Igice cya 29

‘Banzwe n’amahanga yose’

MU IJORO rya nyuma Yesu yamaranye n’intumwa ze mbere y’uko apfa, yarazibwiye ati “‘umugaragu ntaruta shebuja.’ Niba barantoteje namwe bazabatoteza; niba barubahirije ijambo ryanjye, n’iryanyu bazaryubahiriza. Ariko bazabakorera ibyo byose babahora izina ryanjye, kuko batazi uwantumye.”—Yoh 15:20, 21.

Yesu ntiyashakaga kuvuga ibikorwa byoroheje byo kutoroherana byashoboraga kubaho. Hari hashize iminsi itatu gusa ababwiye ati “muzangwa n’amahanga yose abahora izina ryanjye.”—Mat 24:9.

Icyakora Yesu yagiriye inama abigishwa be yo kutitabaza intwaro mu gihe bari kuba bahanganye n’ibitotezo (Mat 26:48-52). Ntibagombaga gutuka ababatotezaga cyangwa ngo bashake kwihorera (Rom 12:14; 1 Pet 2:21-23). None se wenda abo babatotezaga ntibari kuzageraho bakizera (Ibyak 2:36-42; 7:58–8:1; 9:1-22)? Bagombaga kureka Imana ikaba ari yo ibahorera.—Rom 12:17-19.

Birazwi hose ko Abakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere batotejwe cyane n’abategetsi b’Abaroma. Ariko nanone birashishikaje kumenya ko abari ku isonga mu gutoteza Yesu Kristo bari abayobozi b’idini, kandi ko guverineri w’Umuroma Ponsiyo Pilato yategetse ko Yesu yicwa bitewe n’uko bari babisabye (Luka 23:13-25). Nanone nyuma y’urupfu rwa Yesu abayobozi b’idini ni bo bari ku isonga mu gutoteza abigishwa be (Ibyak 4:1-22; 5:17-32; 9:1, 2). Ese si uko byagenze no mu bihe bya vuba aha?

Abayobozi b’amadini basabye ibiganiro mpaka

Igihe inyandiko za C. T. Russell zakwirakwizwaga mu buryo bwihuse, hakajya hasohoka kopi zibarirwa muri za miriyoni mirongo mu ndimi nyinshi, abayobozi b’amadini y’Abaporotesitanti na Kiliziya Gatolika ntibashoboraga kwirengagiza ibyo yavugaga. Abayobozi b’amadini benshi barakajwe n’uko Russell yagaragazaga ko inyigisho zabo zidashingiye ku Byanditswe, kandi babuzwaga amahwemo n’uko abayoboke bagendaga babashiraho, maze batangira kwamagana inyandiko ze mu nsengero zabo. Bategetse abayoboke babo kutakira ibitabo byatangwaga n’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya. Abatari bake muri bo bagerageje koshya abategetsi kugira ngo bahagarike uwo murimo. Mu turere twinshi two muri Amerika, urugero nk’i Tampa muri leta ya Florida; Rock Island muri Illinois; Winston-Salem muri North Carolina n’i Scranton muri Pennsylvania, bahagarikiraga ibikorwa byo gutwikira mu ruhame ibitabo byanditswe na Russell.

Bamwe mu bayobozi b’amadini bumvaga ko byari ngombwa gusenya ibitekerezo bya Russell binyuze mu kumwandagariza mu biganiro mpaka. Itsinda ry’abayobozi b’amadini ryo hafi y’aho umuvandimwe Russell yakoreraga, ryitoyemo umuvugizi wabo, ari we Dr. E. L. Eaton, wari umupasiteri mu itorero ry’Abametodisiti ry’i North Avenue muri Allegheny ho muri leta ya Pennsylvania. Mu mwaka wa 1903, Eaton yasabye umuvandimwe Russell ko bagirana ikiganiro mpaka, maze arabyemera.

Bagombaga kuganira ku ngingo esheshatu zikurikira: umuvandimwe Russell yemezaga ko ubugingo bw’abapfuye nta cyo buzi; ko “kugaruka” kwa Kristo kwari kubanziriza ubutegetsi bw’imyaka igihumbi kandi ko intego yo “kugaruka” kwe n’ubutegetsi bw’imyaka igihumbi ari ukugira ngo imiryango yose yo mu isi ihabwe umugisha; nanone yemezaga ko abera bavugwa mu “Ivanjiri” ari bo bazazuka mu muzuko wa mbere ariko ko imbaga y’abantu benshi bazabona agakiza binyuze ku muzuko uzakurikiraho, ariko Dr. Eaton yarabihakanaga. Dr. Eaton yemezaga ko nta muntu uzageragezwa nyuma y’urupfu; ko abakijijwe bose bazajya mu ijuru kandi ko abantu bose batihana bazababazwa iteka, ariko umuvandimwe Russell yarabihakanaga. Mu mwaka wa 1903 habaye ibiganiro mpaka bitandatu kuri izo ngingo, kandi buri kiganiro cyaberaga imbere y’imbaga y’abantu babaga buzuye mu nzu mberabyombi ya Carnegie Hall muri Allegheny.

Ni iki cyari cyihishe inyuma y’ibyo biganiro? Albert Vandenberg yasuzumye icyo kibazo mu rwego rw’amateka, maze nyuma yaho arandika ati “ibyo biganiro byayoborwaga n’umupasiteri wo mu rindi dini ry’Abaporotesitanti, watangaga ijambo muri buri kiganiro. Byongeye kandi, abapasiteri bo mu madini atandukanye yo hafi aho babaga bicaranye na Revera Eaton kuri podiyumu kugira ngo bamwunganire bamubwira imirongo y’Ibyanditswe kandi bamutere inkunga. . . . Byonyine kuba abayobozi b’amadini y’Abaporotesitanti barishyize hamwe, nubwo batari basanzwe bashyize hamwe, bigaragaza ko batinyaga ko Russell yashoboraga guhindura abayoboke babo.”—Ingingo yari ifite umutwe uvuga ngo “Charles Taze Russell: umuhanuzi w’i Pittsburgh, 1879-1909,” yasohotse mu kinyamakuru cyitwa The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, Mutarama 1986, ipaji ya 14.

Bene ibyo biganiro byari bike ugereranyije. Ntibyatanze umusaruro abo bayobozi b’amadini bishyize hamwe bifuzaga. Bamwe mu bari bagize itorero rya Dr. Eaton, batangajwe n’ibyo bumvise muri ibyo biganiro mpaka byabaye mu mwaka wa 1903, bava mu idini rye bajya kwifatanya n’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya. Hari n’umuyobozi w’idini wari muri ibyo biganiro wiyemereye ko Russell yari ‘yamennye amazi mu muriro w’ikuzimu akawuzimya.’ Icyakora umuvandimwe Russell yabonaga ko yari kurushaho kuvuganira ukuri neza akoresheje igihe cye n’imbaraga ze mu bindi bikorwa bitari ibiganiro mpaka.

Abayobozi b’amadini bakomeje kumurwanya. Igihe umuvandimwe Russell yatangaga disikuru i Dublin muri Irilande, n’i Otley muri Yorkshire ho mu Bwongereza, bashyize abantu mu bari bateze amatwi ngo bajye batera hejuru bavuguruza Russell kandi bamushinje ibinyoma. Umuvandimwe Russell yitwaye neza muri ibyo bibazo, buri gihe agasubiza yishingikirije kuri Bibiliya.

Abayobozi b’amadini yose y’Abaporotesitanti, babaga bibumbiye mu cyitwaga ihuriro ry’amatorero y’ivugabutumwa. Abari babahagarariye mu bihugu byinshi bari barahagurukiye kurwanya Russell n’abatangaga ibitabo bye. Urugero, i Texas (muri Amerika), Abigishwa ba Bibiliya babonye ko abapasiteri bose, ndetse n’abo mu migi mito cyane no mu midugudu y’icyaro, bafite ibirego bimwe by’ibinyoma bashinjaga Russell n’uburyo bumwe bwo kugoreka ibyo yigishaga.

Icyakora ibyo bitero byibasiraga Russell hari igihe byatumaga habaho ibinyuranye n’ibyo abo bayobozi b’amadini babaga biteze. Mu mugi wa New Brunswick muri Kanada, igihe umupasiteri yigishirizaga mu rusengero agasebya Russell, hari umuntu wari uhari wari warisomeye ibitabo byanditswe n’umuvandimwe Russell. Yazinuwe no kumva uwo mupasiteri abeshya abigambiriye. Icyo kibwiriza kigeze hagati, uwo mugabo yarahagurutse afata umugore we ukuboko, ahamagara n’abakobwa be barindwi baririmbaga muri korari, ati “nimuze twitahire.” Bose uko ari icyenda barasohotse, nuko uwo mupasiteri yitegereza ukuntu uwo mugabo yari yigendeye kandi ari we wari warubatse urwo rusengero, akaba ari na we watangaga amaturo atubutse iryo torero ryakoreshaga. Bidatinze iryo torero ryarasenyutse, uwo mupasiteri na we arahava.

Bagirwa urw’amenyo kandi bagaharabikwa

Abayobozi b’amadini bavugaga ko C. T. Russell atari umuvugabutumwa w’Umukristo kubera ko bari bariyemeje gukora ibishoboka byose ngo bamuteshe agaciro. Iyo ni na yo mpamvu yatumye abayobozi b’amadini b’Abayahudi bo mu kinyejana cya mbere bavuga ko intumwa Petero na Yohana ari “abantu batize bo muri rubanda rusanzwe.”—Ibyak 4:13.

Umuvandimwe Russell ntiyari yarize mu mashuri y’amadini yiyita aya gikristo yigisha tewolojiya. Ariko yavuze ashize amanga ati “turasaba [abayobozi b’amadini] ngo batange gihamya y’uko Imana yabashinze umurimo cyangwa ko batekereza ko yawubashinze. Bo bitekerereza gusa inshingano cyangwa uburenganzira bahawe n’udutsiko tw’amadini, buri wese akazihabwa n’agatsiko k’idini rye. . . . Umuntu wese Imana yahaye inshingano cyangwa uburenganzira bwo kubwiriza, ni uwo yahaye umwuka wera. Umuntu wese wahawe umwuka wera, yanahawe ububasha n’ubutware bwo kwigisha no kubwiriza mu izina ry’Imana. Umuntu wese utarahawe umwuka wera, nta bubasha cyangwa ubutware Imana yamuhaye bwo kubwiriza ibyayo.”—Yes 61:1, 2.

Bamwe mu bayobozi b’amadini bigishaga ibinyoma bikabije bigamije guharabika umuvandimwe Russell ndetse bakanabyandika. Kimwe mu binyoma bakundaga gukoresha na n’ubu bagikoresha, ni icyerekeranye n’imibereho yo mu muryango y’umuvandimwe Russell. Bageragezaga kumvikanisha ko Russell yiyandarikaga. Ariko se ukuri kwari ukuhe?

Mu mwaka wa 1879, Charles Taze Russell yashyingiranywe na Maria Frances Ackley. Bamaranye imyaka 13 babanye neza. Ariko iyo mishyikirano yaje kuzamo agatotsi igihe abantu bamwe batangiraga gushyeshyenga Maria bakamutera kugira ubwibone. Ariko imigambi y’abo bamushyeshyengaga imaze kumenyekana, yabaye nk’uwisubiyeho. Igihe umwe mu bahoze bakorana n’umuvandimwe Russell yakwirakwizaga ibinyoma agamije kumusebya, Maria yasabye umugabo we uburenganzira bwo gusura amatorero amwe n’amwe kugira ngo abeshyuze ibyo binyoma, kuko bavugaga ko ngo amufata nabi. Icyakora, ukuntu yakiriwe neza muri urwo rugendo yakoze mu mwaka wa 1894, uko bigaragara byatumye atangira guhindura uko yitekerezagaho. Yashakaga kugira uruhare rukomeye mu gufata imyanzuro ku byasohokaga mu Munara w’Umurinzi.a Amaze kubona ko nta na kimwe mu byo yanditse cyari gusohoka umugabo we wari umwanditsi mukuru w’iyo gazeti atabanje kugenzura ibyarimo (ngo arebe niba bihuje n’Ibyanditswe), yarababaye cyane. Umuvandimwe Russell yakoze ibyo yashoboraga byose ngo amufashe, ariko mu kwezi k’Ugushyingo 1897 yarahukanye. Nubwo byari bimeze bityo ariko, yakomeje kumuha ibimutunga n’aho aba. Mu mwaka wa 1903 yatanze ikirego mu rukiko, maze mu mwaka wa 1908 urukiko rufata umwanzuro wo kutamuha ubutane bwuzuye, ahubwo rumwemerera kwahukana akajya ahabwa ibimutunga.

Abonye ko ananiwe guhatira umugabo we kwemera ibyo yasabaga, amaze gutandukana na we yakoze ibishoboka byose ngo amuharabike. Mu mwaka wa 1903 yasohoye inyandiko itari irimo ukuri ko mu Byanditswe ahubwo yari yuzuyemo amagambo agoretse yo guharabika umuvandimwe Russell. Yagerageje gushaka abapasiteri bo mu madini atandukanye kugira ngo bamufashe gutanga iyo nyandiko mu duce Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bagiriragamo amateraniro yihariye. Abo bapasiteri ni abo gushimwa kuko icyo gihe atari benshi bemeye kuba ibikoresho muri ubwo buryo. Icyakora kuva icyo gihe, abandi bayobozi b’amadini bagaragaje umwuka utandukanye n’uwo.

Mbere yaho, Maria Russell yari yaramaganye mu magambo no mu nyandiko abari barashinje umuvandimwe Russell ibyo binyoma na we yari asigaye amushinja. Bamwe mu bayobozi b’amadini barwanyaga umuvandimwe Russell bifashishije ibirego bidafite gihamya byari byaratanzwe mu rukiko mu mwaka wa 1906 (kandi urukiko rwari rwarategetse ko bihanagurwa mu idosiye), basohora inyandiko yari irimo ibinyoma bigamije gutuma abantu batekereza ko yiyandarikaga, bityo akaba atari akwiriye kuba umukozi w’Imana. Nyamara inyandiko z’urukiko zagaragazaga neza ko ibyo birego byari ibinyoma. Avoka wa Maria Russell yamubajije niba yaremeraga ko umugabo we yari yarakoze icyaha cy’ubusambanyi. Yarashubije ati “oya.” Nanone birashishikaje kumenya ko mu mwaka wa 1897 igihe komite y’abasaza b’Abakristo bumvaga ibirego umugore wa Russell yashinjaga umugabo we, atigeze ahingutsa ibyo yaje kuvuga nyuma yaho mu rukiko ashaka kwemeza abacamanza ko akwiye guhabwa ubutane, nubwo ibyo yavuze byitwa ko byari byarabaye mbere y’uko abonana n’abo basaza.

Hashize imyaka icyenda umugore wa Russell agejeje ikirego mu rukiko, umucamanza witwa James Macfarlane yanditse ibaruwa asubiza umuntu washakaga kopi y’inyandiko z’urukiko kugira ngo ayihe umwe muri bagenzi be ashinje Russell. Umucamanza yamubwije ukuri ko ibyo yashakaga byari uguta igihe n’amafaranga. Ibaruwa ye yagiraga iti “impamvu umugore we yashingiyeho atanga ikirego n’izo abacamanza bashingiyeho bafata umwanzuro zari ‘ugutesha agaciro’ ntizari ubusambanyi, kandi ubuhamya bwatanzwe, nkurikije uko mbwumva, ntibugaragaza ko Russell ‘yaba yari afite umuntu basambanaga.’ Mu by’ukuri, uwo muntu nta wigeze abaho.”

