Religion: Witnesses7 Spartan Trials

Tireless as proselytizers and tiresome as preachers, Jehovah's Witnesses often make more enemies than converts. Currently, the made-in-America sect is facing a high degree of hostility in Greece. The Witnesses' doctrinal refusal to bear arms defies Greece's universal-conscription law, which has no provision for conscientious objection. Within the past three months, two young Greek Witnesses have been condemned to death for refusing military service.

As it turned out, neither objector will have to face the firing squad. In July, the first protesting Witness, George Roussopoulos, 22, was retried and sentenced to seven years in prison. Last week, after scattered international protests against...

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