According to a press release published on July 8 on the website of the Jehovah's Witnesses Victims Support Association, Switzerland was previously considered tolerant of religious principles “that jeopardize the psychological and physical integrity of children and adults in the Jehovah’s Witnesses community ".
“As far as we know, this sentence is unprecedented, both in Switzerland and internationally,” the statement said.
The associations added that the court examined the expert’s statements regarding criticism of the doctrine of “Jehovah's Witnesses” and concluded that it was justified, since the religious rites of the organization violate the fundamental rights of its members and their loved ones.
In connection with the court’s decision, the Swiss authorities will be forced to review the law and determine what measures should be taken in relation to Jehovah’s Witnesses, the association says.
According to the newspaper Izvestia, an expert on cults, Doctor of Philosophy Regina Spies, she published material criticizing the educational system of Jehovah's Witnesses. The material also related to the investigation of cases of sexual abuse of children in the institutions of this organization. After that, representatives of Jehovah's Witnesses accused her of slander.
In December 2019, it was reported that investigators and FSB officers stopped the activities of the Jehovah’s Witnesses cell * that existed in Murmansk since April 2017 *.
* The management center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia (Jehovah’s Witnesses) is a religious organization recognized as extremist and banned in Russia (decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of 04/20/2017, appeal ruling of the Appeal Panel of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of 07/17/2017).