Maria Russell ubwe yaje kubyiyemerera nyuma yaho mu mihango yo gushyingura umuvandimwe Russell yabereye mu nzu mberabyombi ya Carnegie Hall i Pittsburgh mu mwaka wa 1916. Yamanutse yitwikiriye ajya aho isanduku yari iteretse ashyiraho indabo. Kuri izo ndabo hariho agatambaro kanditseho ngo “Umugabo wanjye nkunda.”

Biragaragara ko abo bayobozi b’amadini bakoresheje amayeri ameze nk’ayo bagenzi babo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere bakoresheje. Icyo gihe bagerageje guharabika Yesu bamushinja ko asangira n’abanyabyaha kandi ko na we ubwe yari umunyabyaha utuka Imana (Mat 9:11; Yoh 9:16-24; 10:33-37). Ibyo birego ntibyigeze bihindura ukuri ku byerekeye Yesu, ahubwo byagaragaje ko ababikoreshaga bamuharabika bakomoka kuri se Satani, iryo zina rikaba risobanurwa ngo “Usebanya,” nk’uko bigaragaza ko n’ababikoresha muri iki gihe bakomoka kuri Satani.—Yoh 8:44.

Buririra ku ntambara kugira ngo bagere ku ntego zabo

Igihe umwuka wo gukunda igihugu by’agakabyo wiyongeraga mu Ntambara ya Mbere y’Isi Yose, abayobozi b’amadini y’Abaporotesitanti na Kiliziya Gatolika y’i Roma babonye intwaro nshya bakoresha barwanya Abigishwa ba Bibiliya. Bashoboraga kubagaragariza urwango babangaga bitwikiriye gukunda igihugu by’agakabyo. Buririye ku mwuka w’intambara wariho bashinja Abigishwa ba Bibiliya ko bagandiraga ubutegetsi, icyo kirego akaba ari na cyo abayobozi b’amadini yo mu kinyejana cya mbere b’i Yerusalemu bareze Yesu Kristo n’intumwa Pawulo (Luka 23:2, 4; Ibyak 24:1, 5). Birumvikana ariko ko abo bayobozi b’amadini bagombaga gushyigikira intambara kugira ngo icyo kirego kigire ingufu, kandi benshi muri bo bumvaga ko ibyo nta cyo byari bitwaye, nubwo byabasabaga kohereza abasore ku rugamba bakajya kwica bagenzi babo bahuje idini bo mu kindi gihugu.

Muri Nyakanga 1917, nyuma y’urupfu rwa Russell, umuryango wa Watch Tower Society wasohoye igitabo cyatangaga ibisobanuro ku gitabo cy’Ibyahishuwe, Ezekiyeli n’Indirimbo ya Salomo (Le mystère accompli). Icyo gitabo cyagaragaje neza uburyarya bw’abayobozi b’amadini yiyita aya gikristo. Cyatanzwe mu rugero rwagutse kandi mu gihe gito. Mu mpera z’Ukuboza 1917 no mu ntangiriro z’umwaka wa 1918, Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bo muri Amerika na Kanada nanone batanze kopi 10.000.000 z’inkuru y’Ubwami yarimo ubutumwa bukaze (L’Étudiant de la Bible). Iyo nkuru y’Ubwami y’amapaji ane yanganaga n’akanyamakuru gato yari ifite umutwe uvuga ngo “Babuloni iraguye,” kandi yarimo umutwe muto uvuga ngo “Impamvu ubu amadini yiyita aya gikristo agomba kubabazwa—Iherezo ryayo.” Yagaragaje ko imiryango yo mu rwego rw’idini y’Abagatolika n’Abaporotesitanti, yose hamwe ari yo igize Babuloni yo muri iki gihe igomba kurimbuka bidatinze. Mu gushyigikira ibyavugwagamo, yagarutse ku bisobanuro byatanzwe mu gitabo cyasobanuraga ubuhanuzi bugaragaza urubanza Imana yaciriye “Babuloni y’amayobera.” Ku gifubiko cy’iyo nkuru y’Ubwami hariho igishushanyo kigaragaza urukuta rurimo rusenyuka. Ku mabuye manini y’urwo rukuta hari handitseho ngo “Inyigisho y’Ubutatu (‘3 X 1 = 1’),” “Kudapfa k’ubugingo,” “Inyigisho yo kubabazwa iteka,” “Abaporotesitanti: inyigisho zabo, abayobozi b’idini n’ibindi,” “Kiliziya Gatolika y’i Roma: abapapa, abakaridinali n’ibindi,” kandi ayo mabuye yose yarimo agwa.

Abayobozi b’amadini barakajwe cyane n’uko ibyabo byashyizwe hanze, nk’uko abayobozi b’idini ry’Abayahudi barakajwe n’uko Yesu yashyize ahabona uburyarya bwabo (Mat 23:1-39; 26:3, 4). Abayobozi b’idini bo muri Kanada bahise bagira icyo bakora. Muri Mutarama 1918, abayobozi b’idini b’Abanyakanada barenga 600 bashyize umukono ku nyandiko yasabaga leta guhagarika ibitabo by’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya. Nk’uko ikinyamakuru kimwe cyabitangaje (Winnipeg Evening Tribune), pasiteri w’urusengero rwa St. Stephen rw’i Winnipeg witwaga Charles G. Paterson, yatanze ikibwiriza yamagana iyo nkuru y’Ubwami yarimo ingingo ivuga ngo “Babuloni iraguye,” maze umushinjacyaha mukuru Johnson ajya kumureba amusaba kopi y’iyo nkuru y’Ubwami. Nyuma yaho gato, ku itariki ya 12 Gashyantare 1918, leta ya Kanada yaciye iteka rivuga ko umuntu wese uzafatanwa icyo gitabo (Le mystère accompli) cyangwa iyo nkuru y’Ubwami, azaba akoze icyaha gihanishwa amande n’igifungo.

Muri uko kwezi ku itariki ya 24 Gashyantare, umuvandimwe Rutherford wari uherutse gutorerwa kuba perezida w’umuryango wa Watch Tower Society, yatanze disikuru mu nzu mberabyombi ya Temple Auditorium y’i Los Angeles muri leta ya Kaliforuniya muri Amerika. Iyo disikuru ntiyari isanzwe rwose. Yari ifite umutwe uvuga ngo “Isi yararangiye: Abantu babarirwa muri za miriyoni bariho ubu ntibazigera bapfa.” Mu bimenyetso yatanze agaragaza ko isi nk’uko yari izwi kugeza icyo gihe mu by’ukuri yari yararangiye mu mwaka wa 1914, yavuzemo intambara yari igikomeza n’inzara yari yaratewe n’iyo ntambara, avuga ko byari bigize ikimenyetso Yesu yahanuye (Mat 24:3-8). Hanyuma yibanze ku bayobozi b’amadini agira ati

“Ibyanditswe bigaragaza ko abayobozi b’amadini bose mu rwego rw’itsinda ari bo bakwiye kuryozwa intambara ikomeye irimo iteza abantu imibabaro kurusha abandi bose ku isi. Bamaze imyaka 1.500 bigisha abantu inyigisho zikomoka kuri Satani, bababwira ko abami bafite ububasha bwo gutegeka bakomora ku Mana. Bavanze politiki n’idini, bavanga kiliziya na leta; kandi ntibashohoje mu budahemuka inshingano bahawe n’Imana yo gutangaza ubutumwa bw’Ubwami bwa Mesiya, kandi bihaye inshingano yo gushishikariza abategetsi gutekereza ko umwami ategekesha ububasha yahawe n’Imana, bityo ibyo akora byose bikaba bikwiriye.” Yagaragaje ingaruka mbi ibyo byagize agira ati “abami b’abanyamururumba b’i Burayi bagiye bashoza intambara bitewe n’uko bifuzaga kwigarurira ubutaka bw’abandi; kandi abayobozi b’idini barabashyigikiraga bakababwira bati ‘mukomereze aho, nta kibi mushobora gukora; ibyo mukora byose birakwiriye.’” Ariko abayobozi b’amadini b’i Burayi si bo bonyine bashyigikiraga intambara, ahubwo n’abigisha bo muri Amerika na bo barazishyigikiraga.

Bukeye bwaho inkuru irambuye yerekeranye n’iyo disikuru yasohotse mu kinyamakuru cy’i Los Angeles (Morning Tribune). Abayobozi b’amadini bararakaye cyane ku buryo uwo munsi inama y’ihuriro ryabo yahise iterana, ikohereza perezida wayo ngo ajye kumenyesha abayobozi b’icyo kinyamakuru ko bababajwe cyane n’iyo nkuru. Nyuma y’ibyo, abakozi b’ikigo gishinzwe ubutasi bamaze igihe bakora amaperereza ya hato na hato ku biro by’umuryango wa Watch Tower Society.

Muri icyo gihe hari umwuka wo gukunda igihugu by’agakabyo, abayobozi b’amadini bakoreye inama i Philadelphia muri Amerika, bafata icyemezo cyasabaga urwego rw’iperereza gusubiramo itegeko rigenga ubutasi kugira ngo abakekwagaho kuryica bashyikirizwe inkiko za gisirikare, abahamwe n’icyaha bakatirwe urwo gupfa. Batoranyije John Lord O’Brian wari ushinzwe ibibazo by’intambara yungirije umushinjacyaha mukuru ngo ashyikirize icyo kibazo Sena. Perezida wa Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika yanze gushyigikira umushinga w’iryo itegeko. Ariko igihe James Franklin Bell wari Jenerali Majoro mu ngabo za Amerika yari yazabiranyijwe n’uburakari, yabwiye J. F. Rutherford na W. E. Van Amburgh ibyari byarabereye muri iyo nama n’ukuntu bashakaga gutora itegeko ryibasira abayobozi bari bahagarariye umuryango wa Watch Tower Society.

Inyandiko za leta ya Amerika zigaragaza ko nibura guhera ku itariki ya 21 Gashyantare 1918, John Lord O’Brian ubwe yagize uruhare mu gutegura idosiye yashinjaga Abigishwa ba Bibiliya. Inyandiko za Kongere ya Amerika yateranye kuwa 24 Mata no kuwa 4 Gicurasi zirimo ubutumwa bwanditswe na John Lord O’Brian, wemezaga akomeje ko niba amategeko yemerera umuntu kuvuga “ukuri, abitewe n’intego nziza kandi afite ibimenyetso bifatika,” nk’uko byavuzwe mu cyiswe itegeko ry’u Bufaransa ry’ubutasi rivuguruye kandi rigashyigikirwa na Sena ya Amerika, atashoboraga gukurikirana mu nkiko Abigishwa ba Bibiliya ngo agire icyo ageraho.

I Worcester muri leta ya Massachusetts, “Revera” B. F. Wyland na we yuririye ku mwuka w’intambara maze ashinja Abigishwa ba Bibiliya ko bakoreraga umwanzi poropagande. Yasohoye ingingo mu kinyamakuru (Daily Telegram), agira ati “imwe mu nshingano mugomba gusohoza mwebwe baturage bakunda igihugu ni ukurandurana n’imizi Umuryango Mpuzamahanga w’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya ufite icyicaro i Brooklyn. Bitwikiriye idini, bakwirakwiza poropagande y’Abadage i Worcester binyuze mu kugurisha igitabo cyabo (Le mystère accompli).” Yabwiye abategetsi yeruye ko bari bafite inshingano yo gufunga Abigishwa ba Bibiliya, bakababuza kongera kugira amateraniro.

Mu rugaryi no mu mpeshyi byo mu mwaka wa 1918 ibikorwa byo gutoteza Abigishwa ba Bibiliya byarushijeho kwiyongera muri Amerika no mu Burayi. Mu bari inyuma y’ibyo bikorwa harimo abayobozi b’amadini y’Ababatisita, Abametodisiti, Abepisikopali, Abaluteriyani, Kiliziya Gatolika y’i Roma n’andi madini. Abategetsi bafatiriye ibitabo by’imfashanyigisho za Bibiliya kandi nta mpapuro bafite zibemerera kubifatira kandi Abigishwa ba Bibiliya benshi barafungwa. Abandi bagabweho ibitero, barakubitwa cyane, babasukaho godoro hanyuma babashyiraho amababa, babavuna imbavu cyangwa babaca imitwe. Hari n’abo bamugaje burundu. Abagabo n’abagore b’Abakristo bafungwaga nta cyo baregwa cyangwa badaciriwe urubanza. Bene ibyo bikorwa by’agahomamunwa bisaga ijana bakoreye Abigishwa ba Bibiliya byavuzwe muri Nimukanguke! yo ku itariki ya 29 Nzeri 1920 (icyo gihe yitwaga L’Âge d’Or).

Babashinja ko ari abatasi

Ibintu byageze ku ndunduro ku itariki ya 7 Gicurasi 1918, igihe muri Amerika hasohokaga impapuro zo guta muri yombi J. F. Rutherford wari perezida w’umuryango wa Watch Tower Society na bagenzi be.

Umunsi wabanjirije iyo tariki, i Brooklyn muri leta ya New York hari hasohotse inyandiko ebyiri zari zikubiyemo ibirego umuvandimwe Rutherford na bagenzi be bashinjwaga. Iyo batagera ku cyo bifuzaga mu rubanza rwa mbere, bashoboraga gukurikirana ibirego bikubiye mu yindi nyandiko. Inyandiko ya mbere, ari na yo yaregwagamo abantu benshi, yarimo ibirego bine: bibiri byabashinjaga gucura umugambi wo kuburizamo itegeko rigenga ubutasi ryo kuwa 15 Kamena 1917; naho ibindi bibiri bikabashinja ko bageragezaga gusohoza imigambi yabo idahuje n’amategeko cyangwa se ko bayishyiraga mu bikorwa. Bashinjwaga ko bagambanaga kugira ngo batume abasirikare bo mu ngabo za Amerika banga kumvira amategeko no gusohoza inshingano zabo, kandi ko bagambanaga kugira ngo baburizemo gahunda yo kwinjiza abantu mu gisirikare mu gihe igihugu cyari mu ntambara, nanone bashinjwe ko bari baragerageje gukora ibyo bikorwa cyangwa ko bari barabikoze. Inyandiko yabashinjaga icyaha, yikomye igitabo cyasobanuraga ubuhanuzi Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bari barasohoye bakanagitanga (Le mystère accompli). Inyandiko ya kabiri yabashinjaga sheki bohereje mu Burayi (akaba yari amafaranga yari gukoreshwa mu murimo wo kwigisha Bibiliya mu Budage), bavuga ko yari ibangamiye inyungu za Amerika. Igihe abo baregwaga bajyanwaga mu rukiko, bashinjwe ibyaha byari mu nyandiko ya mbere.

