Jehovah’s Witnesses: accusations of abuse are the result of this smear campaign

Originally published in Dutch by NOS nieuws on February 5, 2019.

According to the Jehovah's Witnesses, there is a smear campaign going on against this religious community. "As if we facilitate sexual abuse or do nothing about it."

This is what spokesperson Michel van Hilten says. The organization responded extensively to the allegations about abuse at RTV Drenthe.

The Reclaimed Voices foundation, which was established to give victims within the faith group a voice, has received more than 300 reports of sexual abuse since the end of 2017.

If it had been those numbers, we would have noticed.”

- Spokesperson for Jehovah's Witnesses

"We do not keep statistics, but the number mentioned by the foundation is very high," says Van Hilten. "If it had been those numbers, we would have noticed."

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that a child molester who shows remorse can remain part of the community. However, the person is no longer allowed to be alone with children. If the abuser does not repent, he will be immediately expelled from the group, according to the Jehovah's.

Reporting the crime

The initiative to report the crime lies with the victim. “We will not prevent anyone from doing so, nor will we encourage them to do so.”

According to the rules, someone who has been a victim of abuse within the movement should first go to their parents or directly to an elder. He is obliged to make an internal report. The Witnesses consider reporting to the police to be an exclusive matter for the victim or the parents.

Van Hilten says that a change in policy is not yet an option. "Reclaimed Voices is a foundation that is emerging as a shouting foundation with tendentious positions. The foundation also has a style of communication that is not ours and we keep away from that."

The head office is awaiting research that the University of Utrecht will soon conduct. The central question is how the organization deals with abuse within its own circle and what influence this has on the willingness of victims to report it.

Traumatic

There has been criticism for years about the way in which the organization tackles sexual abuse within its own circle.

Although Jehovah's Witnesses have not cooperated with the judiciary and the police, they say that the Utrecht researchers are welcome. The Public Prosecution Service is investigating nine reports of sexual abuse.

Reclaimed Voices emphasizes that it is not against Jehovah's Witnesses, but in favor of a policy change. Founder Frank Huiting: "The policy must include that elders and office holders within the organization also report or report sexual abuse."

Lester Somrah

Lester Somrah writes about the beliefs and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses on his social media platforms and was baptized as a member in 1998.