Swedish Government Reverses Decision, Finds Jehovah’s Witnesses Eligible for State Grants

Since January 1, 2000, the Swedish government has offered state funding to faith-based organizations under the Support for Religious Communities Act. Under the law, funding is given only to a religious group that “contributes to maintaining and strengthening the fundamental values upon which society is based” and “is stable and plays an active role in the community.”

According to the Watch Tower organization, Sweden began approving state grants for most religions in 2007 but repeatedly refused to fund Jehovah’s Witnesses, criticizing the group’s religious beliefs on political neutrality. The organization said it then took the Swedish government to court three separate times. Each time, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the government’s decision to deny the group state grants was unlawful and should be reconsidered (Proverbs 18:17).

On October 24, 2019, the Swedish government reversed its decision and concluded that Jehovah’s Witnesses “fulfill all legal requirements” for state grants.

The organization also reported a similar question in Norway, where the government has routinely provided state grants to all religions, including Jehovah’s Witnesses. In recent months, Norwegian officials were asked to reevaluate the basis for those grants because of the group’s political neutrality. The organization said its members gave the officials information about the group’s views on political neutrality, along with copies of the favorable Swedish rulings and favorable rulings in similar cases by courts and administrative bodies in Germany and Italy.

On November 18, 2019, the Norwegian officials ruled that Jehovah’s Witnesses should continue to receive state grants. The government stated: “Voting in elections is a fundamental right for Norwegian citizens, but not an obligation. Abstaining from this right seems to be part of the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses, . . . [but the government] cannot see that this . . . provides a legally sustainable basis for withdrawing state grants.”

Dag-Erik Kristoffersen, from the Scandinavia branch, responded to the decisions: “We are happy that we are recognized as being a positive force in the community. It is our hope that other countries that have similar arrangements take note of this ruling.”

Source: Read the original report