Icyakora icyo gihe hari indi nyandiko y’ibirego C. J. Woodworth na J. F. Rutherford bashinjwaga bishingiye ku itegeko rigenga ubutasi, yari mu rukiko rw’i Scranton muri Pennsylvania. Ariko dukurikije ibaruwa yanditswe na John Lord O’Brian yo kuwa 20 Gicurasi 1918, Minisiteri y’Ubutabera yatinyaga ko umucamanza witwa Witmer wari kuburanisha urwo rubanza, atari kubemerera gukoresha itegeko rigenga ubutasi ngo bakureho burundu umurimo w’abantu bavuze ibintu abandi bashobora kubona ko ari poropagande yo kudashyigikira intambara, kandi ibyo bavugaga barabiterwaga n’imyizerere y’idini ryabo izira uburyarya. Minisiteri y’Ubutabera yabaye isubitse urubanza rw’i Scranton, itegereza imyanzuro yari kuva mu rubanza rw’i Brooklyn. Nanone Minisiteri y’Ubutabera yakoze ibishoboka byose kugira ngo umucamanza w’i Vermont witwaga Harland B. Howe abe ari we uburanisha urwo rubanza mu rukiko rw’ibanze rwo muri leta ya New York, kuko John Lord O’Brian yari azi ko yabonaga ibintu nk’uko na we abibona. Urwo rubanza rwaburanishijwe ku itariki ya 5 Kamena, kandi Isaac R. Oeland na Charles J. Buchner wari umuyoboke wa Kiliziya Gatolika y’i Roma ni bo bari abashinjacyaha. Muri urwo rubanza, umuvandimwe Rutherford yabonye ko abapadiri b’Abagatolika bajyaga inama kenshi na Buchner na Oeland.

Muri urwo rubanza, hagaragajwe ko abayobozi b’umuryango wa Watch Tower Society n’abakusanyije ibitekerezo biri muri icyo gitabo batari bafite intego yo kubangamira igihugu mu ntambara cyarimo. Ibimenyetso byatanzwe muri urwo rubanza byagaragaje ko imyiteguro yo kwandika icyo gitabo yari yarakozwe mbere y’uko Amerika itangaza ko yinjiye mu ntambara (ku itariki ya 6 Mata 1917). Koko rero, inyandiko z’icyo gitabo zandikishijwe intoki hafi ya zose zari zaranditswe mbere y’iyo tariki, kandi amasezerano ya mbere yo gusohora icyo gitabo yari yarashyizweho umukono mbere y’uko Amerika itora itegeko (ryo kuwa 15 Kamena) babaregaga ko barenzeho.

Ubushinjacyaha bwibanze ku bintu byongewe muri icyo gitabo muri Mata na Kamena 1917 mu gihe cyo kunonosora umwandiko. Mu byongeweho hari hakubiyemo amagambo y’umuyobozi w’idini witwaga John Haynes Holmes, yari yaravuze akomeje ko intambara ihabanye n’Ubukristo. Umwe mu baburaniraga abaregwa yagaragaje ko amagambo y’uwo muyobozi w’idini yari yarasohotse mu gitabo cyari kicyigurishwa muri Amerika igihe urwo rubanza rwabaga (A Statement to My People on the Eve of War). Nyamara yaba uwo muyobozi w’idini cyangwa uwagisohoye nta n’umwe muri bo wari wakurikiranwaga mu rukiko abizira. Ahubwo Abigishwa ba Bibiliya basubiyemo amagambo yo mu kibwiriza cye ni bo baryozwaga ibitekerezo bye.

Icyo gitabo cy’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya nticyabwiraga abantu bo mu isi ko batari bafite uburenganzira bwo kujya mu ntambara. Ahubwo, cyasobanuraga ubuhanuzi gisubiramo ibyari byaravuzwe mu nomero z’Umunara w’Umurinzi wo mu mwaka wa 1915, kigaragaza ko ibyo abayobozi b’amadini bavugaga ko ari abakozi ba Kristo byari binyuranye n’ibikorwa byabo byo gushakira abasirikare amahanga yarwanaga.

Umuvandimwe Rutherford akimara kumenya ko leta yari yanze icyo gitabo, yahise yandikira icapiro arisaba guhagarika umurimo wo kugicapa, kandi intumwa y’umuryango wa Watch Tower Society yahise yoherezwa mu nzego z’ubutasi bw’igisirikare cya Amerika kugira ngo amenye impamvu bacyanze. Igihe umuryango wa Watch Tower Society wamenyaga ko ibyari ku mapaji ya 247-253 ari byo byari biteje ikibazo bitewe n’intambara igihugu cyarimo, watanze amabwiriza ko ayo mapaji yakurwa muri kopi zose z’icyo gitabo mbere y’uko gitangwa. Kandi igihe leta yamenyeshaga abavoka b’urukiko rw’ibanze ko gukomeza gutanga icyo gitabo byari binyuranyije n’itegeko rigenga ubutasi (nubwo leta yanze kubwira umuryango wa Watch Tower Society icyo yatekerezaga ku byari byahinduwe kuri icyo gitabo), uwo muryango wasabye ko kugitanga byaba bisubitswe.

Kuki bahawe igihano kiremereye cyane?

Nubwo hari harakozwe ibyo byose ariko, ku itariki ya 20 Kamena 1918, inteko yafashe umwanzuro w’uko buri wese mu baregwaga yahamwaga n’ibyaha byari mu nyandiko zabashinjaga. Ku munsi ukurikiyeho, barindwi muri bob bakatiwe gufungwa mu byiciro 4, buri cyiciro kikamara imyaka 20, yose bakayifungirwa icyarimwe. Ku itariki ya 10 Nyakanga, uwa munanic yakatiwe gufungwa mu byiciro bine, buri cyiciro kikamara imyaka 10, yose akayifungirwa icyarimwe. Ibyo bihano bakatiwe byari biremereye mu rugero rungana iki? Mu butumwa perezida wa Amerika Woodrow Wilson yoherereje umushinjacyaha mukuru ku itariki ya 12 Werurwe 1919, yagize ati “biragaragara ko imyaka y’igifungo bakatiwe ikabije kuba myinshi.” Koko rero, n’umuntu wishe igikomangoma cy’ubwami bwa Otirishiya na Hongiriya amurasiye i Sarajevo, ibyo bikaba ari byo byakomye imbarutso y’Intambara ya Mbere y’Isi Yose, ntiyigeze ahabwa igihano kiremereye nk’icyo. Yakatiwe imyaka 20 y’igifungo, ntiyakatiwe gufungwa mu byiciro bine by’imyaka 20 buri cyiciro, nk’uko Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bari bakatiwe!

Ni iki cyatumye Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bahabwa ibihano biremereye bene ako kageni? Umucamanza witwaga Harland B. Howe yaravuze ati “urukiko rwabonye ko poropagande yo mu rwego rw’idini abaregwa bamamaje bashyizeho umwete, bakayikwiza mu gihugu cyose ndetse no mu bihugu dufatanyije, iteje akaga gakomeye kuruta akaterwa n’umutwe w’ingabo z’Abadage. . . . Umuntu ubwiriza iby’idini, ubusanzwe agira imbaraga zo guhindura ibitekerezo by’abantu, kandi iyo abikorana umutima utaryarya arushaho kugera kuri byinshi. Ibi rero ntibyoroshya icyaha bakoze ahubwo bituma kirushaho kuremera. Ni yo mpamvu urukiko rwasanze ikintu kimwe gusa kigaragaza amakenga rwakorera abantu nk’abo ari ukubahanisha igihano kiremereye.” Icyakora nanone ikindi kintu tutakwirengagiza, ni uko mbere y’uko uwo mucamanza Howe afata umwanzuro, yavuze ko ibyo abunganiraga abaregwaga bavuze byari byarabibye ugushidikanya kandi bihungabanya cyane abakozi ba leta bashinzwe iby’amategeko hamwe n’“abakozi b’Imana bose bo mu gihugu hose.”

Uwo mwanzuro wahise ujuririrwa mu rukiko rw’ubujurire rwa Amerika. Ariko umucamanza Howe yanze ko abaregwaga batanga ingwate mu gihe bari bagitegereje ko urukiko rwumva ubujurire bwabo.d Ku itariki ya 4 Nyakanga, mbere y’uko urukiko rwumva urubanza rw’ubujurire rwerekeranye no gutanga ingwate ku ncuro ya gatatu ari na yo ya nyuma, abavandimwe barindwi ba mbere bahise bashushubikanywa bimurirwa muri gereza y’i Atlanta muri Jeworujiya. Nyuma yaho bagaragaje ko hari harakozwe amakosa 130 muri urwo rubanza rwaranzwe n’urwikekwe rukomeye. Abavandimwe bamaze amezi bategura impapuro bari gukenera mu rubanza rw’ubujurire. Hagati aho intambara yararangiye. Ku itariki ya 19 Gashyantare 1919, abavandimwe bari muri gereza batakambiye perezida wa Amerika Woodrow Wilson, ngo akoreshe ububasha bwe abarenganure. Nanone abaturage benshi boherereje umushinjacyaha mukuru mushya andi mabaruwa asabira abavandimwe kurekurwa. Hanyuma ku itariki ya 1 Werurwe 1919, umucamanza Howe yategetse ko ibihano bakatiwe “bihita bigabanywa” abisabwe n’umushinjacyaha mukuru. Nubwo ibyo byari gutuma abaregwaga bagabanyirizwa ibihano, nanone byari kuba byemeje ko icyaha kibahama. Mbere y’uko ibyo bikorwa, abunganiraga abavandimwe bashyikirije Umushinjacyaha Mukuru wa Amerika icyemezo cy’urukiko cyo kugeza icyo kibazo mu rukiko rw’ubujurire.

Hashize amezi icyenda Rutherford na bagenzi be bafunzwe, intambara ikaba yari yararangiye, ku itariki ya 21 Werurwe 1919 urukiko rw’ubujurire rwategetse ko abaregwaga bose uko bari umunani bafungurwa batanze ingwate, maze barekurwa ku itariki ya 26 Werurwe i Brooklyn buri wese atanze ingwate y’amadorari y’Amerika 10.000. Ku itariki ya 14 Gicurasi 1919, urukiko rw’ubujurire rwa New York rwafashe umwanzuro ugira uti “abaregwa muri uru rubanza ntibaciriwe urubanza rukwiriye kandi rutabogamye nk’uko bari babifitiye uburenganzira, akaba ari yo mpamvu umwanzuro wari warafashwe usheshwe.” Urwo rubanza rwagombaga kongera kuburanishwa bundi bushya. Icyakora ku itariki ya 5 Gicurasi 1920, nyuma y’uko abaregwaga batumijwe bakitaba urukiko, incuro eshanu zose, umushinjacyaha wa leta yatangarije mu rukiko rw’i Brooklyn rwaburanishirizaga urwo rubanza mu ruhame ko ubushinjacyaha butagikurikiranye abaregwaga.e Byatewe n’iki? Nk’uko bigaragazwa n’amabaruwa abitswe mu bubiko bw’inyandiko za leta ya Amerika, Minisiteri y’Ubutabera yatinyaga ko ubwo intambara yari yararangiye, iyo urwo rubanza rushyikirizwa abacamanza batabogamye, bari kurutsindwa. Mu rwandiko umwavoka wa Amerika witwaga L. W. Ross yandikiye umushinjacyaha mukuru yaravuze ati “kugira ngo dukomeze kubana neza n’abaturage, ntekereza ko byarushaho kuba byiza dufashe iya mbere” tugatangaza ko iki kibazo cyarangirira aha.

Kuri uwo munsi ku itariki ya 5 Gicurasi 1920, indi nyandiko ishinja umuvandimwe J. F. Rutherford na bagenzi be bane yari yarasohotse muri Gicurasi 1918 na yo yateshejwe agaciro.

Ni ba nde mu by’ukuri bari babyihishe inyuma?

Ese koko ibyo byose byatewe n’abayobozi b’amadini? John Lord O’Brian yarabihakanye. Ariko ukuri kwabyo kuzwi neza n’abari bariho icyo gihe. Ku itariki ya 22 Werurwe 1919, ikinyamakuru cyandikirwaga i Girard muri leta ya Kansas cyamaganye ibyo bikorwa kigira kiti “abigishwa ba pasiteri Russell barafashwe barafungwa bazize ubugome bw’abayobozi b’amadini, kandi nubwo bakoze ibishoboka byose kugira ngo bubahirize itegeko rigenga ubutasi banze ko bafungurwa batanze ingwate . . . . Turemeza ko, tutitaye ku kureba niba itegeko rigenga ubutasi rinyuranyije n’itegekonshinga cyangwa se ritanyuranyije na ryo cyangwa niba ritandukira amahame yemewe cyangwa ritayatandukira, abo bigishwa ba Pasiteri Russell bakatiwe barengana bazira iryo tegeko. Umuntu wese usesenguye ibimenyetso yitonze ahita yibonera adashidikanya ko nta n’umwe muri abo bagabo wigeze agira umugambi wo kwica iryo tegeko kandi nta n’uwigeze aryica.”—Appeal to Reason.

Nyuma y’imyaka runaka, mu gitabo Dr. Ray Abrams yanditse yaravuze ati “biragaragara ko abayobozi b’amadini benshi cyane bagiye bakoresha urugomo bagerageza gutsembaho Abaruseli [nk’uko abasebyaga Abigishwa ba Bibiliya babitaga]. Ubushyamirane n’inzangano bishingiye ku idini byari bimaze igihe kirekire, ariko bikaba bitarigeze bisuzumwa n’inkiko mu gihe cy’amahoro, noneho byageze mu nkiko bitewe n’umwuka wariho mu gihe cy’intambara.” Nanone yaravuze ati “usesenguye urwo rubanza rwose ugera ku mwanzuro w’uko amadini n’abayobozi bayo ari bo batangije inkubiri yo gutsembaho Abaruseli.”—Preachers Present Arms, ku ipaji ya 183-185.

Icyakora, igihe intambara yarangiraga ibitotezo byageraga ku Bigishwa ba Bibiliya byo ntibyarangiye. Ahubwo hatangiye ibindi bishya.

Abapadiri botsa igitutu abapolisi

Intambara irangiye, abayobozi b’amadini bateje ibindi bibazo kugira ngo niba bishoboka batume ibikorwa by’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bihagarara burundu. Mu myaka ya 1920, mu karere ka Bavaria no mu tundi turere two mu Budage twari twiganjemo Abagatolika, Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bafatwaga kenshi bagashinjwa kurenga ku mategeko agenga ubucuruzi. Ariko iyo izo manza zageraga mu nkiko z’ubujurire, incuro nyinshi abacamanza barenganuraga Abigishwa ba Bibiliya. Amaherezo mu mwaka wa 1930, inkiko zimaze kuremererwa n’imanza nk’izo zibarirwa mu bihumbi, Minisiteri y’Ubutegetsi bw’Igihugu yandikiye abakuru ba polisi ibamenyesha ko bareka kongera gukurikirana Abigishwa ba Bibiliya mu nkiko bashingiye ku mategeko agenga ubucuruzi. Nguko uko ibyo bitotezo byabaye bicogoye mu gihe gito, maze Abahamya ba Yehova bo mu Budage bakora umurimo wabo mu rugero rwagutse cyane.

Nanone muri iyo myaka, abayobozi b’amadini bo muri Rumaniya bari bakomeye. Bashoboye gutuma hashyirwaho amategeko abuzanya ibitabo by’Abahamya ba Yehova n’umurimo wabo. Icyakora abapadiri bari bahangayikishijwe n’uko abantu bashoboraga gusoma ibitabo bari barahawe maze bagatahura inyigisho zidashingiye ku Byanditswe n’ibinyoma byabo. Kugira ngo ibyo bitabaho, abapadiri bajyanaga n’abapolisi ku nzu n’inzu bagasaka amazu bashaka ibitabo byatanzwe n’Abahamya ba Yehova. Hari n’ubwo babazaga abana bato babinja kugira ngo bamenye niba ababyeyi babo barakiriye ibyo bitabo. Iyo bagiraga abantu basangana ibyo bitabo, babashyiragaho iterabwoba bababwira ko nibongera kubyakira bazakubitwa kandi bagafungwa. Mu midugudu imwe n’imwe, padiri ni we nanone wabaga ari umuyobozi ashinzwe ubutabera no kubungabunga amahoro kandi umuntu utarakoraga ibyo padiri yavuze ntiyashoboraga kurenganurwa.

