Jehovah's Witnesses in Sweden

Jehovah’s Witnesses in Sweden

The Kingdom Hall in Lund
Classification Protestant
Orientation Jehovah’s Witnesses
talesman (Speaker) Georg Svensson
Headquarters Denmark
Origin 1899[1] or 1909[2]
Members 23,000 (1992)[1]
Publications Vakttornet

The Jehovah’s Witnesses in Sweden (Swedish: Jehovas vittnen i Sverige) is a branch of the international Jehovah's Witnesses organization, which is directed by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses in New York. The organization has been active in Sweden since 1909,[2] or 1899.[1] The Swedish branch had 23 thousand members in 1992, of which roughly one tenth were immigrants; immigrant members often conducted religious activities in other languages.[1]

The Swedish branch maintained its headquarters in Arboga,[1] before it moved to new Scandinavian headquarters in Holbaek, Denmark, in 2012.[3]

Criticism

The Swedish government and civil authorities have criticized Jehovah's Witnesses for their pacifism and refusal to become involved in military struggles. Conflicts were particularly severe during World War II.[2]

Swedish Jehovah's Witnesses have also been criticized for allegedly not following the Convention on the Rights of the Child.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Jehovas vittnen", National Encyklopedin, Volume 10 (Issm-Kik), Bokförlaget Bra Bocker, 1993, page 114.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Värnpliktsvägrarrörelsen" (in Swedish). SOU. 2002. p. 156. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "Därför lämnade Jehovas vittnen Sverige" (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Stark kritik mot barns situation i Jehovas Vittnen – svenska myndigheter maktlösa" (in Swedish). Metro. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015.

External links

(Swedish)