Jehovah’s Witnesses lose appeal over abuse report

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 so-called urgent interest in their claims. The report was published months ago on Rijksoverheid.nl and wodc.nl and is also available on numerous other websites. "There is therefore insufficient urgency for removal or rectification."

The court also states that removing the report will probably not result in the House of Representatives not discussing the results. According to the court, the civil court cannot also order the minister to write a letter to the House of Representatives stating what the House should do and not do with the report, which the Jehovah's Witnesses had demanded.

The court did not make any substantive judgment on the investigation report. Jehovah's Witnesses must pay the legal costs of the opposing parties of more than 4,700 euros.

Dissatisfied with the handling of abuse

At the end of January, the research showed that Jehovah's Witnesses who experienced sexual abuse within the religious community usually did not report it to the police and were predominantly negative about the internal handling of the abuse.

In a response, the board said that the community has been caring for the victims for years and providing them with pastoral care. The report is said to be discriminatory because it only focuses on one organization and ignores other religious communities. The board ignored the advice to set up an internal reporting point for sexual abuse.

The board had filed summary proceedings a few days earlier to prevent publication of the report, but the judge did not agree.