Muri icyo gihe, bamwe mu bategetsi b’Abanyamerika na bo bakoze amakosa nk’ayo igihe bakoraga ibyo abayobozi b’amadini bifuzaga. Urugero, mu mwaka wa 1936, nyuma y’uruzinduko Musenyeri O’Hara wa Kiliziya Gatolika yagiriye mu mugi wa La Grange muri leta ya Georgia, umuyobozi w’umujyi n’umushinjacyaha bafashe Abahamya ba Yehova benshi barabafunga. Mu gihe bari bafunzwe, bararaga iruhande rw’icukiro, bakaryama kuri matora ziriho ibizinga by’amaganga, bakagaburirwa ibyokurya birimo inyo kandi bagakoreshwa imirimo y’uburetwa yo kubaka umuhanda.

Muri Polonye na ho, abayobozi ba Kiliziya Gatolika bakoresheje uburyo bwose bashoboraga gutekereza kugira ngo babangamire umurimo w’Abahamya ba Yehova. Bashishikarizaga abantu gukoresha urugomo, bagatwikira ibitabo by’Abahamya ba Yehova mu ruhame, bakabita Abakomunisiti kandi bakabajyana mu nkiko babarega ko ibitabo byabo ari “sakirirego.” Icyakora, si ko abategetsi bose bifuzaga gukora ibyo abayobozi ba kiliziya babasabaga. Umushinjacyaha wo mu rukiko rw’ubujurire rw’i Posen (Poznan) yanze gukurikirana Umuhamya wa Yehova abapadiri baregaga ko ngo yari yavuze ko abayobozi ba Kiliziya Gatolika bagize “umuryango wa Satani.” Uwo mushinjacyaha ubwe yavuze ko ubwiyandarike bwakwirakwiriye mu madini yiyita aya gikristo buturutse mu rugo rwa Papa Alegizanderi wa VI (1492-1503 C.E.) bwarangaga rwose umuryango wa Satani. Nanone igihe abayobozi ba kiliziya bashinjaga Umuhamya wa Yehova ko yatutse Imana kubera ko gusa yatangaga ibitabo by’umuryango wa Watch Tower Society, umushinjacyaha w’urukiko rw’ubujurire rw’i Thorn (Toruń) yasabye ko ahanagurwaho icyaha, aravuga ati ‘Abahamya ba Yehova bitwara nk’uko Abakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere bitwaraga. Iyo baharabitswe cyangwa bagatotezwa, bashikama ku mahame yo mu rwego rwo hejuru nubwo bari muri iyi si yononekaye kandi igenda yangirika.’

Inyandiko ziri mu bubiko bwa leta ya Kanada zigaragaza ko urwandiko Karidinali Villeneuve wa kiliziya Gatolika y’i Québec yandikiye Minisitiri w’Ubutabera Ernest Lapointe, ari rwo rwatumye umurimo w’Abahamya ba Yehova ubuzanywa muri Kanada mu mwaka wa 1940. Nyuma yaho, abandi bategetsi ba leta basabye ibisobanuro birambuye by’icyatumye hafatwa uwo mwanzuro, ariko abadepite benshi bo mu nteko ishinga amategeko ya Kanada ntibanyuzwe n’ibisobanuro bya Lapointe.

Ku rundi ruhande rw’isi, abayobozi ba kiliziya bacuraga migambi nk’iyo. Mu bubiko bw’inyandiko za leta ya Ositaraliya harimo ibaruwa Arikiyepiskopi wa Kiliziya Gatolika y’i Roma i Sydney yandikiye umushinjacyaha mukuru W. M. Hughes amushishikariza gutangaza ko Abahamya ba Yehova batemewe n’amategeko. Iyo baruwa yanditswe ku itariki ya 20 Kanama 1940, nyuma y’amezi atanu gusa umurimo urabuzanywa. Umucamanza Williams wo mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga rwa Ositaraliya amaze gusuzuma impamvu zashingiweho hashyirwaho iryo tegeko ribuzanya umurimo w’Abahamya, yavuze ko ryari “ryaratumye gushyigikira amahame n’inyigisho by’idini rya gikristo byitwa ibikorwa bitemewe n’amategeko kandi iteraniro ryose ry’abantu bemera ko Kristo yavutse rikitwa iteraniro ritemewe n’amategeko.” Ku itariki ya 14 Kamena 1943, urwo rukiko rwafashe umwanzuro w’uko iryo tegeko ryari rinyuranye n’amategeko ya Ositaraliya.

Ikinyamakuru cya Kiliziya Gatolika cyo mu Busuwisi cyasabye abategetsi gufatira ibitabo by’Abahamya kiliziya yabonaga ko biyisesereza. Bakangishaga ko iyo bidakorwa bari kubyikorera. Kandi koko ibyo ni byo bakoze mu duce twinshi tw’isi!

Abayobozi b’amadini bakoresha urugomo

Abayobozi ba Kiliziya Gatolika bo mu Bufaransa bumvaga ko abaturage ari umutungo wabo, kandi bari bariyemeje ko batazagira icyo ari cyo cyose bemerera kubangamira ubwo bubasha bari bikubiye. Mu mwaka wa 1924-1925, Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bo mu bihugu byinshi batangaga inkuru y’Ubwami yavugaga ko abayobozi b’amadini baregwa (Acte d’accusation contre le clergé). Mu mwaka wa 1925, J. F. Rutherford yagombaga gutanga disikuru i Paris yari ifite umutwe uvuga ngo “Uburyarya bw’abayobozi b’amadini bwashyizwe ahabona.” Hari umuntu wari muri iryo teraniro wavuze uko byagenze agira ati “inzu yari yuzuye abantu. Umuvandimwe Rutherford yageze kuri podiyumu abantu bakoma amashyi bamwishimiye. Yatangiye kuvuga, maze mu buryo butunguranye abapadiri bagera kuri 50 bari kumwe n’abanyamuryango b’imiryango ishamikiye kuri Kiliziya Gatolika bitwaje ibibando, biroha mu nzu baririmba [indirimbo yubahiriza igihugu cy’u Bufaransa (La Marseillaise)]. Bahagaze hejuru ku madarajya bajugunya inyandiko bari bafite. Umupadiri umwe yagiye kuri podiyumu maze abasore babiri bamukurayo. Incuro eshatu umuvandimwe Rutherford yavaga kuri podiyumu akongera akagaruka. Amaherezo yaragiye ntiyagaruka. . . . Bubitse ameza yariho ibitabo byacu, maze barabinyanyagiza. Bateje akaduruvayo kadasanzwe!” Ariko ibintu nk’ibyo byabagaho kenshi.

Igihe Jack Corr yabwirizaga muri Irilande, incuro nyinshi yibasirwaga n’abayobozi ba Kiliziya Gatolika babaga barubiye. Igihe kimwe, abantu bari biremye agatsiko bohejwe na padiri, bamukuye mu buriri mu gicuku hanyuma batwikira ibitabo bye byose ku karubanda. Igihe Victor Gurd na Jim Corby bageraga ku macumbi yabo mu mugi wa Roscrea mu karere ka Tipperary, basanze ababarwanyaga bibye ibitabo byabo babisukaho peteroli maze barabitwika. Umupolisi wo muri ako karere, abayobozi ba kiliziya n’abana bo muri ako gace, bari bahagaze aho bitegereza uko bishya baririmba indirimbo y’Abagatolika (“Foi de nos pères”).

Mbere y’uko Abahamya ba Yehova bateranira muri Madison Square Garden ho muri New York mu mwaka wa 1939, abayoboke b’umupadiri w’Umugatolika witwaga Charles Coughlin bakangishije ko bari kuburizamo iryo teraniro. Abapolisi bamenyeshejwe icyo kibazo. Ku itariki ya 25 Kamena, umuvandimwe Rutherford yatanze disikuru yari ifite umutwe uvuga ngo “Ubutegetsi n’amahoro” imbere y’abantu basaga 18.000 bari aho n’abandi benshi bayikurikira ku maradiyo hirya no hino ku isi. Iyo disikuru imaze gutangira, abayoboke ba Kiliziya Gatolika n’Abanazi basaga 200 bari bayobowe n’abapadiri baraje buzura ahagana inyuma. Ku kimenyetso bari bahanye, bahise bavuza urwamo rukomeye, basakuza bogeza Hitileri na Franco (“Heil Hitler!” na “Viva Franco!”). Bakoresheje ibitutsi by’ubwoko bwose n’ibikangisho kandi bakubita benshi mu bari bashinzwe kwakira abantu, na bo bagira icyo bakora kugira ngo bahoshe uwo muvurungano. Abari mu icyo gitero ntibashoboye kuburizamo iryo teraniro. Umuvandimwe Rutherford yakomeje gutanga disikuru abigiranye imbaraga kandi adatinya. Igihe uwo muvurungano wari ugeze aho rukomeye, yaravuze ati “murabona ko uyu munsi Abanazi n’Abagatolika bifuza kuburizamo iri teraniro ariko Imana ntishobora kubibemerera.” Abari bateze amatwi na bo bagaragaje ko bamushyigikiye bakoma amashyi incuro nyinshi. Uwo muvurungano wafashwe mu majwi yafashwe icyo gihe kandi abantu bo mu duce twinshi tw’isi barawumvise.

Icyakora aho byashobokaga hose, abayobozi ba Kiliziya Gatolika bakoreshaga leta kugira ngo barimbure umuntu wese wahirahiraga gukemanga inyigisho za kiliziya n’ibikorwa byayo, nk’uko babigenzaga mu gihe cy’urukiko rwa kiliziya rwaciraga imanza abataravugaga rumwe na yo.

Bakorerwa ibikorwa by’urugomo mu bigo byakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa

Adolf Hitileri yifuzaga gufatanya n’abayobozi ba kiliziya. Mu mwaka wa 1933, igihe Vatikani yashyiraga umukono ku masezerano y’ubufatanye n’Abanazi bo mu Budage, Hitileri yahise atangiza gahunda yo gutsemba Abahamya ba Yehova mu Budage. Byageze mu mwaka wa 1935 baraciwe mu gihugu hose. Ariko se ni nde wari ubyihishe inyuma?

Umupadiri wandikaga mu kinyamakuru cy’ikidage cyandikirwaga i Lodz muri Polonye (Der Deutsche Weg), yavuze mu nomero yo ku itariki ya 29 Gicurasi 1938 ati “ubu hari igihugu kimwe ku isi aho abiyita . . . Abigishwa ba Bibiliya [Abahamya ba Yehova] baciwe. Icyo gihugu ni u Budage! . . . Igihe Adolf Hitileri yafataga ubutegetsi, n’abepisikopi ba Kiliziya Gatolika yo mu Budage bakamusubiriramo icyifuzo cyabo, Hitileri yaravuze ati ‘abo biyita Abigishwa ba Bibiliya [Abahamya ba Yehova] bahungabanya umutekano; . . . Mbona ari abatekamutwe; Sinshobora kwihanganira ko Abagatolika b’Abadage baharabikwa bene aka kageni n’uriya mucamanza w’Umunyamerika Rutherford; nciye [Abahamya ba Yehova] mu Budage.’”

Ese Abepisikopi ba Kiliziya Gatolika yo mu Budage ni bo bonyine bifuzaga ko izo ngamba zafatwa? Nk’uko byatangajwe n’ikinyamakuru cyo ku itariki ya 21 Mata 1933 (Oschatzer Gemeinnützige), umupasiteri w’Umuluteriyani witwaga Otto yatanze ikiganiro kuri radiyo ku itariki ya 20 Mata avuga iby’“ubufatanye bukomeye” bwari hagati y’itorero ry’Abaluteriyani ryo mu Budage mu ntara ya Saxony n’abayobozi b’igihugu bo mu rwego rwa politiki, ati “umusaruro wa mbere uvuye muri ubwo bufatanye ushobora kugaragarira mu itegeko ryashyizweho uyu munsi ryo gusesa Umuryango Mpuzamahanga w’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bashikamye [Abahamya ba Yehova] n’indi miryango iwushamikiyeho muri Saxony.”

Nyuma yaho, leta y’Abanazi yatangije ibitotezo bya kinyamaswa bikaze kurusha ibindi byose byibasiye Abakristo mu mateka. Abahamya ba Yehova babarirwa mu bihumbi, abo mu Budage, muri Otirishiya, muri Polonye, muri Cekosilovakiya, mu Buholandi, mu Bufaransa no mu bindi bihugu, bajyanywe mu bigo byakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa. Muri ibyo bigo bakorerwaga ibikorwa by’ubugome bwa kinyamaswa birenze ukwemera. Incuro nyinshi baratukwaga, bagaterwa imigeri, hanyuma bagahatirwa kumara amasaha menshi bagenda makeri, basimbuka kandi bagenda bakurura inda, kugeza igihe bananiriwe bakitura hasi nk’ibiti, abarinzi babo babaseka cyane. Hari abahatirwaga guhagarara hanze mu mezi y’imbeho bambaye ubusa cyangwa bambaye utwenda tworohereye. Benshi barakubitwaga kugeza igihe batacyumva n’imigongo yabo yuzuye amaraso. Abandi bakorerwagaho ubushakashatsi bakageragerezwaho imiti. Hari n’abandi baboheraga amaboko inyuma bakabamanika. Nubwo bari baranegekajwe n’inzara no kutagira imyambaro ikwiriye mu gihe cy’imbeho, bakoreshwaga uburetwa bakamara amasaha menshi bakoreshwa imirimo ivunanye, kandi incuro nyinshi babimaga ibitiyo n’ibindi bikoresho bagakoresha intoki. Baba abagabo n’abagore bakorerwaga ibikorwa bya kinyamaswa. Bari mu kigero cy’imyaka irenga icumi kugeza ku myaka mirongo irindwi. Ababakoreraga iyicarubozo babaga bababwira amagambo yo gusebya Yehova.

Umuyobozi w’ikigo cyakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa cy’i Sachsenhausen yagerageje guca intege Abahamya ba Yehova, maze ategeka ko Umuhamya ukiri muto witwaga August Dickmann yicirwa imbere y’imfungwa zose, kandi Abahamya ba Yehova bagashyirwa imbere y’abandi kugira ngo babyitegereze neza. Nyuma y’ibyo izindi mfungwa zarasezerewe ariko Abahamya ba Yehova bo bategekwa gusigara. Uwo muyobozi yabasabye akomeje ati ‘noneho ni nde witeguye gushyira umukono kuri iri tangazo?’ Ryari itangazo rivuga ko umuntu yihakanye ukwizera kwe kandi ko yiteguye kuba umusirikare. Mu Bahamya bageraga kuri 400 cyangwa basaga bari aho nta n’umwe wigeze arishyiraho umukono. Hanyuma Abahamya babiri bateye intambwe bigira imbere! Ntibari bajyanywe no gushyira umukono kuri iryo tangazo, ahubwo bari bajyanywe no kumusaba ko inyandiko bari barashyizeho umukono umwaka umwe mbere yaho zaseswa.

