JEHOVAH'S Witnesses
who die while following the Watch Tower Society's ruling that
they should abstain from blood have technically been murdered, a
court official has claimed.
The
startling announcement was made during a Colombian investigative
television programme called "SÉPTIMO DÍA" as
it analysed the problem with the Jehovah's Witnesses
blood policy.
In it, a number of cases were shown to highlight
the fact that numerous JWs have died unnecessarily as
they obeyed the controversial doctrine laid down by the society.
One Jehovah's Witness even admits that: "Many
small children, lots of them, have died because of not being
treated with blood transfusions, and in obedience to God."
But the President of the Constitutional Court
of Colombia, Dr. Vladimiro Naranjo is not happy with the
situation: "This is a form of murder, moreover, First Degree
Murder."
And, when the presenter of the programme suggested
that it could be a way of opening the doors for fanatical
religious groups
with suicidal ideas, Mr Naranjo concluded: "Religious freedom
is not absolute, there are limitations, a religion that attempts
to claim the life of a person cannot be legally permitted."
Speaking about the programme, a member of the
Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood said: "This
should send a very powerful message not just to the local branch
of Colombia, but also to the "intellectual authors" of these
kinds of crimes who keep a comfortable distance in Brooklyn,
and also in different branches around the world.
"This is an issue that can have serious legal
implications, and constitutes a clear message to different
authorities, particularly in Colombia, who could, based on
the word of the President of the Court, initiate penal actions
toward the persons involved."
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