After five centuries of speculation and theories, the true identity of Christopher Columbus has begun to emerge thanks to the documentary “Columbus DNA: his true origin ’, produced by RTVE. This feature-length film, which details 22 years of research led by forensic scientist and professor at the University of Granada, José Antonio Lorente, has revealed that the man who discovered America was, in fact, Jewish.
The investigation began with the search for Columbus’ mortal remains, which were believed to be in Seville or the Dominican Republic. Science has confirmed that the remains in the Cathedral of Seville belong to the admiral. An analysis of the bones of his son, Hernando Colón, was crucial in establishing the parentage and resolving a 150-year dispute between Spain and the Caribbean nation. Hernando’s DNA results showed traits compatible with a Jewish origin, both in the ‘Y’ chromosome and in mitochondrial DNA.
The documentary, presented in a true crime format, chronicles the genetic research process, where 25 possible origins of Columbus were examined and narrowed down to eight plausible hypotheses. As the theories were presented, DNA dismantled many of them, leading to the conclusion that Columbus was not Genoese, as had been believed for centuries.
Researcher Francesc Albardaner, who led one of the lines of research, argues that Columbus was Jewish and places him in the western Mediterranean, specifically on the Iberian peninsula, where at the time of Columbus there were around 200,000 Jews. In contrast, in Italy, the Jewish population was significantly smaller. Albardaner argues that Columbus’ history as a Genoese enters into crisis if his Jewish origin is accepted, as Genoa had expelled the Jews in the 12th century.
Research also revealed that the surname Colombo, common in Italy, was used for abandoned children, further complicating the narrative of an Italian Columbus. In addition, the Columbus letters, which are preserved in large numbers, are written in Spanish, with no Italian influence.
The documentary also addresses other enigmas about Columbus’ life, including the revelation that his brother Diego was not really his brother, but a distant relative. Throughout his life, Columbus concealed his origin, possibly due to the persecution faced by Jews in the Iberian Peninsula. In 1492, an ultimatum was issued forcing Jews to convert to Christianity or leave the kingdoms of the Catholic Kings.
Albardaner suggests that Columbus, throughout his life, had to appear to be a devout Christian to avoid persecution. The research also highlights the support Columbus received from Jews and converts, such as the Duke of Medinaceli and Luis de Santángel, who played a crucial role in financing his expedition to America.
Finally, Lorente concludes that the DNA indicates a Mediterranean origin for Columbus, suggesting that his most likely provenance is in the Spanish Mediterranean arc or in the Balearic Islands, which at that time belonged to the Corona de Aragón. With this new evidence, the documentary not only rewrites the story of Columbus, but also invites a deeper reflection on the identity and legacy of the man who changed the course of history.
The call Circulation of European Literary Works supports the transnational circulation and the diversity of European literary works through the translation, publication, distribution, and promotion of European literary works of fiction .
With a budget of €5 million, about 40 projects will be selected for funding.
The deadline for applications is 11 February 2025.
Eligibility
Interested organisations can apply individually or as a consortium of at least 2 eligible organisations. Each project must have a sound editorial, distribution and promotion strategy and propose a minimum of 5 eligible works of fiction written by authors who are nationals of, or residents in, or recognised as part of the literary heritage of an eligible country.
Applicants can apply with projects of different sizes:
Small scale:projects proposing at least 5 translations of eligible works
Medium scale: projects proposing at least 11 translations of eligible works
Large scale: projects proposing at least 21 translations of eligible work
The European Union and the Agreements with Morocco: An In-Depth Analysis of Recent Developments
The European Union (EU) has recently taken crucial decisions regarding its fisheries and agriculture agreements with Morocco, a matter that raises complex economic, political and legal issues. These agreements, which allow European vessels access to Moroccan waters and facilitate the import of Moroccan agricultural products into the European market, are essential for both parties. However, they are also marked by tensions linked to the Western Sahara issue.
Legal background to the agreements
The fisheries and agriculture agreements between the EU and Morocco have been renewed several times since they were first signed. However, their legitimacy has been called into question, notably following rulings by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). In 2016, the CJEU annulled a fisheries agreement, arguing that it failed to comply with international law, particularly with regard to the rights of the Saharan people. The Court stressed that the resources of Western Sahara cannot be exploited without the consent of its people, leading to a re-evaluation of existing agreements.