Abari mu kigo cyakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa cya Buchenwald na bo bagezweho n’ibitotezo nk’ibyo. Umunazi witwaga Rödl yabwiye Abahamya ati “nihagira n’umwe wanga kurwana n’Abafaransa cyangwa Abongereza, mwese muricwa!” Amakompanyi abiri y’abasirikare ba Hitileri bitwaje intwaro bari bategerereje ku muryango. Nta n’umwe muri abo Bahamya wateshutse. Nyuma yaho bakorewe ibikorwa bya kinyamaswa ariko ibikangisho by’uwo Munazi ntibyashyizwe mu bikorwa. Abantu bose baje kwibonera ko nubwo Abahamya bakoraga imirimo yose bahabwaga, bangaga bakomeje gukora ikintu icyo ari cyo cyose gishyigikira intambara cyangwa cyagirira nabi imfungwa mugenzi wabo, nubwo bahanishwaga kwicishwa inzara no gukoreshwa imirimo irenze ubushobozi bwabo.

Biragoye gusobanura ibintu byose bibabaje cyane bakorewe. Ababarirwa mu magana barapfuye. Intambara irangiye igihe abarokotse bavanwaga mu bigo byakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa, Umuhamya wo muri Flanders yaranditse ati “icyifuzo kitajegajega cyo kubaho, kwiringira Yehova we ushobora byose no kumwizera, hamwe no gukunda ubutegetsi bw’Imana, ni byo byatumye dushobora kwihanganira ibyo byose kandi tukabitsinda.—Abaroma 8:37.”

Hari ababyeyi bagiye batandukanywa n’abana babo. Hari abatandukanyijwe n’abo bashakanye, kandi bamwe muri bo ntibigeze bongera kumva agakuru kabo. Igihe Martin Poetzinger yari amaze igihe gito ashatse, yarafashwe yoherezwa mu kigo ruharwa cyakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa cya Dachau, nyuma yaho aza kwimurirwa mu kigo cya Mauthausen. Umugore we Gertrud yafungiwe mu kigo cya Ravensbrück. Bamaze imyaka icyenda yose nta wurongera kubona undi. Nyuma yaho yanditse ibyamubayeho mu kigo cya Mauthausen agira ati “urwego rw’ubutasi rw’Abanazi rwagerageje uburyo bwose kugira ngo rutume tudakomeza kwizera Yehova. Batwicishaga inzara, bakigira incuti zacu ariko baturyarya, bakaduhutaza, bakaduhatira kumara iminsi myinshi duhagaze ahantu hamwe, bakatubohera amaboko inyuma bakatumanika ku giti cya metero eshatu, bakadukubita ibiboko. Ubwo buryo bwose hamwe n’ubundi utavuga bukojeje isoni bwarageragejwe.” Ariko yakomeje kubera Yehova indahemuka. Na we yari mu barokotse, kandi nyuma yaho yaje kuba umwe mu bagize Inteko Nyobozi y’Abahamya ba Yehova.

Bafunzwe bazira ukwizera kwabo

Kuba Abahamya ba Yehova barashyizwe mu bigo byakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa si uko bari abagizi ba nabi. Iyo abasirikare babaga bashaka umuntu wabogosha, bizeraga Abahamya bakabaha urwembe kubera ko babaga bizeye ko nta Muhamya warukoresha agirira nabi undi muntu. Iyo abasirikare bo mu mutwe warindaga Hitileri bo mu kigo cyicirwagamo imfungwa cya Auschwitz babaga bakeneye umuntu wo gusukura ingo zabo cyangwa kubarerera abana, batoranyaga Abahamya kubera ko bari bazi ko badashobora kubaroga cyangwa kugerageza gutoroka. Igihe imfungwa zo mu kigo cya Sachsenhausen zimurwaga intambara irangiye, abarinzi bashyize igare ryarimo iminyago yabo hagati y’Abahamya. Babitewe n’iki? Bari bazi ko Abahamya batari kubiba.

Abahamya ba Yehova bafunzwe bazira ukwizera kwabo. Basezeranyijwe kenshi ko bashoboraga kurekurwa bakava muri ibyo bigo byakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa iyo bemera gusa gushyira umukono ku nyandiko igaragaza ko bihakanye imyizerere yabo. Abasirikare bo mu mutwe warindaga Hitileri bakoze ibyo bashoboraga byose kugira ngo bashuke Abahamya cyangwa babahatire gushyira umukono kuri iyo nyandiko. Icyo ni cyo bifuzaga mbere y’ibindi byose.

Abahamya bose, uretse bake cyane, bakomeye ku budahemuka bwabo. Ariko bakoze ibirenze kwihanganira imibabaro bazira kubera Yehova indahemuka no kwiyegurira izina rya Kristo. Bakoze ibirenze kwihanganira ibikorwa by’iyicarubozo bakorerwaga. Bakomeje kurangwa n’ubumwe bukomeye bwo mu buryo bw’umwuka.

Ntibarangwaga n’umwuka wo kwirwariza, ngo buri wese ahatanire kurokoka ku giti cye. Bagaragarizanyaga urukundo rurangwa no kwigomwa. Iyo umwe muri bo yabaga yarazayahaye, bamuhaga ku byokurya bike bahabwaga. Iyo bangirwaga kwivuza, bitanagaho mu buryo bwuje urukundo.

Nubwo abatotezaga Abahamya bakoraga ibishoboka byose ngo batabona ibitabo bakoresha biga Bibiliya, byabageragaho bihishwe mu mpano bohererezwaga ziturutse hanze, imfungwa nshya zikababwira ibyabaga bikubiye muri ibyo bitabo, ndetse hari n’ibyazaga bihishwe mu kuguru kw’igiti kw’imfungwa nshya, cyangwa se binyuze mu bundi buryo iyo babaga bagiye gukorera hanze. Bahererekanyaga za kopi, rimwe na rimwe bakabikoporora mu ibanga rikomeye bakoresheje imashini zo mu biro by’abayobozi b’ikigo babaga bafungiwemo. Bagiraga amateraniro ya gikristo mu bigo babaga bafungiwemo, nubwo ibyo byabaga biteje akaga gakomeye.

Abahamya bakomeje kubwiriza ko Ubwami bw’Imana ari bwo byiringiro rukumbi by’abantu, kandi babwirizaga mu bigo bari bafungiwemo! Mu kigo cyakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa cya Buchenwald, imfungwa zibarirwa mu bihumbi zumvise ubutumwa bwiza bitewe n’uwo murimo wo kubwiriza wakorwaga kuri gahunda. Mu kigo cyakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa cya Neuengamme hafi y’i Hamburg, bateguye babyitondeye gahunda yo gutanga ubuhamya mu rugero rwagutse, bayishyira mu bikorwa mu ntangiriro z’umwaka wa 1943. Bateguye amakarita y’ubuhamya mu ndimi zitandukanye zavugwaga muri icyo kigo. Bashyizeho imihati kugira ngo bagere kuri buri mfungwa. Bakoze gahunda zo kwigisha buri gihe Bibiliya abantu bashimishijwe. Abahamya bagiraga ishyaka ryinshi mu murimo wo kubwiriza ku buryo zimwe mu mfungwa za politiki zitotombaga ziti “aho ugiye hose nta kindi abantu baba bavuga uretse ibya Yehova!” Igihe amabwiriza yaturukaga i Berlin yo gutatanyiriza Abahamya mu zindi mfungwa kugira ngo bacike intege, ibyo byatumye bashobora kubwiriza abantu benshi kurushaho.

Mwishywa w’umusirikare mukuru w’Umufaransa Jenerali Charles de Gaulle, amaze gufungurwa yanditse avuga ibya bashiki bacu b’indahemuka bagera kuri 500 cyangwa barenga bari mu kigo cy’i Ravensbrück, agira ati “ndabashima cyane. Bakomokaga mu bihugu bitandukanye: mu Budage, muri Polonye, mu Burusiya no muri Repubulika ya Tchèque, kandi bahuye n’imibabaro myinshi bazira imyizerere yabo. . . . Bose bagaragaje ubutwari budasanzwe kandi amaherezo imyifatire yabo yatumye n’abasirikare bo mu mutwe warindaga Hitileri babubaha. Bashoboraga guhita barekurwa iyo bihakana ukwizera kwabo. Ariko bakomeje kurwanirira ukwizera kwabo, ndetse bashobora no kwinjiza mu kigo ibitabo n’inkuru z’Ubwami.”

Kimwe na Yesu Kristo, na bo banesheje isi yashakaga kubahatira gukurikiza gahunda ya Satani (Yoh 16:33). Christine King yagize icyo abavugaho mu gitabo kivuga iby’amadini, agira ati “Abahamya ba Yehova barwanyije igitekerezo cy’ubutegetsi bw’igitugu bw’umuryango mushya, kandi kuba bararwanyije icyo gitekerezo, n’ubu kikaba kikirwanywa, byahungabanyije mu buryo bugaragara abacurabwenge b’umuryango mushya. . . . Uburyo bwari bumaze igihe kirekire bukoreshwa kandi bukagira icyo bugeraho bwo gutoteza, kwica urubozo, gufunga no guharabika, ntibwatumye Abanazi babarwanyaga bagira Umuhamya n’umwe bahindura, ahubwo bwatumaga habaho ibinyuranye n’ibyo abakoreshaga ubwo buryo babaga biteze. . . . Hagati y’izo mpande zombi zarwaniraga ubudahemuka, intambara yari ikaze, ndetse icyatumaga irushaho gukomera, ni uko Abanazi bari bafite imbaraga mu buryo bw’umubiri bagaragaje mu buryo bwinshi ko batari bafite icyizere, ntibari bashikamye mu byo bemeraga, ntibari bizeye ko ubutegetsi bwabo buzamara imyaka 1.000 koko. Abahamya bo ntibashidikanyaga ku nkomoko yabo, kuko ukwizera kwabo kwagaragaye uhereye mu gihe cya Abeli. Mu gihe Abanazi bagombaga gukoresha ingufu ngo bacecekeshe ababarwanyaga kandi bemeza abari babashyigikiye, akenshi bakiyambaza imvugo z’amadini yiyitirira Ubukristo yacitsemo ibice, Abahamya bo bari bizeye mu buryo bwuzuye ko bagenzi babo bari gukomeza kuba indahemuka, kabone n’ubwo byari kuba ngombwa ko bapfa.”—New Religious Movements: A Perspective for Understanding Society, cyasohotse mu mwaka wa 1982.

Intambara irangiye, Abahamya basaga igihumbi barokotse bavuye mu bigo byakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa ukwizera kwabo kutarahungabanye kandi n’urukundo bakundanaga rukomeye. Igihe ingabo z’Abarusiya zari zigeze hafi y’ikigo cya Sachsenhausen abarinzi bahise bimura imfungwa zose. Bashyize imfungwa mu matsinda bakurikije ibihugu zakomokagamo. Ariko Abahamya ba Yehova bo muri icyo kigo uko bari 230 bagumye hamwe mu itsinda rimwe. Uko ingabo z’Abarusiya zagendaga zibotsa igitutu, abarinzi bataye umutwe. Nta biribwa byari bihari kandi imfungwa zari zarazahaye. Umuntu wese wasigaraga inyuma cyangwa akitura hasi bitewe n’umunaniro, yahitaga araswa. Abantu babarirwa mu bihumbi bararashwe bajugunywa ku muhanda. Ariko Abahamya barafashanyije ku buryo n’uwabaga yarazahaye cyane muri bo atigeze agwa ku muhanda! Nyamara bamwe muri bo bari bafite imyaka iri hagati ya 65 na 72. Izindi mfungwa zagerageje kwiba ibiribwa muri urwo rugendo, kandi inyinshi muri zo zararashwe. Ariko Abahamya ba Yehova bo, bakoreshaga uburyo bwose babonaga bakabwira abo bari kumwe muri urwo rugendo ibyerekeye imigambi yuje urukundo ya Yehova, kandi bamwe muri bo babashimiraga ko babagezagaho ubutumwa buhumuriza, bakabaha ibyokurya bakabaha n’ibyo baha abavandimwe babo b’Abakristo.

Abayobozi ba kiliziya bakomeza urugamba

Nyuma y’Intambara ya Kabiri y’Isi Yose abayobozi ba kiliziya bo mu burasirazuba bwa Cekosilovakiya bakomeje kugambanira Abahamya ba Yehova ngo batotezwe. Mu gihe cy’ubutegetsi bw’Abanazi bashinje Abahamya ko bari Abakomunisiti; none bari basigaye babashinja ko barwanyaga ubutegetsi bw’Abakomunisiti. Rimwe na rimwe iyo Abahamya ba Yehova babaga basura abantu mu ngo zabo, abapadiri basabaga abarimu gusohora mu ishuri abana babarirwa mu magana ngo bajye gutera amabuye Abahamya.

Mu mwaka wa 1947, Abapadiri bo mu mugi wa Santa Ana ho muri Saluvadoru, na bo bashishikarije abantu kurwanya Abahamya. Igihe abavandimwe bari mu iteraniro ry’Icyigisho cy’Umunara w’Umurinzi cya buri cyumweru, abana bateye amabuye mu muryango wari ukinguye. Hanyuma haje igitero cy’abantu bari bayobowe n’abapadiri. Bamwe bari bitwaje imuri abandi bitwaje ibishushanyo. Bagendaga batera hejuru bati “Harakabaho Bikiramariya! Yehova aragapfa!” Bamaze amasaha abiri batera amabuye kuri iyo nzu.

Mu myaka ya 1940, Abahamya ba Yehova bo muri Québec ho muri Kanada na bo bakorewe ibikorwa by’agahomamunwa n’Abagatolika biremye agatsiko hamwe n’abategetsi. Buri munsi intumwa za musenyeri zajyaga ku biro bya polisi kubasaba ko babakiza Abahamya. Incuro nyinshi mbere y’uko abapolisi bajya gufata Abahamya, abantu bababonaga baturutse mu gikari cyo kwa padiri. Mu mwaka wa 1949, Abagatolika bari biremye agatsiko birukanye abamisiyonari b’Abahamya ba Yehova mu mugi wa Joliette ho muri Québec.

Icyakora abaturage bo muri Québec si ko bose bemeraga ibyakorwaga. Ubu kuri umwe mu mihanda minini yo mu mugi wa Joliette hari Inzu y’Ubwami nziza y’Abahamya ba Yehova. Ishuri ryahoze ari seminari ryarafunzwe, hanyuma leta irarigura irihindura ishuri ry’akarere. Mu mwaka wa 1978, Abahamya ba Yehova bakoreye ikoraniro mpuzamahanga rinini mu mugi wa Montréal, maze abantu bagera 80.008 barizamo.

Icyakora Kiliziya Gatolika yakomeje gukora ibishoboka byose kugira ngo ikomeze kwifatira abantu. Bokeje igitutu abategetsi maze abamisiyonari b’Abahamya ba Yehova bategekwa kuva mu Butaliyani mu mwaka wa 1949, kandi mu myaka ya 1950 aho byashobokaga hose batumaga Abahamya bamburwa uburenganzira babaga barahawe bwo kugira amakoraniro. Ibyo ariko ntibyabujije Abahamya ba Yehova gukomeza kwiyongera, ku buryo byageze mu mwaka wa 1992 mu Butaliyani hari Abahamya basaga 190.000 babwirizaga ubutumwa.

Nk’uko byagendaga mu gihe cy’urukiko rwaciraga imanza abataravugaga rumwe na Kiliziya, abayobozi ba Kiliziya bo muri Esipanye batungaga agatoki gusa ubundi bakareka abategetsi bakabakorera umurimo w’urukozasoni wo gutoteza Abahamya. Urugero, Arikiyepiskopi w’i Barcelone yashoje intambara yo kurwanya Abahamya mu mwaka wa 1954, maze abayobozi ba Kiliziya bakajya bavugira kuri alitari, mu mashuri no kuri radiyo babwira abantu ko Abahamya nibabasura bazajya babaha ikaze hanyuma bagahita bahamagara abapolisi.

