How have things changed in eastern Germany? In March 1990 the East German newspapers announced the legalization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Under the title “Jehovah’s Witnesses Legal Again,” the East German newspaper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung stated: “March 14 meant the end of a ban that had lasted for four decades. On this day German representatives of Jehovah’s Witnesses were able to leave the building of the G[erman] D[emocratic] R[epublic] State Secretariat for Church Affairs with an official document in their pocket again permitting their community of faith the free exercise of religion within the realm of the GDR.”

Progress in Poland

Jehovah’s Witnesses were legalized in Poland in May 1989.

Religious Freedom in Romania

Witnesses in Romania were thrilled to hear that their association was legally recognized in April 1990. (See box, page 13.)

Good News From Hungary

June 27, 1989, was a historic day for the Witnesses in Hungary. The newspaper Magyar Nemzet announced: “The State Office for Church Affairs declared the religious association of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hungary, according to the law pursuant to freedom of religion, as a legally recognized religious confession.” The news was announced over the radio and on TV. Hungarians learned that Jehova Tanúi (Jehovah’s Witnesses) at last had legal recognition of their work.