Morocco’s position and international support
Morocco has championed an autonomy initiative for Western Sahara, proposing a solution that would allow the territory to enjoy a degree of autonomy while remaining under Moroccan sovereignty. This initiative has received the support of over 100 nations, including major geopolitical players such as the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Germany and Spain. This international support is crucial for Morocco, as it strengthens its position on the international stage and enables it to legitimize its actions regarding the Western Sahara.
Morocco maintains that the proposed autonomy is the best solution for ensuring stability and development in the region. The Moroccan authorities maintain that this initiative could encourage dialogue and cooperation between the various stakeholders, while guaranteeing respect for the rights of local populations.
Reactions from the Polisario Front
In contrast, the Polisario Front, which claims independence for Western Sahara and is supported by Algeria, advocates a referendum on self-determination for the Saharan people. This position has historically enjoyed some international support, but is currently less popular in the current geopolitical context.
The difficulties of implementing a referendum are manifold. Analysts point out that issues such as voter registration, factional tensions and security concerns make it a complex option. Moreover, international support for the Polisario Front has waned in recent years, further complicating its position.
Economic consequences of the agreements
The fisheries and agriculture agreements are of vital importance to the Moroccan economy. The fishing industry, in particular, is an essential source of income and employment, especially in coastal regions. Access to the European market enables Moroccan fishermen to sell their products at a competitive price, while meeting the growing demand for seafood products in Europe.
At the same time, the agricultural agreement also opens up opportunities for Morocco to export agricultural products, promoting the development of Moroccan agriculture. For the EU, these agreements guarantee a stable supply of food products while supporting sustainable fishing, which is crucial in the context of growing concerns about food security in Europe.
Future challenges
The challenges facing the EU and Morocco are many. The need to reconcile economic interests with the requirements of international law and humanitarian concerns is paramount. The situation in Western Sahara continues to be a sticking point influencing EU negotiations and decisions.
The EU seeks to maintain advantageous trade relations with Morocco while respecting the principles of international law. The complexity of this situation calls for continuous and constructive dialogue between the various parties, in order to find lasting solutions that are acceptable to all.
Future prospects
In the future, the EU may consider modifications to its agreements to ensure their compliance with international legal standards while safeguarding its economic interests. Enhanced dialogue between the EU and Morocco will be essential to navigate these complexities. Morocco’s international support could also play a key role in future discussions, influencing EU decisions.
In summary, the EU’s decision on fisheries and agriculture agreements with Morocco represents a delicate balance between economic interests, legal considerations and humanitarian issues. Future discussions will need to take these various aspects into account to achieve sustainable solutions, while recognizing the international context that shapes this dynamic. The future of EU-Morocco relations will depend on the ability of both parties to overcome current challenges and cooperate constructively for the development of the region.
European disability card and European parking card for persons with disabilities: Council adopts new directives
The Council has adopted two new directives that will make it easier for persons with disabilities to travel within the EU.
The directive establishing the European disability card and the European parking card for persons with disabilities will ensure equal access to special conditions or preferential treatment for persons with disabilities during short stays throughout the EU. Examples include reduced or zero entry fees, priority access, assistance, and reserved parking spaces.
Furthermore, ministers have adopted a directive extending these provisions to non-EU citizens who legally reside in EU countries, meaning they will also be able to use these cards during short-term stays in other member states.
National authorities will be responsible for issuing physical and digital European disability cards in an accessible format. The cards will be recognised throughout the EU as proof of disability or entitlement to specific services based on a disability. The European parking cards for persons with disabilities will be produced in physical format, with member states having the option to also issue them in digital format.
The directives will now be signed by both the Council and the European Parliament and will enter into force following publication in the EU’s Official Journal. For both directives, member states will have two and a half years to adapt their national legislation and three and a half years to apply the measures.
Background
The Commission published a proposal for a directive establishing a European disability card and a European parking card for persons with disabilities in September 2023. The Council reached an agreement with the European Parliament on 8 February 2024.
The Commission’s proposal for a directive extending the European disability card and the European parking card for persons with disabilities to non-EU citizens legally residing in EU member states was published in October 2023. The Council and the Parliament reached an agreement on 4 March 2024.