Abapadiri batinyaga ko abaturage bo muri Esipanye bamenya ibyo Bibiliya yigisha maze bakajya babibwira n’abandi. Igihe Manuel Mula Giménez yafungirwaga mu mugi wa Granada mu mwaka wa 1960 azira “icyaha”cyo kwigisha abandi Bibiliya, umuyobozi wa gereza (wari umupadiri) yavanye mu isomero rya gereza Bibiliya imwe rukumbi yari irimo. Kandi igihe indi mfungwa yatizaga Manuel kopi y’Amavanjiri bahise bayimwambura. Ariko ubu Bibiliya yageze ku baturage bose bo muri Esipanye, kandi babonye uburyo bwo kwibonera ibyo yigisha, ku buryo byageze mu mwaka wa 1992 abantu basaga 90.000 barayobotse Yehova bakaba Abahamya be.

Muri République Dominicaine, abayobozi ba Kiliziya bafatanyije n’umunyagitugu witwaga Trujillo, baramukoresha kugira ngo bagere ku ntego zabo nk’uko na we yabakoreshaga kugira ngo basohoze imigambi ye. Mu mwaka wa 1950, igihe abapadiri bandikaga inyandiko zatungaga agatoki Abahamya ba Yehova, umunyamabanga wa leta na polisi bahamagaje uwari uhagarariye ibiro by’ishami by’umuryango wa Watch Tower Society. Igihe yari akiri hanze, yabonye abapadiri babiri b’Abayezuwiti binjira mu biro hanyuma barasohoka. Hashize akanya gato uwo munyamabanga yahise amuhamagaza mu biro, amusomera arakaye itegeko ryavugaga ko umurimo w’Abahamya ba Yehova ubuzanyijwe. Itegeko ribuzanya umurimo rimaze gukurwaho mu mwaka wa 1956, abapadiri bakoresheje radiyo n’itangazamakuru bongera guharabika Abahamya. Abagize amatorero bose barafashwe basabwa gushyira umukono ku nyandiko ibasaba kwihakana ukwizera kwabo kandi bakemera ko bagomba kugaruka muri Kiliziya Gatolika y’i Roma. Igihe Abahamya babyangaga, barakubiswe, baterwa imigeri, bakubitwa ibiboko kandi bakubitwa ibibuno by’imbunda mu maso. Ariko barashikamye, kandi bakomeje kwiyongera.

Mu mugi wa Sucre muri Boliviya, bahuye n’urugomo rwinshi. Igihe Abahamya ba Yehova bagiraga ikoraniro mu mwaka wa 1955, agatsiko k’insoresore zo mu ishuri rya Kiliziya Gatolika ry’Umutima Mutagatifu zaraje zigota aho ikoraniro ryaberaga zisakuza zitera n’amabuye. Muri kiliziya yari hakurya y’umuhanda, hari indangururamajwi yahamagariraga Abagatolika bose kurwanirira kiliziya na “Bikiramariya” bari bibasiwe n’abo bitaga “abahakanyi b’Abaporotesitanti.” Musenyeri n’abapadiri bagerageje kurogoya iryo teraniro, ariko abapolisi babategetse gusohoka mu nzu ryaberagamo.

Mu mwaka wari warabanjirije uwo, igihe Abahamya ba Yehova bari bagiriye ikoraniro mu mugi wa Riobamba muri Ekwateri, disikuru y’abantu bose yo muri iryo koraniro yari ifite umutwe uvuga ngo “Ese kugaragaza urukundo muri iyi si irangwa n’ubwikunde hari icyo bimaze?” Ariko umupadiri w’Umuyezuwiti yari yashishikarije Abagatolika kuburizamo iryo teraniro. Bityo, igihe iyo disikuru yarimo itangwa, abari bateranye bumvaga Abagatolika bari biremye agatsiko basakuza bati “harakabaho Kiliziya Gatolika! Abaporotesitanti bacishwe bugufi!” Abapolisi bashimirwa ko babakumiriye bakoresheje inkota. Ariko abo Bagatolika bari biremye agatsiko bateye amabuye ahaberaga ikoraniro, kandi nyuma yaho bagiye gutera amabuye ku icumbi ry’abamisiyonari.

Abayobozi ba Kiliziya Gatolika y’i Roma ni bo bari ku isonga mu kudutoteza, ariko si bo bonyine. Abayobozi ba Kiliziya y’Aborutodogisi bo mu Bugiriki badutoteje babigiranye ubugome kandi bakoresheje uburyo nk’ubwo mu karere gato bari biganjemo. Byongeye kandi, abayobozi benshi b’amadini y’Abaporotesitanti na bo bagaragaje umwuka nk’uwo, aho bumvaga bishoboka hose. Urugero, muri Indoneziya bayoboraga abantu babaga biremye udutsiko, bagasanga abantu mu ngo zabo aho babaga biga Bibiliya bagakubita Abahamya ba Yehova bahasanze. Mu bihugu bimwe byo muri Afurika, bihatiraga gushuka abategetsi kugira ngo birukane Abahamya ba Yehova mu gihugu cyangwa bababuze umudendezo wo kubwira abandi Ijambo ry’Imana. Nubwo Abagatolika n’Abaporotesitanti batavugaga rumwe mu bindi bibazo, abayobozi babo bashyize hamwe mu kurwanya Abahamya ba Yehova. Hari n’igihe bishyiraga hamwe bakagerageza kotsa abategetsi igitutu kugira ngo bahagarike umurimo w’Abahamya ba Yehova. Mu bihugu byari byiganjemo amadini atari aya gikristo, incuro nyinshi ayo madini na yo yagiye akoresha abategetsi kugira ngo abayoboke bayo batazagira aho bahurira n’inyigisho zatuma bashidikanya ku nyigisho z’idini ryabo bavukiyemo.

Rimwe na rimwe ayo madini atari aya gikristo yifatanyaga n’abiyitaga Abakristo kugira ngo birinde ko habaho amahinduka mu madini yabo. Mu ntangiriro z’imyaka ya 1950, i Dekin ho mu mugi wa Dahomey (ubu akaba ari muri Bénin), umupfumu n’umupadiri bafatanyije kugambana kugira ngo abategetsi bahagarike umurimo w’Abahamya ba Yehova. Kubera ko bifuzaga cyane ko umurimo w’Abahamya uhagarikwa, bahimbye ibirego by’ubwoko bwose byari bigamije gutuma abantu banga urunuka Abahamya ba Yehova. Bareze Abahamya ko bashishikarizaga abaturage kwigomeka ku butegetsi, ko batishyuraga imisoro, ko ari bo batumaga abapfumu badashobora kuvuba imvura, kandi ko batumaga amasengesho ya padiri adasubizwa. Abo bayobozi b’amadini bose batinyaga ko abayoboke babo bamenya ibintu byababatura ku myizerere ishingiye ku miziririzo bigatuma badakomeza kubumvira buhumyi.

Icyakora buhoro buhoro imbaraga z’abayobozi b’amadini zagiye zigabanuka mu duce twinshi. Abayobozi b’amadini biboneye ko ubu abapolisi batakibashyigikira buri gihe mu bikorwa byo guhohotera Abahamya. Mu mwaka wa 1986, igihe umupadiri wo muri Kiliziya ya Orutodogisi y’u Bugiriki yageragezaga gusesa ikoraniro ry’Abahamya ba Yehova ryaberaga i Larissa mu Bugiriki akoresheje abantu bari biremye agatsiko, umushinjacyaha w’akarere yazanye n’abapolisi benshi atabara Abahamya ba Yehova. Kandi hari igihe itangazamakuru ryamaganaga ridaciye ku ruhande ibyo bikorwa byo kutoroherana gushingiye ku idini.

Icyakora mu tundi turere twinshi tw’isi hari ibindi bibazo byagiye bituma dutotezwa. Kimwe muri ibyo bibazo ni igifitanye isano n’imyifatire Abahamya ba Yehova bagira ku birebana n’ibirango by’igihugu.

Kubera ko basenga Yehova wenyine

Mu mateka y’Abahamya ba Yehova bo muri iki gihe, mu Budage bwategekwaga n’Abanazi ni bwo bwa mbere bahanganye bikomeye n’ikibazo gifitanye isano n’iminsi mikuru y’ibihugu. Hitileri yagerageje gutwaza igitugu Abadage maze ategeka ko abantu bose bazajya bakoresha indamukanyo imusingiza (Heil Hitler!). Umunyamakuru wo muri Suwede wakoreraga BBC witwaga Björn Hallström yavuze ko iyo Abahamya ba Yehova bafatwaga n’Abanazi, ubusanzwe ibirego baregwaga byabaga bikubiyemo icyo “kwanga kuramutsa ibendera no gukoresha indamukanyo y’Abanazi.” Bidatinze ibindi bihugu byatangiye kujya bisaba abaturage bose kuramutsa ibendera. Abahamya ba Yehova barabyanze, batabitewe no kwigomeka ahubwo babitewe n’umutimanama wabo wa gikristo. Bubaha ibendera ariko nanone bakabona ko kuriramutsa ari igikorwa cyo gusenga.f

Igihe Abahamya 1.200 bari bamaze gufungwa mu Budage mu ntangiriro z’ubutegetsi bw’Abanazi bazira kwanga gukoresha indamukanyo y’Abanazi no guteshuka ku kutabogama kwabo kwa gikristo, ababarirwa mu bihumbi barahohotewe muri Amerika bazira ko banze kuramutsa ibendera rya Amerika. Mu cyumweru cyo ku itariki ya 4 Ugushyingo 1935, abana bo mu ishuri rya Canonsburg ho muri Pennsylvania, bajyanywe mu cyumba cyabagamo imashini yashyushyaga amazu babakubita ibiboko babahora ko bari banze kuramutsa ibendera. Umwarimukazi witwa Grace Estep na we yirukanywe ku kazi ari icyo azira. Ku itariki ya 6 Ugushyingo, William na Lillian Gobitas banze kuramutsa ibendera maze birukanwa ku ishuri rya Minersville ho muri Pennsylvania. Se yiyambaje urukiko kugira ngo abana be bemererwe gusubira mu ishuri. Urukiko rw’akarere n’urukiko rw’ubujurire zafashe umwanzuro urenganura Abahamya ba Yehova. Icyakora mu mwaka wa 1940, igihe igihugu cyendaga kujya mu ntambara, abacamanza 8 bo mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga rwa Amerika bashyigikiye umwanzuro w’uko abantu bose bagomba kuramutsa ibendera mu mashuri yose ya leta, mu rubanza ishuri ry’akarere ka Minersville ryaburanaga na Gobitis, umwe gusa aba ari we uwurwanya. Ibyo byatumye Abahamya ba Yehova bo mu gihugu hose bakorerwa ibikorwa by’urugomo.

Abahamya ba Yehova bibasiwe n’ibikorwa by’urugomo byinshi cyane ku buryo Eleanor Roosevelt (umugore wa perezida F. D. Roosevelt) yinginze abaturage ngo basigeho. Ku itariki ya 16 Kamena 1940, Francis Biddle wari wungirije minisitiri w’ubutabera muri Amerika, yatanze ikiganiro kuri radiyo cyumvikanye mu gihugu hose avuga ibikorwa by’agahomamunwa byari byarakorewe Abahamya kandi avuga ko ibyo bikorwa bitashoboraga kwihanganirwa. Icyakora ibyo ntibyatumye bihagarara.

Mu mimerere yose ushobora gutekereza, haba mu nzira, ku kazi, iyo Abahamya babaga basura abantu mu murimo wo kubwiriza, abantu babashyiraga amabendera imbere bakabategeka kuyaramutsa, bitaba ibyo bakabona ishyano! Mu mpera z’umwaka wa 1940, Igitabo nyamwaka cy’Abahamya ba Yehova cyaravuze kiti “abayobozi b’amadini n’abahoze mu ngabo za Amerika bakoresheje abantu babaga biremye udutsiko kugira ngo bihanire, maze bakora ibikorwa by’urugomo rw’agahomamunwa. Abantu babaga biremye udutsiko bameze nk’abahanzweho n’abadayimoni, bagabaga ibitero ku Bahamya ba Yehova, bakabakubita, bakabashimuta, bakabirukana mu migi, mu turere no muri za leta, bakabasiga godoro bakabashyiraho amababa, bakabahatira kunywa lisansi, bakabahambiranya hanyuma bakabashorera mu nzira nk’inyamaswa, bakabakona kandi bakabakebagura, bakabakoba kandi bakabatuka. Abahamya babarirwa mu magana bafungwaga nta cyo baregwa, bakimwa uburenganzira bwo gusurwa no kuvugana n’incuti n’abavandimwe cyangwa ababunganira mu mategeko. Abandi benshi babarirwa mu magana barafungwaga, byitwa ko ngo kwari ‘ukubarinda abantu ngo batabagirira nabi’; hari abaraswaga nijoro; hari abakangishwaga ko bazamanikwa abandi bagakubitwa kugeza batakaje ubwenge. Habaye ibikorwa byinshi by’urugomo binyuranye byakorwaga n’abantu babaga biremye udutsiko. Benshi babaciragaho imyenda, bakabambura Bibiliya zabo n’ibindi bitabo bakabitwikira mu ruhame; imodoka zabo, inzu zimukanwa n’ingo zabo n’aho bateniraga, byarasakizwaga kandi bigatwikwa. . . Incuro nyinshi aho imanza zaburanishirizwaga mu duce dukunze kubamo abantu birema udutsiko, Abahamya n’ababunganiraga mu mategeko bagabwagaho ibitero bagakubitirwa mu rukiko. Ahantu hafi ya hose abantu biremaga udutsiko bagakora urugomo, abategetsi barareberaga gusa bakanga gutabara ababaga bagirirwa urugomo, kandi incuro nyinshi abapolisi bafatanyaga n’abakoraga urugomo rimwe na rimwe akaba ari na bo bayobora utwo dutsiko.” Kuva mu mwaka wa 1940 kugeza mu wa 1944, Abahamya ba Yehova bo muri Amerika bagabweho ibitero bisaga 2.500 n’abantu biremye udutsiko.

Kubera ko abana b’Abahamya ba Yehova birukanwaga mu mashuri ari benshi, mu mpera z’imyaka ya 1930 no mu ntangiriro z’imyaka ya 1940, byabaye ngombwa ko bishyiriraho amashuri yabo muri Amerika no muri Kanada kugira ngo bigishe abana babo. Ayo mashuri yitwaga Amashuri y’Ubwami.

