Madrid judges side with victims’ association, ruling harsh criticism—though offensive—does not breach defamation laws; case may head to Supreme Court.

A Spanish court has ruled that critics of Jehovah’s Witnesses can legally describe the religious group as a “destructive sect,” declaring such language protected under the country’s free speech laws.

In a decision dated April 16, the Provincial Court of Madrid upheld an earlier 2023 ruling in favour of the Spanish Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses Victims (AEVTJ). The court found that the group’s public statements, while potentially offensive, do not amount to unlawful harm against the reputation or honour of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The judges concluded that labelling the organisation a “destructive sect” falls within the boundaries of permissible expression. They further held that claims suggesting the group could harm members’ health, endanger lives, or produce victims are also legally protected, even if such assertions are controversial or unsettling.

The case stemmed from a lawsuit filed by six Jehovah’s Witnesses members in Spain, who challenged the use of the term “victims” in the association’s name and sought to have the group dissolved on grounds of defamation.

Carlos Bardavio, a lawyer for the association, described the ruling as groundbreaking, noting it is the first time a Spanish court has explicitly affirmed that a recognised religion can be characterised in such terms without violating the law.

Founded in 1870 in Pennsylvania by Charles Taze Russell, Jehovah’s Witnesses claim around nine million adherents worldwide. The group is widely known for its door-to-door evangelism and its doctrinal opposition to blood transfusions.

The ruling is not yet final and could still be appealed to Spain’s Supreme Court. Jehovah’s Witnesses had not issued an official response at the time of reporting.