On 1 November 2023, the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses issued instructions to selected branches around the world to commence the solicitation of members of Jehovah’s Witnesses who are government officials, school teachers, professors, and academics. The purpose carried the intention of undermining investigations in Japan into allegations of systemic and ongoing “child abuse” within the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion.
A copy of the German language email can be download below.
DOWNLOAD: Email sent by Jehovas Zeugen Public Information Department
An English translation of the above email solicitation is provided further down in this article.
The email is interesting in that it contains two oversight errors. The first is it addresses “Sisters and Brothers” instead of Brothers and Sisters, and secondly it has a subheading in English titled “Deadline” instead of the German word Frist.
In addition the Jehovah’s Witnesses PID logo footnote (blocked by software from downloading and replaced with a ” ? “) contains an embedded tracking cookie.
What is the problem?
The World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses is worried about current developments in Japan involving child abuse allegations within Jehovah’s Witnesses.
At a press conference held on November 20, 2023, a team of lawyers in Japan released the results of a comprehensive survey on alleged incidents of child abuse by members of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Japan. Extensive media coverage followed.
LINK TO RELATED NEWS ARTICLES
Japan | Many children of Jehovah’s Witnesses experience abuse, Japan report says
Japan | 159 report being sexually abused as Jehovah’s Witnesses
Japan | Lawyers release survey on alleged Jehovah’s Witnesses child abuse
Japan | 92% have gotten whipped and 81% held “no blood transfusion” cards at Jehovah’s Witness
Japan | Survey: 80% of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses held ‘no blood cards’
Religious subversion or unlawful tactics?
The World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses have commenced soliciting members of the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses to use (misuse or abuse) their positions of authority within the community to produce so-called ‘official’ letters on letterheads in support of the policies of Jehovah’s Witnesses on raising children. A special request was made not to mention the current situation in Japan, this despite stating the letters and endorsements received would be used for Japan.
The governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses could have reached out to the alleged 159 child sexual abuse victims within the Jehovah’s Witnesses institution in Japan, or the victims of institutional-endorsed corporal punishment, but rather they have taken a potentially subversive approach to child abuse.
Extract of email
Translation of email from German into English
PID.DE@jw.org
To: pid.de@jw.org
RE: URGENT: Request for
Friday, December 1, 2023 at 18:31:04 GMT
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
We are writing to you today about a sensitive and very urgent matter in which we would like to ask for your help.
In a meeting scheduled at short notice, we learned today that we have the great privilege of supporting the World Headquarters in a very important project.
What is the problem?
Our brothers and sisters in Japan are currently struggling with a serious problem: a new ministry, which has only been in office for about a year, regrettably assumes that child rearing by Jehovah’s Witnesses is harmful to children and even constitutes a kind of “child abuse”. This is of course a worrying development.
How can you help?
We are looking for positive statements from authorities, but also from experts such as school principals, teachers, professors, academics, etc., e.g. on the following topics:
- On the experience of raising children by parents who are Jehovah’s Witnesses in general (loving, caring, balanced upbringing, appropriate interest in children).
- To the material for children and young people on jw.org
- About children of Jehovah’s Witnesses (e.g. are not conspicuous at school, but exemplary; do not take drugs, are not criminals; are well integrated, balanced, etc.).
- About positive contributions of our young people in society
We would be delighted if you could comment on these points yourselves in your respective function – if possible on an official letterhead showing your current function. We are of course also very interested in further statements from outsiders. Can you think of any colleagues or other people who could make well-founded statements in this context? If so, please contact them as soon as possible and ask them for a written statement (if possible on official letterhead). IMPORTANT: The requested statements, which do not have to be long, should not refer to Japan but should be formulated in general terms. It is also best not to address a specific person, but “to whom it may concern” (“Dear Sir or Madam” or “to the relevant office”).
If you are addressing outsiders, you could justify the request by saying that in an Asian country a newly founded ministry that has no experience with Jehovah’s Witnesses has prejudices against our religious minority due to misinformation. Surely the European perspective would be helpful to them, as they have had experience with Jehovah’s Witnesses for decades. We ask you not to mention “Japan”, but to clarify the desired direction and the urgency of the request.
Deadline:
We need the statements as early as next week.
We consider it a privilege to work with you in this important endeavor and thus contribute to the “defense and legal establishment of the good news” (Phil. 1:7). Please make this matter the subject of your personal prayers as well. We are fully convinced that Jehovah will bless the joint efforts for the glory of his name (2 Cor. 10:4, 5; Isa. 54:17).
One final request: Please treat the information confidentially and do not forward this e-mail without consultation!
Thank you in advance for your valuable support and have a good weekend
Your brothers
Central Europe Branch Office
Public Relations
Am Steinfels 165618 Selters (Taunus)
E-mail: pid.de@jw.org
Phone: +49 6483 41-3110
What is the truth?
The governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide are currently:
- denying that children are or were ever members of the religion or institution
- denying the existence of institutional child sexual abuse
- denying institutional policies exist instructing the corporal punishment of children
For many decades, the official journal of Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Watchtower magazine, has encouraged the corporal punishment of children.
________________________________________
This article was produced in conjunction with JW News.
JW Leaks receives ongoing support and funding via JW News.
Please support JW News for as little as the cost of a coffee
About JW Leaks
JW Leaks is about openness, transparency and accountability within the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watch Tower Society.
JW Leaks shines a light on, and holds to account, the Watch Tower Society and those leaders within the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization that disregard or violate the laws of the land, or that cause religious harm to sections of the community.
Jehovah’s Witnesses . . . Proclaimers of “soon” since 1879
JW LEAKS 