Raids at seven buildings in abuse case involving Jehovah’s Witnesses
Photo – ABC30 Action News -Search for Child Sexual Abuse Documents – January 2022. Fresno County sheriff’s detectives raid Kingdoms Halls in Kingsburg and Clovis, California, USA Originally published in Dutch by NOS nieuws on December 6, 2018. Last month, the police raided seven buildings as part of the investigation into sexual abuse within Jehovah’s […]
Abuse at Jehovah’s: ‘They treat us, the victims, as perpetrators’
Originally published in Dutch by NOS nieuws on August 16, 2018. Thirty years ago, Hadassah Wiersma first reported sexual abuse against family members. Her uncle and aunt, who are members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, were never prosecuted because there was insufficient evidence. A few years later she tried again, but again without success. Now Wiersma is more […]
Public Prosecution Service is investigating Jehovah’s abuse
Originally published in Dutch by NOS nieuws on August 16, 2018. The Public Prosecution Service is investigating nine cases of sexual violence within the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Minister Dekker of Legal Protection reports in a letter to the House of Representatives. The investigation focuses on the specific reports that have been made and therefore not on […]
Jehovah’s Witnesses: ‘no objection’ to reports of abuse
Originally published in Dutch by NOS nieuws on August 16, 2018. The Jehovah’s Witnesses denomination has “no objection whatsoever” to the fact that sexual abuse has been reported within the religious community. A spokesperson said this in response to the news that the Public Prosecution Service is investigating nine cases of sexual violence within the […]
Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to assist justice in child abuse case
Photo – nola.com – September 2022 Originally published in Dutch by NOS nieuws on August 3, 2018. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have refused to cooperate with the Public Prosecution Service in a lawsuit against a suspect of child abuse. The suspect is a Jehovah Witness. The Public Prosecution Service demanded a document containing a confession from […]
The entire House of Representatives wants an investigation into the abuse of Jehovah’s witnesses
Originally published in Dutch by NOS nieuws on July 3, 2018. All political parties in the House of Representatives want the government to investigate sexual abuse in the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is because the board of the religious group refuses to cooperate. The Chamber suspects that due to the closed culture of the […]
Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves do not really open their doors
Originally published in Dutch by NOS nieuws on June 23, 2018. The door of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is wide open this weekend. The community’s annual conference started Friday and both members and non-members are welcome. A big contrast with how Jehovah’s Witnesses normally interact with the outside world. Yes, they come to your door to […]
Minister’s disappointment after rejection of abuse investigation by Jehovah’s Witnesses
Originally published in Dutch by NOS nieuws on May 22, 2018. Minister Dekker for Legal Protection is disappointed that the board of the Jehovah’s Witnesses refuses to conduct an independent investigation after allegations of child abuse. In a letter to the House, the minister writes that the board has informed him that it sees no […]
Abused Jehovah’s Witnesses do not feel heard
Originally published in Dutch by NOS nieuws on May 2, 2018. Victims of abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the board of the denomination does not take them seriously. In an open letter they write that they have still not been invited, even though the board had already promised in November to enter into discussions […]