Platform workers: Council adopts new rules to improve their working conditions
The Council has adopted new rules that aim to improve working conditions for the more than 28 million people working in digital labour platforms across the EU.
The platform work directive will make the use of algorithms in human resources management more transparent, ensuring that automated systems are monitored by qualified staff and that workers have the right to contest automated decisions.
It will also help correctly determine the employment status of persons working for platforms, enabling them to benefit from any labour rights they are entitled to. Member states will establish a legal presumption of employment in their legal systems that will be triggered when certain facts indicating control and direction are found.
The EU has adopted new rules on air quality standards that will help prevent premature deaths due to air pollution. They will also contribute to the EU’s objective of zero pollution by 2050 and permit EU citizens to seek compensation in cases where EU air quality rules are not respected.
From October 14 to 19, 2024, the international community will come together to celebrate the Erasmus+ programme during the inaugural #ErasmusDays. This week-long event invites students, educators, trainers, professionals, and citizens from around the globe to participate in a variety of activities that highlight the diverse projects and opportunities offered by Erasmus+.
Erasmus+ is the European Union’s flagship programme supporting education, training, youth, and sport across Europe. Launched in 1987, the programme has empowered over 15 million individuals through its various initiatives and predecessors. With a substantial budget of €26.2 billion allocated for 2021-2027, Erasmus+ places significant emphasis on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and enhancing young people’s participation in democratic processes.
This year’s Erasmus Days will feature both digital and in-person events, including seminars, multilingual sessions, photo exhibitions, and conferences. Additionally, social media challenges will engage participants, providing a unique platform to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and immerse themselves in different cultures. The 2024 edition will particularly spotlight sports, drawing inspiration from the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
Erasmus+ fosters personal and professional growth by facilitating mobility exchanges and cooperative projects. These initiatives offer millions of students, teachers, volunteers, and professionals the chance to gain international experience, develop new skills, and expand their cultural horizons. Beyond individual development, Erasmus+ plays a pivotal role in strengthening European identity by promoting unity through diversity.
As the world eagerly anticipates the Paris Olympics, Erasmus Days 2024 serves as a testament to the programme’s enduring impact on education, culture, and international collaboration. By celebrating the achievements and opportunities of Erasmus+, participants reaffirm their commitment to building a more inclusive and connected Europe.
OPINION.- The Resident, is a Netflix medical series that uncovers medical corruption in the United States. It emerges in January 2018 and its 107 chapters end in 2023. In 6 seasons they build a solid argument from fiction about the poor health ethics of large medical corporations, pharmaceuticals, hospital centers and groups of doctors who only think about billing to make profits.
The interesting thing about the narrative, created by Amy Holden Jones, Haley Schore, and Roshan Sethi, among others, is that it can denounce issues that by passing “only” in the dystopia of the fictional narrative have little chance of being actionable: any resemblance to reality is pure coincidence. However, among its more than 100 chapters are enclosed not inconsiderable approaches to the darkest and most sinister reality of medicine and its business, collected by the screenwriters through conversations held with honest doctors and nurses.
A professor at a university in Oregon recently told me that a student of his had to go to a doctor’s office to get a splinter removed because his “bullshit” insurance did not cover it. In another office they gave him, as if it were a gift, some absorbent cotton and some alcohol so that he could do it himself, something that in the end he had to do without any medical control or the required asepsis. This drama affects millions of students who are dramatically excluded from the healthcare system. Perhaps the Democrats and Republicans should iron out their differences on this issue by sitting down and talking about it.
The Resident, was cancelled in January 2023 with a stable and loyal audience. The producers are clear that such cancellation could have to do with pressure from media groups linked to the most important medical clans of the moment.
One of the most outstanding themes of the first two seasons has to do with cancer and the business behind the supposed remission therapies, one of the doctors at Chastain Park Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, the fictitiously named hospital where the various plots take place, owns a series of centers related to the care of terminally ill cancer patients where chemotherapy is administered. In connection with this issue, in real life, Professor of medicine and drug analysis Peter C. Gotzsche, author of, among other books, How to Survive in an Overmedicated World, tells the story of a 64-year-old relative of his with metastatic pancreatic cancer, diagnosed as incurable, who was willing, like so many other patients when informed of their condition, to do everything possible to try to live a little longer, …he underwent twenty-seven radiation treatments in Denmark, after consulting a different doctor each time. He then underwent surgery in Germany, thanks to an agreement between two hospitals, one Danish and one German, where an experimental treatment was used on him where the doctor who treated him …experimented by mixing white blood cells with the cancer cells and reintroducing them into the patient by monthly injections to strengthen his immune system. This last treatment, which was implemented after the intervention in Germany was not free and each injection cost a bundle. A year and a half after starting this journey, Peter’s relative passed away. Doctors have always affirmed with him and other patients that every chemo treatment prolongs life (1).
