Russia bans Jehovah’s Witnesses from practicing their religion

Russia’s Supreme Court has banned Jehovah’s Witnesses from practicing their religion, and is moving to seize their property in addition to closing the group’s headquarters and offices.

Svetlana Borisova, an attorney in Russia’s justice ministry, was quoted by Interfax as saying that Jehovah’s Witnesses “pose a threat to the rights of the citizens, public order and public security.” According to the Associated Press, more than 170,000 Russians are Jehovah’s Witnesses. They have now essentially been dubbed an extremist group.