In a telephone interview, an official with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in Georgetown, Ontario, stated that Jehovah's Witnesses are free to practice their beliefs in Poland (23 Mar. 1995). The official added that Polish Jehovah's Witnesses are freely publishing and distributing their publications in the country (ibid.). The official was not aware of any restrictions against Jehovah's Witnesses in Poland. The official also was not aware of any problems existing between Jehovah's Witnesses and other religious groups, or the police, or the military as a result of Jehovah's Witnesses' conscientious objection to military service (ibid.) According to the official, the Jehovah's Witnesses are growing in numbers and opening new congregations throughout Poland. The attached articles describe annual events organized by Polish Jehovah's Witnesses during the past three years. This information could not be corroborated by the DIRB.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, Georgetown, Ontario. 23 March 1995. Telephone interview with official.

Polish Press Agency (PAP). 22 July 1994. "Fear of God is Motto of Jehovah's Witnesses Meeting in Warsaw." (NEXIS)

_____. 11 July 1993. "Jehovah's Witnesses End Meeting in Warsaw, 352 Are Baptized." (NEXIS)

_____. 19 July 1992. "Jehovah's Witnesses Hold Annual Assemblies in Poland." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International. 1994. Concerns in Europe: November 1993 - April 1994. London: Amnesty International.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994. 1995. United States Department of State. Washington DC. (electronic version received from the Resource Info Center, INS, US)

Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1991-1994.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Research Institute. Research Reports. 1994.

Oral sources.