‘Jehovah’s Witnesses sue Dutch state for discrimination’

The Witnesses believe it is unfounded and therefore discriminatory that only their organization has been scrutinized, the national board told the newspaper Trouw.

Research 2020

The specific reason for the complaint revolves around a 2020 study by Utrecht University, which showed that the handling of abuse cases within Jehovah's Witnesses often left much to be desired . 

The research showed that sixty percent of abuse victims even gave the handling of abuse cases within the organization a grade of 1. The cases would always be resolved internally and this would be traumatic for the victims, according to the report.

But the Jehovah's Witnesses disagree with this conclusion and believe that the results 'indicate an opinion of the researchers rather than a scientifically substantiated position'. 

Substantive proceedings

Now they are trying to have the state convicted of discrimination through substantive proceedings, a more serious remedy. The Witnesses, among other things, disagree with the characterization of their religion as a 'closed community'. 

The fact that they are the only religious community that was investigated does not mean that there is discrimination, says special professor of law and religion Paul van Sasse van IJsselt to the Trouw newspaper. “There may be legitimate grounds for paying special attention to this, such as signals that reports are not being handled properly.”

'Quite unique'

It is unusual that a religious organization is suing the Dutch state. Van Sasse van IJsselt calls it 'fairly unique', the newspaper writes. 

But it happens more often in Europe and the Jehovah's Witnesses have also litigated against government interference before the European Court. And they were often right. 

The substantive hearing of the complaint has already taken place and the decision of the court in The Hague will follow next Wednesday, December 13.