Ibindi bihugu na byo byatoteje cyane Abahamya bitewe n’uko bangaga kuramutsa ibirango by’igihugu. Mu mwaka wa 1959, abana b’Abahamya ba Yehova bo muri Kosita Rika banze gukora icyo amategeko yitaga ‘kuramya ibirango by’igihugu’ birukanywe mu mashuri. Uko ni na ko byagendekeye abana b’Abahamya bo muri Paragwe mu mwaka wa 1984. Mu mwaka wa 1959, Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwo muri Filipine rwategetse ko abana b’Abahamya ba Yehova bazajya bahatirwa kuramutsa ibendera n’ubwo imyizerere y’idini ryabo itabibemereraga. Icyakora, incuro nyinshi abayobozi b’ibigo by’amashuri bumvikanaga n’Abahamya ku buryo abana babo bashoboraga kwiga batabangamiye umutimanama wabo. Mu mwaka wa 1963, abategetsi bo muri Liberiya ho muri Afurika y’Iburengerazuba, bashinje Abahamya ko bagambaniraga leta. Basheshe ikoraniro ry’Abahamya ryari ryabereye i Gbarnga kandi basaba abari aho bose, baba Abanyaliberiya n’abanyamahanga kurahirira kutazahemukira ibendera ry’igihugu. Mu mwaka wa 1976, raporo yari ifite umutwe uvuga ngo “Abahamya ba Yehova bo muri Kiba” yavuze ko mu myaka ibiri yari ishize, ababyeyi b’Abahamya babarirwa mu bihumbi, abagabo n’abagore, bari barafunzwe bazira ko abana babo banze kuramutsa ibendera.

Abantu bose ntibemeranyaga n’izo ngamba zo gukandamiza abantu bangaga mu kinyabupfura kwifatanya mu minsi mikuru y’ibihugu bitewe n’uko umutimanama wabo utabibemerera. Mu mwaka wa 1941, ikinyamakuru cy’ishyirahamwe ryo muri Amerika riharanira uburenganzira bw’ikiremwamuntu, ishami ryo muri Kaliforuniya y’amajyepfo (The Open Forum), cyagize kiti “igihe kirageze ngo tureke gukomeza gukora amakosa ku birebana n’ikibazo cyo kuramutsa ibendera. Abahamya ba Yehova bo muri Amerika si abagambanyi. . . . Muri rusange si abantu bica amategeko, ahubwo bariyubaha, bakagira gahunda mu mibereho yabo bagatuma abantu bose muri rusange bamererwa neza.” Mu mwaka wa 1976 umwanditsi w’ikinyamakuru cy’i Buenos Aires ho muri Arijantine, yavuze ukuri igihe yavugaga ati “imyizerere y’Abahamya irakaza gusa abumva ko gukunda igihugu bigaragarira mu kuzunguza ibendera no kuririmba indirimbo yubahiriza igihugu, bidaturuka mu mutima.” Yongeyeho ati “Hitileri na Staline babonaga ko [Abahamya] bari bafite umutwe ukomeye, kandi babakoreye ibya mfura mbi. Hari abandi banyagitugu benshi bagerageje kubigana, maze bagerageza gutsembaho Abahamya. Icyakora ntibabishoboye.”—Herald.

Birazwi ko hari amadini yashyigikiye abantu bafataga intwaro bakarwanya ubutegetsi bitewe n’uko batari babwishimiye. Ariko nta hantu na hamwe ku isi Abahamya ba Yehova bigeze bagira uruhare mu guhirika ubutegetsi bwa politiki. Ntibanga kuramutsa ibirango by’igihugu babitewe n’ubugambanyi nkaho hari ubundi butegetsi bw’abantu bashyigikiye. Bagendera ku murongo umwe muri buri gihugu cyose wabasangamo. Imyifatire yabo ntirangwa n’agasuzuguro. Ntibavuza ibikobwakobwa cyangwa ngo batere hejuru bagamije kudurumbanya iminsi mikuru y’ibihugu; nta nubwo bacira ku ibendera, ngo barinyukanyuke cyangwa ngo baritwike. Ntibarwanya ubutegetsi. Imyifatire yabo ishingiye ku byo Yesu Kristo ubwe yavuze, nk’uko byanditswe muri Matayo 4:10, hagira hati “Yehova Imana yawe ni we ugomba gusenga, kandi ni we wenyine ugomba gukorera umurimo wera.”

Abahamya ba Yehova bitwara nk’uko Abakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere bitwaraga mu bwami bw’Abaroma. Hari igitabo kivuga amateka y’abo Bakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere kigira kiti “gusenga umwami w’abami byari bikubiyemo kuminjagira ibinyampeke by’umubavu cyangwa ibitonyanga bya divayi ku gicaniro cyabaga imbere y’igishushanyo cy’umwami w’abami. Wenda bitewe n’uko hashize igihe kinini cyane ibyo bibaye, dushobora kubona ko kuzamura ukuboko duterera isaruti ibendera cyangwa undi mutegetsi ukomeye ari umuhango utagize ikindi usobanura uretse kugaragaza ikinyabupfura, icyubahiro no gukunda igihugu. Birashoboka ko mu kinyejana cya mbere hari abantu benshi cyane babibonaga batyo, ariko si ko Abakristo babibonaga. Babonaga ko icyo cyari igikorwa cyo gusenga, uwagikoraga akaba yemeye ko umwami w’abami ari imana, bityo akaba ahemukiye Imana na Kristo. Ni yo mpamvu bangaga kugikora.”—Essentials of Bible History cyanditswe na Elmer W. K. Mould, 1951, ipaji ya 563.

Banzwe bazira ko ‘batari ab’isi’

Abahamya ba Yehova ntibagira uruhare muri gahunda za politiki z’isi kubera ko Yesu yavuze ko abigishwa be batari kuba “ab’isi” (Yoh 17:16; 6:15). Kuri iyo ngingo na ho bameze nk’Abakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere, abahanga mu by’amateka bakaba bavuga ibyabo bagira bati

“Abantu ntibumvaga Abakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere, kandi abapagani bategekaga isi ntibababonaga neza. . . . Abakristo bangaga gukora zimwe mu nshingano zarebaga abaturage b’Abaroma. . . . Ntibajyaga mu myanya ya politiki” (On the Road to Civilization—A World History, cyanditswe na A. K. Heckel na J. G. Sigman, 1937, ipaji ya 237-238). “Bangaga kugira uruhare mu butegetsi bwa gisivili cyangwa mu ngabo z’ubwami. . . . Abakristo ntibashoboraga kuba abasirikare, abacamanza cyangwa ibikomangoma batihakanye inshingano yera cyane.”—History of Christianity, cyanditswe na Edward Gibbon, 1891, ipaji ya 162-163.

Abantu bo muri iyi si ntibabona neza iyo myifatire, cyane cyane mu bihugu abategetsi basaba ko abantu bose bagira uruhare mu bikorwa runaka bigaragaza ko bashyigikiye gahunda za politiki. Ibyo bituma basohorerwaho n’ibyo Yesu yavuze, agira ati “iyo muba ab’isi, isi iba yarabakunze kuko mwari kuba muri abayo. Ariko noneho kuko mutari ab’isi, ahubwo nabatoranyije mbakuye mu isi, ni cyo gituma isi ibanga.”—Yoh 15:19.

Mu bihugu bimwe, gutora mu matora yo mu rwego rwa politiki ni itegeko. Abatagiye gutora bacibwa amande, bagafungwa cyangwa bagahabwa ibindi bihano bikaze. Ariko Abahamya ba Yehova bashyigikiye Ubwami bw’Imana buyobowe na Mesiya, Yesu akaba yaravuze ko ubwo Bwami atari “ubw’iyi si.” Ni yo mpamvu batagira uruhare mu bikorwa byo mu rwego rwa politiki byo mu bihugu by’iyi si (Yoh 18:36). Uwo ni umwanzuro umuntu yifatira ku giti cye; ntibahatira abandi kubona ibintu nk’uko babibona. Mu bihugu bitabamo ubworoherane mu by’idini, abategetsi ba leta bagiye batoteza Abahamya mu buryo bwa kinyamaswa babaziza ko batagira uruhare mu matora. Ibyo byabaye cyane cyane mu bihugu byategekwaga n’Abanazi. Nanone ni uko byagenze muri Kiba. Icyakora abategetsi bo mu bihugu byinshi usanga barangwa n’ubworoherane.

Icyakora mu bihugu bimwe na bimwe, abategetsi basabaga abantu bose gusubiramo amagambo runaka bagaragaza ko bashyigikiye ishyaka ryari ku butegetsi. Mu myaka ya 1970 na 1980, Abahamya ba Yehova babarirwa mu bihumbi bo mu burasirazuba bwa Afurika barakubiswe bamburwa imitungo yabo, birukanwa mu ngo zabo bitewe n’uko umutimanama wabo utabemereraga gusubiramo ayo magambo. Ariko nubwo Abahamya ba Yehova bo mu bihugu byose ari abaturage bakorana umwete kandi bubahiriza amategeko, nanone ni Abakristo batagira aho babogamira muri politiki.

Muri Malawi, hari ishyaka rimwe rukumbi rya politiki, kandi hari ikarita igaragaza ko umuntu ari umuyoboke waryo. Nubwo Abahamya ari intangarugero mu birebana no gutanga imisoro, banga kugura amakarita y’ishyaka rya politiki bitewe n’imyizerere y’idini ryabo. Kuyagura byaba ari uguhakana ko bizera Ubwami bw’Imana. Ibyo ni byo byatumye mu mpera z’umwaka wa 1967, udutsiko tw’insoresore tugaba ibitero ku Bahamya ba Yehova muri Malawi hose tubishishikarijwe n’abategetsi, tubakorera ibikorwa by’urukozasoni byari byuzuye ubugome bwa kinyamaswa bitari byarigeze bibaho. Abakristokazi basaga igihumbi bafashwe ku ngufu. Bamwe bambikwaga ubusa imbere y’abantu benshi babaga biremye udutsiko, bagakubitwa ibibando n’amakofe, hanyuma abo bantu bagakuranwa kubafata ku ngufu. Abagabo bo babateraga imisumari mu birenge bakanabajomba amareyo y’igare mu maguru hanyuma bakabategeka kwiruka. Mu gihugu hose, amazu yabo, ibikoresho byo mu nzu, imyenda n’ibiribwa, byaratwitswe.

Nanone mu mwaka wa 1972, urwo rugomo rwongeye kwaduka nyuma y’inama ya buri mwaka y’ishyaka ryari ku butegetsi muri Malawi. Muri iyo nama hafashwe umwanzuro wo kwima Abahamya ba Yehova bose akazi kandi bakabirukana mu ngo zabo. Nubwo abakoresha batakambye kugira ngo bagumane abo bakozi biringirwa, nta cyo byatanze. Ingo, imyaka n’amatungo byarafatiriwe cyangwa biratwikwa. Abahamya babuzwaga kuvoma ku iriba ry’umudugudu. Abenshi barakubiswe, bafatwa ku ngufu, baramugazwa cyangwa baricwa. Babagiraga urw’amenyo babahora ukwizera kwabo. Amaherezo, Abahamya barenga 34.000 bahunze igihugu kugira ngo baticwa.

Ariko byari bitararangira. Babanje guhungira mu gihugu kimwe hanyuma bajya mu kindi, bahatirwa kwambuka umupaka basubira mu maboko y’ababatotezaga kugira ngo barusheho kubagirira nabi. Icyakora nubwo bahuye n’ibyo byose, ntibigeze bihakana Yehova ngo bareke ukwizera kwabo. Bari bameze nk’abagaragu b’indahemuka ku Mana, abo Bibiliya yerekejeho igira iti “abandi bo bageragereshejwe kugirwa urw’amenyo no gukubitwa ibiboko, ndetse igikomeye kurushaho, hari abageragereshejwe gushyirwa ku ngoyi no mu mazu y’imbohe. Bicishijwe amabuye, barageragejwe, bacibwamo kabiri n’inkerezo, bicishwa inkota, bazerera bambaye impu z’intama, bambaye impu z’ihene, bari mu bukene, mu mibabaro, bagirirwa nabi, kandi isi ntiyari ikwiriye ko bayibamo.”—Heb 11:36-38.

Batotezwa mu mahanga yose

Ese ni ibihugu bike gusa byo mu isi byirengagije ko bivuga ko byubahiriza umudendezo w’abenegihugu bigatoteza Abahamya bibaziza idini ryabo? Oya rwose! Yesu Kristo yaburiye abigishwa be agira ati “muzangwa n’amahanga yose abahora izina ryanjye.”—Mat 24:9.

Mu minsi y’imperuka y’iyi si yatangiye mu mwaka wa 1914, urwo rwango rwarushijeho kwiyongera. Ibihugu bya Kanada na Amerika ni byo byatangije ibitero mu gihe cy’Intambara ya Mbere y’Isi Yose, bishyiraho amategeko abuzanya ibitabo by’imfashanyigisho za Bibiliya, kandi bidatinze u Buhindi na Malawi (icyo gihe yitwaga Nyasaland) byakurikiyeho. Mu myaka ya 1920, mu Bugiriki, muri Hongiriya, mu Butaliyani, muri Rumaniya no muri Esipanye, hashyizweho amategeko agamije kubangamira Abigishwa ba Bibiliya. Muri bimwe muri ibyo bihugu, gutanga ibitabo by’imfashanyigisho za Bibiliya byari bibujijwe, kandi rimwe na rimwe kugira amateraniro byari bibujijwe. Ibindi bihugu byagabye igitero mu myaka ya 1930, igihe amategeko amwe aca Abahamya ba Yehova, andi abuzanya ibitabo byabo yashyirwagaho muri Alubaniya, muri Otirishiya, muri Bulugariya, muri Esitoniya, muri Letoniya, muri Lituwaniya, muri Polonye no muri komine zimwe na zimwe zo mu Busuwisi, mu cyahoze ari Yugosilaviya, muri Gana (icyo gihe yitwaga Gold Coast), mu ntara z’u Bufaransa zo muri Afurika, muri Tirinite no muri Fiji.

Mu Ntambara ya Kabiri y’Isi Yose, mu bihugu byinshi byo ku isi hashyizweho amategeko aca Abahamya ba Yehova, akanabuzanya umurimo wabo wo kubwiriza n’ibitabo byabo. Ibyo ntibyabaye gusa mu Budage, mu Butaliyani no mu Buyapani, ibyo bihugu byose bikaba byarimo ubutegetsi bw’igitugu, ahubwo byabaye no mu bindi bihugu byinshi byategekwaga n’ibyo bihugu mu buryo buziguye n’ubutaziguye mbere y’iyo ntambara cyangwa muri iyo ntambara. Muri ibyo bihugu harimo Alubaniya, Otirishiya, u Bubiligi, Cekosilovakiya, Koreya, u Buholandi, Indoneziya (icyo gihe yitwaga ibirwa by’u Buholandi by’Iburasirazuba) na Noruveje. Muri iyo myaka y’intambara, ibihugu bya Arijantine, Burezili, Finilande, u Bufaransa na Hongiriya byose byashyizeho amategeko abuzanya Abahamya ba Yehova cyangwa umurimo wabo.

U Bwongereza ntibweruye ngo bubuzanye ibikorwa by’Abahamya ba Yehova mu ntambara, ariko bwahambirije umugenzuzi w’ibiro by’ishami wari Umunyamerika, kandi bwagerageje gushyira inzitizi ku murimo w’Abahamya bubabuza gutumiza ibitabo by’imfashanyigisho za Bibiliya mu gihe cy’intambara. Mu bwami bwose bw’u Bwongereza no mu bihugu bikoresha icyongereza, hashyizweho amategeko yeruye yabuzanyaga Abahamya ba Yehova cyangwa abuzanya ibitabo byabo. Ositaraliya, Bahamasi, Lesoto (icyo gihe yitwaga Basutoland), Botswana (icyo gihe yitwaga Bechuanaland), Guyana (icyo gihe yitwaga British Guiana), Miyanimari (icyo gihe yitwaga Birimaniya), Kanada, Siri Lanka (icyo gihe yitwaga Ceylon), Shipure, Dominique, Fiji, Gana (icyo gihe yitwaga Gold Coast), u Buhindi, Jamayika, Ibirwa bya Karayibe by’u Bwongereza, Nouvelle-Zélande, Nijeriya, Zambiya (icyo gihe yitwaga Northern Rhodesia), Malawi (icyo gihe yitwaga Nyasaland), Singapuru, Afurika y’Epfo, Zimbabwe (icyo gihe yitwaga Southern Rhodesia), na Suwazilandi, ibyo bihugu byose byashyizeho amategeko agaragaza ukuntu bangaga Abahamya ba Yehova.

