Until the fateful Sunday of October 29, 2023, Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian sect, were known for their unobtrusive presence and peaceful evangelism in Kerala. Typically appearing in small groups of five or six, they would knock on doors to share their beliefs about God.
This community had remained largely invisible in the public domain even during Kerala’s festive celebrations, including Onam, Bakrid, and Christmas, which people of various religions celebrated together. Jehovah's Witnesses do not share the traditional Christian belief that Jesus Christ is God. Instead, they regard him as the ‘King of God’s Kingdom in Heaven’. Their ultimate deity is Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Despite being a minority within the Christian community in Kerala, they had largely stayed away from politics too. All other Churches within the Christian community hold a prominent say in the political domain of Kerala, powerful enough to negotiate with both LDF and UDF.
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However, this peaceful and unnoticed community was thrust into the spotlight following the deadly blast that occurred during a Jehovah’s Witnesses prayer meeting in Kochi. A man named David Martin, who had once been a member of the community, claimed responsibility for the explosion. This shocking incident draws a disconcerting parallel with a mass shooting that transpired in the German city of Hamburg in March. In that case, seven people lost their lives in a mass shooting at a Jehovah’s Witnesses prayer hall.
The shooter, who had previously been part of the sect, took his own life after the attack. According to reports, his motive was rooted in his deep-seated animosity toward the community and its belief system. The Kochi bomber cited similar reasons for his heinous act, expressing strong disapproval of the sect's beliefs and practices.
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Despite their low public profile, Jehovah's Witnesses have significantly influenced the secular discourse. They are marked in history for the epic legal battle in 1986 which resulted in a Supreme Court judgment that expanded the interpretation of fundamental rights. This case resurfaced in the public consciousness last year during the controversial hijab case. Three children, Bijoe Emmanuel, Binimol Emmanuel, and Bindu Emmanuel, belonging to the Jehovah’s Witnesses community, were expelled from school for refusing to sing the national anthem. Their father, V. J. Emmanuel, an English professor, fought the case and secured a ground-breaking judgment.
The Supreme Court ruled that Jehovah's Witnesses cannot be compelled to sing the national anthem if it goes against their religious beliefs. The court emphasized that their objection was not against India’s national anthem, and the High Court’s dismissal of the petition had been incorrect. Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide do not sing any national anthem, whether it’s ‘God Save the Queen’ in Britain, ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ in the United States, or ‘Jana Gana Mana’ in India. It is a matter of one’s right to practice their chosen religion, said the Supreme Court.
Despite their legal victory, Jehovah’s Witnesses have preferred to maintain a low profile, even as their case continues to be discussed and debated in India. Bijoe Emmanuel, the young boy who, at the age of 15, was expelled from school for refusing to sing the national anthem, is now a teacher. However, he has refrained from speaking out, fearing that his words might be misconstrued. When contacted by journalists, he explained that the community generally refrains from engaging with the media, and only an authorised spokesperson is allowed to do so. Even the spokesperson, when contacted, chose not to enter into discussions on nationalism, religion, or similar matters.
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In the present circumstances, the community seems to have been forced to speak up. On October 30, 2023, the Jehovah’s Witnesses spokesperson, Joshwa David, issued a brief statement to the press. In this statement, he emphasised the recent blast’s impact on the peace and harmony of the state and the country. In the carefully worded statement, he called for restraint and cautioned against hasty conclusions, expressing the community’s collective mourning for the families affected by the tragic incident.
