RUSSIA: 200 people on criminal trial for exercising freedom of religion or belief

Nearly 200 Jehovah’s Witnesses and 9 Muslims who study Said Nursi’s writings are on criminal trial for exercising freedom of religion and belief. Since June, courts jailed 17 Jehovah’s Witnesses for “organising” or “participating in” banned communities. “I still do not understand what my crime is,” Yelena Nikulina told a Saransk court. “There are no victims in our case, but there are still injured parties – and they are in front of you, in the dock!” The court jailed her and her husband for 4 years, 2 months.