as well as a circuit servant, János Lakó, were arrested along with four other brothers and were taken to the prison at 60 Andrássy Street.

János Konrád wrote about it: “At the interrogations there, they did not use as much and as painful physical torture as at the police interrogations, but the brainwashing and mental torture in the middle of the night were sometimes worse than the physical torture had been.

“Our trial took place on February 2, 1951. The charge: ‘Coleadership of an organization aiming at the subversion of State and society, and treason.’ The president of the court, Judge Jónás (who during the counterrevolution five years later was in such terror that he took his own life), sentenced the seven of us to from five to ten years in prison. This sentence had evidently been prearranged, for there was no deliberation whatsoever, and previously, during one of the interrogations, a brother had been told by the one who interrogated him: ‘We shall lock you up for ten years, and when those ten years are up, our People’s Republic will be stronger than it is now, and the people will be ideologically trained and immune to your trying to influence them with the Bible. Then we shall be able to release you.’”

Brother Konrád continued: “We were sent to the prison at Vác, north of Budapest. But it was a joy for all of us to be put together into the same cell. At last we were able to exchange thoughts and experiences! We passed the day following a schedule, starting with the day’s text, which we took turns in preparing. We did not even possess a Bible; nevertheless, we started ‘reading’ the Bible from the beginning by citing the passages we could remember. We ‘read’ Watchtower articles in the same way. And we prayed daily that Jehovah would help our brothers on the outside to remain steadfast.

“We did not remain together for very long, however, for we were separated and put with worldly prisoners​—the authorities concluding that if we remained together we would strengthen one another in our convictions and would never ‘improve.’ Later on we were reunited, this time because they feared that we might convince our worldly cellmates of God’s truth. This game repeated itself throughout our imprisonment.”

In 1955, János Lakó again was moved to the same cell as János Konrád. A certain Mr. Szabó approached Brother Lakó and made some suggestions. “We could not discuss things with Konrád,” said Mr. Szabó, “he is so stubborn. You are more intelligent. We are ready to set you free and authorize your activity. Konrád will remain here, but the congregation can meet together. You may be Jehovah’s Witnesses, you can pray as much as you want, but do not agitate others.”

“That would mean we would be the kind of witnesses who don’t bear witness,” replied Brother Lakó. “I can’t promise that.”

“Well, think it over. I shall visit you again.” When he came again, among other questions he asked was: “How is Konrád doing?”

“He is fairly well.”

“When did you last see him?”

“Just now, we are in the same cell.”

“And did you tell him what we were talking about?”

“Of course, he is my brother!” Angrily the government agent went away and never visited Brother Lakó again.

[Picture on page 102]

Like many other Witnesses, János Lakó refused to compromise with his persecutors