For Immediate Release
Court says no to prosecutor's request for "religious specialist" in Armenian trial YEREVAN, Armenia—The appeal court hearing of Mr. Lyova Margaryan continued today, for a total of eight days of hearings. The court made it clear to the prosecutor that he could not drag the hearing out by calling a "religious specialist" to testify about the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. "The court does not need a religious specialist to help it decide what constitutes a criminal offense," commented the new chairman of the court, Justice Suren Kazarian. Canadian human rights lawyer John Burns, appearing on behalf of Mr. Margaryan, argued that there are really only two questions for the court to decide: "Did Lyova Margaryan tell young men to refuse military service?" and "Were minors attending meetings without parental consent? He continued: "After hearing 19 witnesses over a period of several days, the original trial court answered 'No.' What could a 'religious specialist' add at this stage?" Despite efforts by a few in the audience to intimidate the defense counsel, the chairman of the court maintained order in the courtroom and kept things under control. Policemen were ordered to escort out of the courtroom one woman who was shouting threats at the defense counsel. The trial is to resume at noon, Monday, March 4, 2002, with closing arguments scheduled to be heard. Contact numbers in Armenia: Telephone:
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