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ARMENIAN OFFICIAL REPLIES TO PUBLIC ANGER AT REGISTRATION OF JEHOVAH'S
WITNESSES
Arminfo
21 Oct 04
YEREVAN
There is nothing illegal in the official registration of the Jehovah's
Witnesses religious sect, the head of the Armenian government
department for ethnic minorities and religion, Granush Kharatyan, told
a news conference today.
Kharatyan expressed her surprise at the angry reaction from part of
the public caused by the recent registration of this religious
sect. In this connection, she said that no-one had protested against
the registration and activities of Pentecostalists, Protestants or
Jews in Armenia.
"During their ceremonies, Jews call for anti-Christian
actions. However, nobody has ever been concerned about them," she
said. Also, under Armenia's laws, a religious sect cannot be denied
registration unless its charter contradicts the law. The charter of
Jehovah's Witnesses fully complies with the law, as the Armenian
Justice Ministry itself has said.
At the same time, Kharatyan said that the law on religion signed in
1991 is not completely perfect as it does not ban religious ceremonies
hostile to other faiths.
"Our job is not to fight religious sects but oversee them," Kharatyan
said. "But you cannot oversee something if there is no appropriate
legislation. However, we will withstand this outrage caused by the
(registration) of Jehovah's Witnesses."
WITNESSES
Arminfo
21 Oct 04
YEREVAN
There is nothing illegal in the official registration of the Jehovah's
Witnesses religious sect, the head of the Armenian government
department for ethnic minorities and religion, Granush Kharatyan, told
a news conference today.
Kharatyan expressed her surprise at the angry reaction from part of
the public caused by the recent registration of this religious
sect. In this connection, she said that no-one had protested against
the registration and activities of Pentecostalists, Protestants or
Jews in Armenia.
"During their ceremonies, Jews call for anti-Christian
actions. However, nobody has ever been concerned about them," she
said. Also, under Armenia's laws, a religious sect cannot be denied
registration unless its charter contradicts the law. The charter of
Jehovah's Witnesses fully complies with the law, as the Armenian
Justice Ministry itself has said.
At the same time, Kharatyan said that the law on religion signed in
1991 is not completely perfect as it does not ban religious ceremonies
hostile to other faiths.
"Our job is not to fight religious sects but oversee them," Kharatyan
said. "But you cannot oversee something if there is no appropriate
legislation. However, we will withstand this outrage caused by the
(registration) of Jehovah's Witnesses."