Religious Minorities
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RELIGIOUS MINORITIES www.media-diversity.org SPECIAL REPORT MAY 2004 ARTICLES OF FAITH UNDER SCRUTINY An increase in ‘alternative’ religions has alarmed the Church and society, but are these fears justified? HEGHINE KOSHTOYAN, ARAM MANUKYAN of Armenia is not new – lets only remember AND HASMIK HOVHANNISYAN the Tondrakians and Pavlikians (medieval religious movements),” he said. “History shows us that their actions al- SINCE the collapse of the Soviet Union ways met with determined action by the and the tragic earthquake of 1988, a host Armenian Apostolic Church.” of religious organisations became wide- The biggest religious communities after spread in Armenia, religious activity that Armenian Apostolic Church are Catholics has sometimes been viewed with suspicion (more than 120,000), Pentecostals (50,000- by the Church and society at large. 80,000), Jehovah’s Witnesses (about Stepan Danielian, of the Collabora- 30,000). Other religious groups have a tion for Democracy Union, an NGO that much smaller number of followers. “For deals with religious minorities, said that in instance, there are about 1,000-2,000 Mor- 1991, before independence, nine religious mons, they are rather closed, they avoid the Following the same book is not enough to guarantee religious harmony in today’s Armenia Picture: German Avakian organisations were registered. Today, 55 press because, as they put it, their activities religious organisations are registered in the are presented badly 99 percent of the time,” into effect in the autumn of 2004. She says: example, the leader of the “One Nation” next or second generation,” Father Arshak territory of Armenia. Danielian says. “With the law going into effect, the ques- party, Gor Tamazian, has recently urged the says. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Molokans, Hare Religious minorities have few problems tion of Jehovah’s Witnesses released from Armenian people to fight against the spread The Armenian Apostolic Church has it- Krishnas and some other movements re- with the authorities -- with the glaring ex- arrest will be discussed. There are 21 mem- of Jehovah’s Witnesses. self been blamed for the proliferation of main unlisted: because they have too few ception of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The con- bers of the sect in prison today”. But Kharatian says that, so far, there has “sects”, because, some argue, it does not adherents or for other reasons. But Danie- troversial movement first came to Armenia Alternative service is for three years, been no study in the society to show wheth- promote Christian education and upbring- lian thinks that Jehovah’s Witnesses will as far back as in 1975, and has long been whereas regular military service is two er Witnesses are dangerous or not. ing the way it should. eventually be registered under pressure in dispute with the authorities and society, years and there are questions over how “The main reason for the society’s nega- “We hear that allegation quite often,” Fa- from the Council of Europe. particularly in regard to military service. fair this one-year difference is. Kharatian tive attitude towards sects is that they pros- ther Arshak said. “Recently, the press had A spokesman for The Holy See in Ech- Dozens of members of the movement have says: “There are countries where military elytize aggressively in the streets and even accused the Holy See of not taking active miadzin, Father Arshak Khachatrian, said been jailed for refusing to serve in the army, service is three years for all. In our coun- disturb people in their homes,” says Vardan steps to prevent the activities of various that the Armenian Apostolic Church has a state of affairs that has raised human rights try, situated in a conflict zone, even one or Khachatrian, professor in Yerevan State sects in Armenia. I can say that there is re- always been tolerant to the ethnic minori- questions in Europe and elsewhere. two thousand people not wanting to serve University’s Theology Department. ally a need to make the Armenian Apostolic ties’ faiths. Hranoush Kharatian, Head of the Gov- in the army may have a negative impact,” Religious identity in Armenia has been Church more active. Our church has very But the church is less tolerant towards ernment’s Department on National Minor- Kharatian said. associated traditionally with national iden- limited resources, we have only 160 clergy- some of the more controversial move- ity and Religious Affairs, thinks that Wit- Armenian society has a negative attitude tity. “History shows that those Armenians, men in the whole of Armenia, we have very ments, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, nesses’ problems with avoiding military towards Jehovah’s Witnesses and other so- who had rejected Armenian Apostolic few operating churches. Thirteen