Guatemala: Treatment of Jehovah Witnesses by government officials or persons in authority and by the population in general
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GTM29261.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Guatemala: Treatment of Jehovah Witnesses by government officials or persons in authority and by the population in general, 1 April 1998, GTM29261.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac0a2c.html [accessed 27 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was obtained during a 28 April 1998 telephone interview with the Associate General Counsel at the Jehovah Witnesses World Head Office (Watchtower) in Brooklyn, New York.
The Associate General Counsel provided the information following a telephone interview she had with the Jehovah Witnesses Branch Coordinator for Guatemala in Guatemala City. She stated that the branch coordinator reported that Jehovah witnesses did not and are not experiencing "any problem whatsoever" in Guatemala. The Branch coordinator also reported that Jehovah witnesses "are highly respected and well-perceived by the authorities and the general public." The group currently has 18,000 "publishers" or active members in Guatemala and holds religious ceremonies in 190 Kingdom Halls around the country.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Jehovah Witnesses World Head Office, Brooklyn, NY. 27 April 1998. Telephone interview with the Associate General Counsel
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