The Utrecht Report – Jehovah’s Witnesses lose at The Hague

“What sort of persons ought Jehovah’s Witnesses to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, awaiting and keeping close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah!”​—2 PETER 3:11, 12. Written by Lester Somrah – December 24, 2023 The Hague, Netherlands – On December 13, 2023, the District Court of The Hague ruled that a 2019 investigative report by the Utrecht […]

‘Jehovah’s Witnesses sue Dutch state for discrimination’

Photo – ANP/Tobias Kleuver Originally published in Dutch by RTL Nieuws on December 10, 2023 Jehovah’s Witnesses have sued the Dutch state for discrimination. The state would only have investigated their handling of abuse cases, and would not have done this with other religious organizations. And they think this is unjustified. The Witnesses believe it […]

Jehovah’s Witnesses sue the state for discrimination

Originally published in Dutch by NOS nieuws on December 10, 2023. Jehovah’s Witnesses are suing the Dutch State for discrimination. A spokesperson confirmed this after reporting in Trouw. The Witnesses believe it is unfair that only their dealings with sexual abuse have been investigated, while other religious groups are not taken into account. The Jehovah’s […]

NETHERLANDS: Investigation into consequences of shunning former Jehovah’s Witnesses

Netherlands Investigation into consequences of shunning former Jehovah's Witnesses

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Den Helder. Photo Olaf Kraak Insular religious communities who shun former members is not a criminal offence. However, the House of Representatives calls it “medieval” and “psychological abuse”. Originally published May 17, 2022 in Dutch by Thomas Borst on NRC. The cabinet is investigating the consequences of shunning former […]

NETHERLANDS: Chamber wants to stop ‘blackmail’ by Jehovah’s Witnesses

Chamber wants to stop blackmailing by Jehovah's Witnesses

A House majority is against the practice of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The parties suspect that the religious community is blackmailing people who want to leave the faith. Originally published in Dutch on Pointer by J Koot on March 18, 2022. Jehovah’s Witnesses, known for their members going doo-to-door bringing the faith, have strict rules against apostates. […]

Ex-Witnesses open attack on ‘traumatic’ exclusion policy

After a successful lawsuit in Belgium, a group of Dutch Jehovah’s Witnesses is now also fighting the ‘discriminatory’ exclusion policy. “It’s a social death sentence.” Originally published in Dutch by Rianne Oosterom and  Marinde van der Breggen on October 10, 2021 on Trow A group of thirty ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses wants the judiciary to intervene in what they consider […]

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 […]