Other Signs of Change

A presidential speech and news conference on April 24, 1990, signaled a marked change in the official attitude toward Jehovah’s Witnesses. In his news conference with both national and foreign journalists, the president gave assurance that the government upheld all basic freedoms, including freedom of the press and freedom of religion. This opened the way for the brothers to preach and to meet more openly. Those who had been held in prison were released.

Freedom Again

The presidential decree of 1986 banned all activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses and dissolved their legal corporation in the country. However, on January 8, 1993, the Supreme Court of Justice of Zaire (Congo) handed down a decision in the case of Jehovah’s Witnesses v. the Republic of Zaire. The court ruled that the presidential decree was unjustified and thus annulled it. What joy this brought to the brothers!

That Supreme Court decision caused quite a stir because the court had applied a new transitional constitution, which was unacceptable to the president and his supporters. Others viewed the decision as establishing jurisprudence. The Witnesses were caught in the middle of the dispute, but what a tremendous witness this proved to be to the glory of Jehovah’s name! Dozens of newspaper articles commented on this historic case. Then the Justice Department informed the governors of the various provinces that Jehovah’s Witnesses were again legally authorized to carry on their religious activities. What a victory for Jehovah’s people and for true worship!