Romania: Information on the treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses
| Publisher | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ROM28614.E |
| Cite as | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Romania: Information on the treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1 January 1998, ROM28614.E, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac0194.html [accessed 24 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The 1997 Report of the International Helsinki Federation states that the world congress of Jehovah's Witnesses, which was scheduled to be held in Romania in 1996, was cancelled by the Romanian authorities at the request of the Romanian Orthodox Church (1997, 210). This decision was backed by "Christian associations, by politicians and by a significant part of the media" as well as the "Ministries of Education and Youth and the president" (ibid.). The report adds that the Helsinki Committee in Bucharest (APADOR-CH) describe this move as "acts of incitement to discrimination and religious enmity".
Additional information on the situation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Romania could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
International Helsinki Federation. 1997. Annual Report 1997. Geneva: International Helsinki Federation.
Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International Files available at Resource Centre : Romania.
Country files available at Resource Centre : Romania. 1997
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. 1997.
Human Rights Watch World Report. 1997.
News from Helsinki Watch. 1997.
Transition [Prague]. January 1995 - . Bi-weekly. 1997.
Searches for news articles in on-line databases (NEXIS)
Searches for information in the Internet.
