20 Years of Public Law Corporation Status
Jehovah’s Witnesses Reflect on an Important Milestone for Religious Freedom in Germany
On June 13, 2006, the Berlin Senate granted the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ legal entity the status of a corporation under public law. From the perspective of the Federal Constitutional Court, this status is a means of promoting religious freedom and is intended to support the autonomy and independence of religious communities.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have been active in Germany for over 130 years. During the Nazi era and later in the former GDR, Jehovah’s Witnesses faced severe persecution. A total of 282 of Jehovah’s Witnesses were executed under the Nazi regime because of their conscientious objection to military service.
Following the recognition in Berlin, the process of secondary recognition in all other German federal states was completed in 2017. This recognition allows Jehovah’s Witnesses to continue contributing to society through educational and humanitarian initiatives.
Worldwide, more than 9.2 million active Jehovah’s Witnesses live in 241 countries and territories. For more information, please visit jw.org.