By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

YEREVAN, Armenia – Many Jehovah’s Witnesses in Armenia face discrimination and imprisonment because of their beliefs. While young men in the religious organization are jailed because their faith prohibits them from serving in the army, other members have been attacked allegedly by supporters of the country’s dominant religion.

There are approximately 9,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Armenia. The religious organization gained prominence following their registration in the former Soviet state in 2004, but its pacifist beliefs have brought it into conflict with the Armenian government whose armies are still based on conscription.

Over the years, the number of male Jehovah’s Witnesses imprisoned for refusing to join military service has grown larger and the duration of their imprisonment longer. As of September 2007, there were 82 imprisoned. And because there is no genuinely civilian alternative service in Armenia at present, rights group such as Amnesty International considers them “prisoners of conscience” who must be immediately released with compensation.

Furthermore, other members of Jehovah’s Witness have been subjected to increasing number of attacks allegedly by members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which includes 90 percent of the country’s population. Consequently, attackers of Jehovah’s Witnesses enjoy impunity because the authorities refuse to fully investigate and prosecute, and sometimes outright ignore “the fact that Jehovah’s Witnesses are specifically targeted for attacks.”

The Armenian authorities deny that Jehovah’s Witnesses are specifically targeted. “Armenia does not follow a deliberate religious policy and does not sow enmity or intolerance towards religious minorities,” Hranoush Kharatian, Adviser to the RA Prime Minister on National Minorities and Religious Issues said. And she said, “Law on Alternative Service” functions well in Armenia. Jehovah’s Witnesses simply avoid service.”

For more information, please see:

ArmeniaNow.com – Free to believe?: How far has Armenia come in religious tolerance? – 18 January 2008

Amnesty International – Religious minority faces discrimination in Armenia – 16 January 2008

Armenian Daily – Jehovah’s Witnesses discriminated in Armenia – 16 January 2008

Reuters – Armenia violates Jehovah’s Witnesses’ rights-Amnesty – 15 January 2008