years of which it views as sects. service will be solved with the new law called sects. Most of the political parties Church either willingly or by force, had independence is a very short time to restore “The spreading of sects on the territory on Alternative Military Service that goes and press criticize Jehovah’s Witnesses. For eventually lost their national roots from the our activities after 70 years of inaction.” Jehovah’s Witnesses: firm believers in the face of persecution MHER ARSHAKIAN He comments on Armenian Ap- recollects that Sedrak Marutovi- are more virtuous”, Gagik says. reading the Bible, she has a dif- The Karabakh war participant’s ostolic Church, “There is nothing ch’s sick wife was baptized as a Sedrak Marutovich has his rea- ficulty in reading other literature. answer was short: “Get out of SEDRAK Marutovich Ghazar- there to believe in”. Jehovah Witness in the tub of his son for studying the Bible. “I was “After reading Bulgakov’s Mas- here!”. Later returning to the bat- ian is an atheist. But every week He opens “Get Closer to Je- apartment bathroom. dismissed from work, I have to do ter and Margarita I was horrified tlefield, he prayed to Jehovah to the 75-year-old former engineer hovah”. “Whose name is Je- At present Sedrak Marutovich, something, don’t I?” and threw this book away alto- survive in the trenches. “I felt Je- attends the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ hovah?” Gagik asks Sedrak Ghaz- in his words, assesses Jehovahs There are about 500 Jehovah’s gether”, the teacher says. Prior to hovah’s assistance during those rallies, and every Friday he invites arian. “It is the name of Father, highly - not to steal, not to kill, not Witnesses established a sort of her work at the college, Lianna battles”, Albert says. two Jehovah’s Witnesses – hus- God, don’t you understand?” Se- to lie. kinship among themselves in Ka- was expelled from a school for Karen Mkrtchian, 36, was bap- band and wife Gagik and Sonya -- drak Marutovich replies. “Do you really want to become pan, which, according to them, is being a Jehovah’s Witness. tized as a Jehovah’s Witness in into his house to study the Watch- Sonya explains: “Jesus means Jehovah’s Witness?” he is asked. stronger than blood ties. Lianna Taxi driver Albert Davtian 1994 in Zaporozhye, Ukraine. He tower magazine. Jehovah is our salvation”. “Unfortunately I do not want, “ he Sardarian is harassed by her hus- does not take seriously people’s often visits families. “We continue The pensioner welcomes us, “It happens this way as well? I answers. As he states, obligatory band for being a Jehovah’s Wit- attitude to Jehovah’s Witnesses. the work of Christ”, Karen clari- limping and smiling broadly. The did not know”, Sedrak Marutovich faith is not to his liking. But it is a ness. She refuses to go to the “They show disrespect not to fies. Several times he visited an old men of the Hunan Avetisian replies. different sort of “dislike”, dissimi- birthday parties of her relatives. Kapan resident Abo but Jehovah apartment with a Jehovah woman street building are playing back- How did the Jehovah’s Witness- lar to most other cases. “The holidays that are against the himself”, he says. Albert fought where they talked with a daughter- gammon in the yard. “We were es find him? It turned out that his “Ordinary people do not like us, Bible - human birthday, Christ- in the Artsakh war, during which in-law and a mother-in-law. On a playing backgammon at the mo- wife, Hripsimeh, was a member of but the girls prefer our boys”, says mas, Easter - are not attended by his wife and son turned to Je- recent visit, the door was opened ment when the barbecue was de- this organisation. She died in Janu- one of the “old residents” of the us”, she explains. She works as hovah. When Albert came home by the male head of the family. layed”, Sedrak Marutovich says. ary 2002 from heart attack. Gagik organization, Sonya. Why? “They a teacher in Kapan college. After on leave, he was urged to join. Continued on Page 2 Eyewitness After the tragedy Other worlds In her own words, a Armenia's devastating Two very different faiths Jehovah’s Witness earthquake in 1988 provided have found refuge in the explains what faith fertile ground for religious country’s remote mountain means to her PAGE 2 organisations PAGE 3 regions PAGE 4 Produced by the Media Diversity Institute with the support of the European Community and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs MEDIA DIVERSITY INSTITUTE 2 MAY, 2004 RELIGIOUS MINORITIES www.media-diversity.org Insulted, but unbowed FROM PAGE 1 Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church “Get out”, the husband tells them Father Sahak Martirosian lives in before they can utter a word. this building. People say he insults Karen’s wife is also a Jehovah’s Jehovah’s Witnesses publicly and Witness, a baptized preacher.