ESTRASBOURG, eFrance—Ngomhla ka-25 September 2012, iNkantolo Yamalungelo Abantu YaseYurophu yathola uhulumeni wase-Austria unecala lokubandlulula oFakazi BakaJehova futhi yayala ukuba lo hulumeni ukhokhe ama-euro angu-13 000 (amaRandi angaba ngu-149 000) ezindleko zoFakazi zasenkantolo.

Ngo-2002, uhulumeni wase-Austria wenqaba ukunika izikhonzi ezimbili ezingoFakazi BakaJehova zasePhilippines imvume yokuhlala kulelo zwe; lezi zikhonzi zazifuna ukukhuthaza oFakazi base-Austria abakhuluma isiTagalog. Ngesinye isikhathi, lo hulumeni wayala oFakazi ukuba bakhiphe intela eyisipho emalini yeminikelo abayithola ngo-1999. Unobangela walezi zenzakalo ukuthi, kunokuba ubheke oFakazi BakaJehova “njengenhlangano yenkolo,” lo hulumeni wawubabheka “njengomphakathi wenkolo,” okwakubenza bangabi inhlangano esemthethweni. Lokhu kwabangela ukuba oFakazi benqatshelwe amalungelo athile ayetholwa izinkolo ezinkulu.

Lesi isinqumo sesithupha seNkantolo ngokumelene ne-Austria esivuna oFakazi BakaJehova futhi saqinisa isinqumo esasenziwe ngaphambili ngo-2008. Kuleso sinqumo, iNkantolo yaphetha ngokuthi oFakazi kwakufanele babhekwe “njengenhlangano yenkolo” ngenxa “yesikhathi eside bekhona kwamanye amazwe” nase-Austria.

OFakazi balindele ukuthi lokhu kunqoba kwamuva eNkantolo YaseYurophu kuzovikela amalungelo abo futhi kuvimbele ubandlululo olungokwenkolo, ukuze kuzuze abakhulekeli abakanye nabo nazo zonke izakhamuzi ezisemazweni angamalungu oMkhandlu WaseYurophu.

Media Contacts:

J. R. Brown, Office of Public Information, tel. +1 718 560 5000

Austria: Johann Zimmermann, tel. +43 1 804 53 45