In different parts of the world, not only in the USA, health authorities approve cancer drugs without knowing exactly what the results of their application will be. All this causes a great deal of expense to the health system and to the patients and families themselves, often leaving them with substantial debts. Who wins? The pharmaceutical companies that make these compounds and a series of medical commission agents and hospitals that, by applying them indiscriminately to extend the patient’s life for a few months, receive large incomes or huge profits. The Resident, in a masterful way, shows us the corruption we are describing in a surprising visual form.
Dr. Andrew Wakefield published in the 2010s a rigorous study, where apparently the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) in the United States, would have decided to hide – with the help of corrupt scientists and medical associations, laboratories and media linked to power – the relationship between mercury in vaccines and various neural pathologies – especially in children. He was professionally prosecuted for carrying out this study. Some time later, Dr. William W. Thomson, CDC epidemiologist, who participated in the concealment, admitted that it had been real (2).
Throughout the planet, studies on the dangerousness of the drugs we take, even if they are usually taken without a prescription and without consulting our pharmacists, are constantly being disseminated . Let us not forget that pharmacies are stores that sell products and that with each pill they give us, they make money. In my case, I am hypertensive and when we managed to find the little pill that could help me lower my blood pressure, after three attempts, the first thing my family doctor advised me was not to read the indications of the side effects it could produce. However, to give us an idea, without going into the subject, which I will develop further, Joan Ramón-Laporte, Professor of Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), commented in his book Chronicle of an intoxicated society …How do adverse effects manifest themselves? What are the diseases caused by drugs? And behind these two simple questions he began to make an extensive list of which I will only mention a few lines: …hives, stomach pain, diarrhea, dizziness, loss of balance, amnesia, tachycardia, sweating, choking sensation, infection, heart attack, stroke, depression, falls, fractures, cancer… Practically all pathologies can be caused by drugs ( 3).
We may not be aware of where what we read leads us, but if we are diagnosed with a condition, whatever it may be, and we are medicated more, we are entering a wheel where our system deteriorates and becomes weaker and weaker. Falling, then, into the wheel of overmedication is easy and it could end our own lives.
The Resident, the series we are talking about, emphasizes, as did the mythical series House, on diagnosis. Are we well diagnosed with what we have? Taxatively no. Returning to Peter C. Gotzsche’s book How to Survive in an Overmedicated World, in its introduction he leaves us the following paragraph that should be engraved in the hearts of patients who regularly visit their doctors: I wish patients who leave all decisions in the hands of their doctors the best of luck, because they will need it.Doctors make numerous errors of judgment, often because they are ignorant and use too many medications.We live in a world so over-diagnosed and over-treated that, in the richest countries, they are the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. Peter also comments that it has been found that medical errors, such as those due to medication and other reasons, are the third leading cause of death in the world even if we count only hospital deaths, most of which are preventable.
In short, the series The Resident, from the Netflix platform, narrates somber aspects about the world of medicine, of course without overloading to the extreme the denunciation, impossible in a society where the control of large corporations through their lobbies is part of the entertainment industry and the media, thus controlling part of what is said, how it is said and when it is said. Although the latter is not only the case in the United States.
(1 and 3) Como sobrevivir a un mundo sobremedicado, by Peter C. Gotzsche, Roca Editorial de Libros, S.L. ISBN: 9788417541552 (2) Discovery DSALUD, nº 177 – December 2014
Elections are a key moment in the democratic life of a country. On this day, no fewer than 8 million voters across Belgium were called to the polls. On the whole, the day went off without a hitch at most polling stations, but there were a few hiccups that disrupted the smooth running of the process. Here’s a detailed look back at election day, marked by technical challenges in Brussels and organizational problems in Wallonia.
