The Ghent Court decision declaring shunning as practiced by Jehovah’s Witnesses illegal ignores European and Belgian precedents, and is clearly wrong.
Shunning
The Ghent Jehovah’s Witness Decision: Anomaly or a New Reality?
In an unprecedented ruling, judges turned the long-standing interpretation of articles 9, 10, 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights on its head.
Jehovah’s Witnesses: Disfellowshipping, Shunning, and the Ghent Ruling
Many do not understand how shunning exactly works. Erroneous representations of the practice may have influenced the Ghent judges.
Jehovah’s Witnesses: How the Ghent Decision Subverted the Idea of Liberty
Declaring that shunning “apostates” is a crime implies accepting the ideology that surrendering our freedom to an organization is always suspicious.
The Ghent Case Against the Jehovah’s Witnesses: A Chronology
The criminal investigation that got into the spotlight earlier this year did in fact start in 2015.
The Ghent Jehovah’s Witnesses Decision: Big Brother Is Watching You
The Belgian court adopted an intrusive view of the powers of the state, incompatible with democracy—and with common sense.
The Ghent Jehovah’s Witness Decision: Dangerous for All Religions
Suggesting that current members do not associate with “apostate” ex-members has been historically common in many religions.
The Ghent Jehovah’s Witnesses Decision: Dangers for Religious Liberty
Contrary to other courts in several countries, the Belgian judges dangerously intruded into the internal organization of a religious group.
Jehovah’s Witnesses Fined in Ghent for Their “Ostracism”: A Wrong Decision
Contrary to rumors spread by opponents, the Witnesses do not suggest that immediate family members shun relatives who left the faith.
The Belgian Case Against the Jehovah’s Witnesses: The Bible in the Dock?
A criminal court in Ghent is called to examine how the Jehovah’s Witnesses deal with some of their ex-members. They maintain they just follow the Scripture.