Minister Dekker disappointed in Jehovah’s Witnesses’ hunt for sensitive data
Originally published in Dutch by BNNVARA on June 8, 2021 The board of the Jehovah’s Witnesses has attempted to obtain all data from the investigation into abuse within the community through the Freedom of Information Act (Wob). That has largely failed. The conversation reports with victims and other privacy-sensitive data have not been provided. The Minister […]
NETHERLANDS: When Merel cooperated in the abuse investigation, vilification followed by other Jehovah’s Witnesses
Merel participated in the investigation into the handling of sexual abuse among the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since that leaked, people have come to her door making accusations. “Nowadays I first check who is at the door.” Originally published on Trouw by Rianne Oosterom and Marinde van der Breggen on 26 April 2021 How did she get […]
NETHERLANDS: Jehovah’s Witnesses do everything they can to get hold of sensitive data from abuse investigations
Victims of abuse who shared their story in an investigation into abuse among Jehovah’s Witnesses at Utrecht University fear that they could be identified as the organization tries to obtain the complete investigation data. Originally published on TROUW by Rianne Oosterom en Marinde van der Breggen on 26 april 2021. The Jehovah’s Witnesses did everything in their […]
BELGIUM: Unia says Anti-Discrimination Act forbids shunning or targeting former believers
A religious group should never subject apostate members to a “shunning policy”, often with very damaging consequences for the family ties of the people involved. In connection with this, the court of first instance in Ghent sentenced the non-profit organization Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses to a fine of 96,000 euros for inciting discrimination and […]
Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a Cult?
According to jw.org, the official website of Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York, Jehovah’s Witnesses are not a cult. It claims that “[t]he term cult means different things to different people”. Instead of arguing against an exhaustive list of rationales that define a cult, the website addresses only two. Is a cult a […]
Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Open Letter to Dutch Government
The Independent Commission on Child Sexual Abuse has announced that it will investigate allegations of abuse among Jehovah’s Witnesses. Introduction The Jehovah’s Getuigen, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses are known in the Netherlands, wrote an open letter to the House of Representatives in The Hague in the Netherlands regarding government criticism of their handling of child […]
What is a Letter of Introduction?
What is a Letter of Introduction? What is contained within a letter of Introduction? Why do congregation elders need Letters of Introduction? How long is a Letter of Introduction held on file? We will provide a real example of a Letter of Introduction to help all understand how much personal information congregation elders reveal about […]
Jehovah’s Witnesses lose appeal over abuse report
Originally published in Dutch by NOS nieuws on August 4, 2020. The government does not have to remove a report about sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses from the internet. The state also does not have to post a correction. The court in Arnhem today decided on appeal that the Jehovah’s Witnesses no longer have a […]
Raymond was a Jehovah’s Witness for years, now he helps their abuse victims
Originally published in Dutch by Dagblad De Limburger on May 16, 2020. Written by Benti Banach. Translated by Raymond Hintjes When it turned out he liked men, for Raymond his time with the Jehovah’s Witnesses ended. He was very active within the circle for years. Now he helps other former Jehovah’s Witnesses, such as victims […]