Residents of the Brussels commune of Evere had to be patient. From early morning onwards, an interminable line stretched out in front of the polling station, and some voters found themselves waiting much longer than expected.
“I arrived at around 8.10am, it’s now 8.43am, and it’s not really moving fast,” confided one voter.
The cause of the delay? An administrative error linked to an envelope containing the wrong codes needed to open the polling stations.
A technical envelope error
A polling station assessor explains the situation:
“This morning, we were waiting for this envelope to be able to switch on and start up the entire polling station. We received it on time, but it turned out to be the wrong one, so we didn’t have the right codes to start up.”
This confusion delayed the opening of polling stations, testing the patience of voters, some of whom were present well before 8am.
Lack of assessors in Wallonia
While in Brussels it was the technology that was lacking, in Wallonia, notably in Maurage, the problem was quite different. This polling station had to postpone its opening due to staff shortages. Two assessors were missing, a major challenge for the organizing team.
A multi-tasking mother
One of the team members, a mother, explained the difficulty of finding support on this election day, which also coincided with an important personal moment.
“Dad works, and the parents are sick. We’re hoping there will be a volunteer willing to help out to take the mental and physical load off our shoulders. It’s a special day because it’s also my daughter’s first birthday, so we’ll be celebrating her first birthday by doing the elections.”
Despite these challenges, the president of the polling station doesn’t give up and tries to recruit volunteers from among those present. After several attempts, he finally found the missing assessors.
A race against time to find assessors
In La Louvière, the process of recruiting assessors proved particularly complex. The departments responsible for the elections were faced with a veritable race against the clock to assemble the necessary teams.
“On Tuesday, we had 630 assessors out of the 1,100 who had registered. So we had to rush at the last minute to be able to recruit again,” explained a local official.
Fortunately, despite these difficulties, the polling stations in Maurage finally found the two missing assessors, enabling them to open the stations and welcome voters in good conditions.
Conclusion
Although the election day was a success overall, it did highlight a number of organizational shortcomings, both technical in Brussels and logistical in Wallonia. Nevertheless, the mobilization of our teams in the field and the solidarity of our volunteers enabled us to overcome these obstacles, guaranteeing a smooth voting process for the majority of voters. However, these incidents underline the importance of better anticipation and preparation for the organization of elections in the future, to avoid such problems recurring.
Oral statement denouncing the discrimination by the Dutch branch of Human Rights Without Frontiers at the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference on 7 October
“Mensenrechten Zonder Grenzen Nederland is deeply concerned about a decision in Norway which arbitrarily revoked the registration of Jehovah’s Witnesses present in the country for over 130 years. This measure puts an end to their eligibility for state grants they had received for 30 years.
The registration of the Norwegian Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious organization for 39 years was put to an end on unclear and controversial grounds in 2022.
In addition, on 4 March of this year, the Oslo District Court upheld the decisions of the County Governor of Oslo and Viken who has denied Jehovah’s Witnesses state subsidies since 2021. The financial loss is estimated at 1.6 million EUR for 2021. An appeal has been lodged.
We recommend that the Government of Norway
cancel the discriminatory decision to remove the registration of Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious community;
reconsider and reverse the denial of state grants since 2021;
abide by their commitment to uphold fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of Norway, the ICCPR and the European Convention on Human Rights for all citizens, including Jehovah’s Witnesses.
State subsidies in Norway are not a gift. The Lutheran Church of Norway which is a state church is financially supported by the government and gets state subsidies proportional to the number of its members. For the sake of coherence and non-discrimination, the Constitution mandates that other religions should also benefit from the same financing system and get subsidies in proportion of the number of their members. Over 700 religious communities receive such state grants in Norway, including Orthodox parishes subordinated to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow who blessed Russia’s war on Ukraine.”
With its recognition of more than 700 registered faith communities, Norway is often admired as a bastion of religious freedom. But after Norway deregistered the Jehovah’s Witnesses last year, some human rights experts say that reputation could be in question. Now, the Jehovah’s Witnesses of Norway are suing the state for revoking their national registration and withholding state funds. According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, they are the first religious group to lose their national registration in Norway.
The trial, which began Jan. 8, 202 will determine whether some practices of the Jehovah’s Witnesses violate Norway’s Religious Communities Act or whether withdrawing the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ registration violates their right to freedom of religion and freedom of association, as guaranteed in the European Convention on Human Rights.
