses because they are ‘extremists,’ then demands that these ‘extremists’ be inducted into the army as bizarre ban hits Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 80%. (I'm a bot)

Russia's Supreme Court decision of April 20, 2017, is having a severe nationwide impact on Jehovah's Witnesses.

The officers insisted that after the Supreme Court decision, the Witnesses had no right to meet together for worship.

Since the Supreme Court decision, there have been at least five other instances where police interrupted religious services of the Witnesses, one of which was held in a private home.

Concern for the Welfare of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia In the ten years leading up to the Supreme Court decision, Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia were victims of a government-sponsored attack against their religious freedom that subjected them to much harassment.

Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide are greatly concerned about what will happen to their fellow Witnesses in Russia if the Appellate Chamber of the Supreme Court upholds the decision when it considers the case on July 17, 2017.

Mr. Brumley stated: "No one has presented any evidence that even remotely links Jehovah's Witnesses with extremism. The alleged danger that the Witnesses are accused of posing to society is in no way commensurate with the persecution they have already endured. Russia needs to rethink its actions against Jehovah's Witnesses in light of its constitution and its international agreements that guarantee religious freedom."

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