Jehovah’s Witnesses

For Immediate Release
June 8, 2004

Bulgaria revitalizes commitment to human rights in friendly settlement

STRASBOURG—On May 19, 2004, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) unanimously upheld an agreement by the government of Bulgaria to allow Jehovah’s Witnesses to express their faith and practice their religion without interference from the government.

The case arose when ministers of Jehovah’s Witnesses were expelled from Bulgaria for practicing their Christian beliefs. The case was appealed, and the ECHR agreed to hear the case. However, Bulgaria reached a friendly settlement with the applicants. The government agreed to pay damages to the applicants, cancel the withdrawal of resident permits for the Witnesses involved, and make clear before the ECHR the full legal rights of Jehovah’s Witnesses to practice their religion in Bulgaria.

“This is clearly a victory to all who wish to have freedom of worship in Bulgaria,” states Reinhard Kohlhofer, an attorney for the Witnesses in Bulgaria. “Bulgaria recognizes that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not pose a threat to any government. Witnesses strive to be model world citizens wherever they live.”

“The settlement is really good for all Bulgarians,” notes human rights attorney Atanas Krussteff. “It reinforces what Bulgaria committed to when it gave Witnesses legal recognition six years ago: freedom of worship for all, and freedom of choice when it comes to the practice of one’s personal faith. Bulgaria is now a welcoming place for Witness missionaries who are actively interested in the welfare of Bulgarians and wish to worship freely with them.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses were officially registered as a religion on October 6, 1998. The Witnesses number over six million worldwide, and are widely recognized for their peaceful worship and beneficial missionary activity.

Contact: J. R. Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600