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“It’s certainly the most important trial about a religious freedom issue in Norway in decades,” Willy Fautré, director of the Brussels-based organization Human Rights Without Frontiers, told Religion News Service.
In January 2022, Valgerd Svarstad Haugland, the county governor of Oslo and Viken, in Norway, denied Jehovah’s Witnesses state grants for the year 2021 in response to concerns about what she perceived as exclusionary practices. The Jehovah’s Witnesses had received the grants, which currently amount to around $1.5 million annually, for three decades. These funds are typically used for international disaster relief work and supporting religious activity in Norway, including translating literature and building kingdom halls, according to Jørgen Pedersen, spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Norway.
In an announcement originally written in Norwegian, the county governor of Oslo and Viken claimed that Jehovah’s Witnesses are forbidden to contact disfellowshipped members, as well as people who voluntarily dissociate, which can hinder a person’s ability to freely withdraw from the group. She also argued that Jehovah’s Witnesses may disfellowship children who have chosen to be baptized if they break the religious community’s rules, a practice she said constituted “negative social control” and violated children’s rights. These practices, the county governor argued, defy Norway’s Religious Communities Act. “We have assessed the offenses as systematic and intentional, and have therefore chosen to refuse grants,” the press release said.
In an email to RNS, Jehovah’s Witnesses spokesperson Jarrod Lopes said Witnesses only disfellowship an unrepentant member who “makes a practice” of serious violations of “the Bible’s moral code.” Even then, Lopes added, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t force members to limit or cease association with former congregants, whether they’ve been disfellowshipped or withdrawn voluntarily — that’s up to individuals. “Congregation elders do not police the personal lives of congregants, nor do they exercise control over the faith of individual Jehovah’s Witnesses,” wrote Lopes.
Pedersen added that the serious sins that might lead to disfellowship include manslaughter, adultery and drug use. He said a congregation will always try to help an individual restore their relationship with God, but if the problem persists, Jehovah’s Witnesses feel compelled to respect the entire Bible, including instructions to not associate with unrepentant sinners, such as 1 Corinthians 5:11.
Though the Witnesses appealed the county governor’s decision, in September 2022 the Ministry for Children and Families upheld the ruling. In October that same year, the county governor said in a press release that unless Jehovah’s Witnesses would “rectify the conditions that led to the refusal of state subsidies,” they would lose registration, which they did a few months later, in December. Without its national registration, Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot perform marriages, and they lose entitlement to government grants.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses of Norway filed two lawsuits against the state in December 2022: one challenging the denial of state grants and another challenging their loss of registration. Those lawsuits have since been combined. Though the Oslo District Court initially granted the Jehovah’s Witnesses an injunction that suspended their deregistration until that case was argued, the Ministry challenged the injunction, and in April 2023, the court removed it.
As the trial plays out at the District Court of Oslo, Jason Wise, an attorney who is acting as a consultant on the case for the legal team representing the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Norway, said part of the Witnesses’ argument is that there is no evidence of harm and that it’s not the place of the state to interpret religious texts. The state continues to contend that the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ practices are in conflict with the Religious Communities Act, particularly, they claim, by exposing children to psychological violence.
Since 2022, Jehovah’s Witnesses have reported an increase in vandalism, harassment and physical assaults in Norway. In September 2022, two Jehovah’s Witnesses in Harstad, Norway, reported that a man screamed at them and repeatedly attempted to hit one of them. That same month, a man in Kristiansand, Norway, reportedly set a Jehovah’s Witnesses mobile display car on fire, and a month later, someone attempted to set fire to a Jehovah’s Witnesses meeting place in Fauske, Norway.
Norway isn’t the only place where Jehovah’s Witnesses’ practices have been under scrutiny. In December, the Belgian Court of Cassation — the highest court in the Belgian judiciary — rejected an appeal of a lower court’s decision, ruling in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ right to avoid contact with former members. “Norway is just the tip of another phenomenon. That is a source of concern, because we see that there are more and more attempts in Europe by state institutions to interfere and intrude into the teachings and practices of religious groups, which is forbidden by the European Convention,” said Fautré. “The risk is they would open the door to more court cases against other religious groups.”
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