Nyuma y’intambara, hamwe na hamwe ibitotezo byaragabanutse ariko ahandi biriyongera. Mu myaka 45 yakurikiyeho, Abahamya ba Yehova bimwe ubuzima gatozi mu bihugu byinshi, kandi hari amategeko yeruye abuzanya umurimo wabo mu bihugu 23 byo muri Afurika, 9 byo muri Aziya, 8 byo mu Burayi, 3 byo muri Amerika y’Epfo na 4 byo mu bihugu bigizwe n’ibirwa. Mu mwaka wa 1992, umurimo w’Abahamya ba Yehova wari ukibuzanyijwe mu bihugu 24.

Ibyo ariko ntibishatse kuvuga ko abategetsi bose bo muri ibyo bihugu barwanyaga umurimo w’Abahamya ba Yehova. Abategetsi benshi bashyigikiraga umudendezo mu by’idini kandi bari bazi ko Abahamya bafitiye akamaro akarere batuyemo. Abategetsi nk’abo ntibemeranywaga n’abantu batera hejuru basaba ko abategetsi babuza amahwemo Abahamya. Urugero, mbere y’uko Kote Divuwari ibona ubwigenge, igihe umupadiri w’Umugatolika n’umupasiteri bageragezaga gushuka abategetsi ngo bace Abahamya ba Yehova mu gihugu, abategetsi banze kuba ibikoresho by’amadini. Igihe umutegetsi yageragezaga guhindura amategeko yo muri Namibiya mu mwaka wa 1990 kugira ngo akandamize impunzi z’Abahamya ba Yehova, Inteko ishinga amategeko yarabyanze. Kandi mu bihugu byinshi aho umurimo w’Abahamya ba Yehova wari warabuzanyijwe, ubu bafite ubuzima gatozi.

Nubwo bimeze bityo ariko, Abahamya ba Yehova baracyatotezwa mu buryo bunyuranye ku isi hose (2 Tim 3:12). Mu turere tumwe na tumwe, batotezwa na ba nyir’urugo b’abanyamwaga, bene wabo babarwanya cyangwa abo bakorana n’abo bigana badatinya Imana. Uko ababatoteza baba bari kose cyangwa uko bagerageza gusobanura impamvu ituma babatoteza, Abahamya ba Yehova basobanukiwe impamvu ituma Abakristo b’ukuri batotezwa.

Uko ikibazo giteye

Ibitabo by’Abahamya ba Yehova bimaze igihe kirekire bigaragaza ko igitabo cya mbere cya Bibiliya cyahanuye mu mvugo y’ikigereranyo ibihereranye n’urwango Satani n’abo ayobora bari kugaragariza umuryango wa Yehova wo mu ijuru n’abawuhagarariye ku isi (Intang 3:15; Yoh 8:38, 44; Ibyah 12:9, 17). Cyane cyane guhera mu mwaka wa 1925, Umunara w’Umurinzi wagaragaje ko Ibyanditswe bigaragaza ko hariho imiryango ibiri y’ingenzi, ni ukuvuga umuryango wa Yehova n’umuryango wa Satani. Kandi nk’uko muri 1 Yohana 5:19 habivuga, “isi yose,” ni ukuvuga abantu bose batari mu muryango wa Yehova, “iri mu maboko y’umubi.” Ngiyo impamvu ituma Abakristo b’ukuri bose batotezwa.—Yoh 15:20.

Ariko se kuki Imana yemera ko dutotezwa? Ese haba hari ikintu cyiza bitanga? Yesu Kristo yasobanuye ko mbere y’uko aza ari Umwami w’Ubwami bwo mu ijuru aje kurimbura Satani n’umuryango we mubi, hari kubaho igikorwa cyo kurobanura abantu bo mu mahanga yose nk’uko umwungeri wo mu Burasirazuba bwo Hagati arobanura intama mu ihene. Abantu bari guhabwa uburyo bwo kumva ibihereranye n’Ubwami bw’Imana maze bagahitamo kubushyigikira. Iyo ababwiriza b’ubwo Bwami batotezwa, iki kibazo gikurikira kirushaho kujya ahagaragara: ese abazumva iby’ubwo Bwami bazagirira neza “abavandimwe” ba Kristo na bagenzi babo, bityo babe bagaragaje ko bakunda Kristo? Cyangwa bazifatanya n’abagirira nabi abahagarariye Ubwami bw’Imana cyangwa bicecekere mu gihe abandi babagirira nabi (Mat 25:31-46; 10:40; 24:14)? Muri Malawi hari abiboneye neza abakoreraga Imana y’ukuri abo ari bo, maze bifatanya n’Abahamya batotezwaga. Imfungwa zitari nke na bamwe mu barindaga ibigo byo mu Budage byakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa na bo ni uko babigenje.

Nubwo abantu bashinja ibinyoma Abahamya ba Yehova kandi bakabatoteza, ndetse bakabatuka babahora ko bizera Imana, ntibumva ko Imana yabatereranye. Bazi ko ibintu nk’ibyo byabaye no kuri Yesu Kristo (Mat 27:43). Nanone bazi ko igihe Yesu yakomezaga kubera indahemuka Yehova, yagaragaje ko Satani ari umubeshyi kandi agira uruhare mu kweza izina rya Se. Buri Muhamya wa Yehova yifuza kubigenza atyo.—Mat 6:9.

Ikibazo si ukumenya niba bashobora kurokoka iyicarubozo ntibicwe. Yesu Kristo yahanuye ko bamwe mu bigishwa be bari kwicwa (Mat 24:9). Na we ubwe yarishwe. Ariko ntiyigeze ashyigikira Umwanzi ukomeye w’Imana, ari we Satani “umutware w’isi.” Yesu yanesheje isi (Yoh 14:30; 16:33). Ikibazo rero ni ukumenya niba abasenga Imana y’ukuri bazakomeza kuyibera indahemuka uko ibigeragezo bahura na byo byaba biri kose. Abahamya ba Yehova bo muri iki gihe bagaragaza mu buryo bwinshi ko bafite imitekerereze nk’iy’intumwa Pawulo, wanditse agira ati “niba turiho, turiho ku bwa Yehova, kandi niba dupfa, dupfa ku bwa Yehova. Ku bw’ibyo rero, niba turiho cyangwa niba dupfa, turi aba Yehova.”—Rom 14:8.

[Ibisobanuro ahagana hasi ku ipaji]

[Amagambo yatsindagirijwe yo ku ipaji ya 642]

Abari ku isonga mu gutoteza Yesu Kristo bari abayobozi b’idini

[Amagambo yatsindagirijwe yo ku ipaji ya 645]

“Umuntu wese Imana yahaye inshingano cyangwa uburenganzira bwo kubwiriza, ni uwo yahaye umwuka wera”

[Amagambo yatsindagirijwe yo ku ipaji ya 647]

Icyo gitabo cyagaragaje neza uburyarya bw’abayobozi b’amadini yiyita aya gikristo (“Le mystère accompli”)

[Amagambo yatsindagirijwe yo ku ipaji ya 650]

Abagabo n’abagore b’Abakristo bagabwaho ibitero n’abantu biremye udutsiko bagafungwa nta cyo baregwa cyangwa badaciriwe urubanza

[Amagambo yatsindagirijwe yo ku ipaji ya 652]

“Biragaragara ko imyaka y’igifungo bakatiwe ikabije kuba myinshi”—Byavuzwe na Woodrow Wilson wari perezida wa Amerika

[Amagambo yatsindagirijwe yo ku ipaji ya 656]

Umuntu utarakoraga ibyo padiri yavuze ntiyashoboraga kurenganurwa

[Amagambo yatsindagirijwe yo ku ipaji ya 666]

Abapadiri basabaga abarimu gusohora mu ishuri abana babarirwa mu magana ngo bajye gutera amabuye Abahamya

[Amagambo yatsindagirijwe yo ku ipaji ya 668]

Abayobozi b’amadini bahurije hamwe imbaraga kugira ngo barwanye Abahamya

[Amagambo yatsindagirijwe yo ku ipaji ya 671]

Abantu biremye udutsiko bagabaga ibitero ku Bahamya ba Yehova muri Amerika

[Amagambo yatsindagirijwe yo ku ipaji ya 676]

Mu bihugu byose byo ku isi, Abahamya ba Yehova baratotejwe

[Agasanduku ko yo ku ipaji ya 655]

Abayobozi b’amadini bagaragaje ibyiyumvo byabo

Birashishikaje kumenya uko ibinyamakuru by’amadini byakiriye ibihano J. F. Rutherford na bagenzi be bahawe mu mwaka wa 1918:

◆ “Aha ngaha, leta ikubise mu cyico abantu bibwiraga ko bashobora gukwirakwiza bitekerezo by’idini by’ubupfu kandi biteje akaga ntibahanwe. Abantu bamaze igihe kirekire babyibeshyaho kandi natwe twari twarakabije kubyirengagiza. . . . Bisa naho ak’Abaruseli kashobotse.”—“The Christian Register.”

◆ Ikinyamakuru cy’Ababatisita cyagize kiti “ntibitangaje kuba umukuru w’ako gatsiko k’intagondwa afungiwe mu kigo cyakira intagondwa. . . . Ariko mu by’ukuri ikibazo gikomeje gutera urujijo, ni ukumenya niba ahubwo abaregwa batari bakwiriye koherezwa mu kigo cy’abarwayi bo mu mutwe cyangwa muri gereza.”—“The Western Recorder.”

◆ Hari ikinyamakuru cyagarutse ku magambo yavuzwe mu kindi kinyamakuru cy’i New York (“Evening Post”) kigira kiti “twiringiye ko abigisha b’amadini aho bari hose bazazirikana igitekerezo cy’uyu mucamanza, kivuga ko kwigisha inyigisho z’idini iryo ari ryo ryose ari icyaha gikomeye, keretse zibaye zihuje mu buryo bwose n’amategeko y’igihugu, kandi icyo cyaha kirushaho kuremera iyo uwigisha ivanjiri abikorana umutima uzira uburyarya.”—“The Fortnightly Review.”

◆ Hari ikinyamakuru cyakoresheje imvugo nyandagazi, kivuga ko ababuranaga ari “abayoboke ba nyakwigendera ‘Pasiteri’ Russell,” maze kigoreka imyizerere yabo kivuga ko ngo bavugaga ko “abantu bose uretse abanyabyaha bagomba gusonerwa kujya kurwanya Kayisari w’u Budage.” Cyavuze ko umushinjacyaha mukuru w’i Washington yari yaravuze ko “mbere yaho leta y’u Butaliyani yari yaritotombeye Amerika ko Rutherford na bagenzi be . . . bari barakwirakwije mu ngabo z’u Butaliyani poropagande nyinshi zigamije kubabuza kwitabira intambara.”—“The Continent.”

◆ Hashize icyumweru kimwe nyuma yaho, hari ikindi kinyamakuru (“The Christian Century”)cyasohoye izo nkuru tumaze kuvuga hafi ya zose, ibyo bikaba bigaragaza ko abanditsi bacyo bemeranyaga na zo muri byose.

◆ Ikinyamakuru cy’Abagatolika cyavuze muri make ibihano bakatiwe, hanyuma kigaragaza ibyiyumvo by’abanditsi bacyo, kigira kiti “ibitabo by’uwo muryango byuzuyemo ibitekerezo byikoma Kiliziya Gatolika n’abapadiri bayo.” Icyo kinyamakuru cyagerageje kugaragaza ko umuntu wese ugaragariza mu ruhame ko atemeranya na Kiliziya Gatolika aba “agandisha abaturage,” cyongeraho kiti “bigenda birushaho kwigaragaza ko umwuka wo kutoroherana ufitanye isano ya bugufi no kugandisha abaturage.”—“Truth.”

◆ “Igihe abanditsi b’ibinyamakuru by’amadini bumvaga iby’ibyo bihano by’imyaka makumyabiri y’igifungo, ibyo binyamakuru hafi ya byose, byaba ibikomeye n’ibyoroheje, byishimiye iyo nkuru. Sinashoboye kubona ijambo na rimwe mu binyamakuru by’amadini akomeye rigaragaza ko bishyiraga mu mwanya wabo.”—Byavuzwe na Dr. Ray Abrams mu gitabo yanditse “Preachers Present Arms.”

[Agasanduku ko ku ipaji ya 660]

‘Batotejwe bazira idini ryabo’

“Hari itsinda ry’abantu bari bafungiwe mu kigo cyakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa cy’i Mauthausen batotezwaga bazira idini ryabo gusa: abo ni abayoboke b’agatsiko k’‘Abigishwa ba Bibiliya’ cyangwa ‘Abahamya ba Yehova’ . . . Impamvu yatumaga batotezwa ni uko bangaga gukoresha indahiro yo kutazahemukira Hitileri no gukora umurimo uwo ari wo wose wa gisirikare, iyo ikaba ari ingaruka ya politiki iterwa n’imyizerere yabo.”—“Die Geschichte des Konzentrationslagers Mauthausen” (Amateka y’ikigo cya Mauthausen), yanditswe na Hans Maršálek, Vienna, Otirishiya, 1974.

[Agasanduku/Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 661]

Ubuhinduzi bw’itangazo abasirikare ba Hitileri bahatiraga Abahamya gushyiraho umukono

Ikigo gikoranyirizwamo imfungwa .................................

Urwego II

ITANGAZO

Jyewe, ...................................................

wavutse ku itariki ya ...........................................

muri .......................................................

ntangaje ibi bikurikira:

1. Namenye ko Umuryango Mpuzamahanga w’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya wamamaza inyigisho z’ibinyoma kandi ko ufite imigambi yo kurwanya leta witwikiriye idini.

2. Ni yo mpamvu mvuye burundu muri uwo muryango kandi nkaba nitandukanyije n’inyigisho z’ako gatsiko k’idini.

3. Ndemeza ko ntazongera kugira uruhare mu bikorwa by’Umuryango Mpuzamahanga w’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya. Umuntu wese uzanzanira inyigisho z’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya, cyangwa akamenyesha mu buryo ubwo ari bwo bwose ko akorana na bo, nzahita murega. Ibitabo byose by’Abigishwa ba Bibiliya bizoherezwa kuri aderesi yanjye nzajya mpita mbyohereza ku biro bya polisi binyegereye.

4. Nzajya nubahiriza amategeko ya leta cyane cyane mu gihe cy’intambara, kandi nzafata intwaro mu ntoki mfatanye n’abandi baturage bose kurengera igihugu cyambyaye.

5. Namenyeshejwe ko nindamuka nkoze ibinyuranye n’ibi ntangaje uyu munsi nzahita nongera nkarindirwa muri gereza.

.................................., Itariki ................ ...........................................................

Umukono

[Agasanduku ko ku ipaji ya 662]

Amabaruwa yandikwaga na bamwe babaga bakatiwe urwo gupfa

Ibaruwa Franz Reiter (wari wakatiwe kunyongwa) yandikiye nyina ku itariki ya 6 Mutarama 1940, igihe yari muri gereza y’i Berlin-Plötzensee:

“Nemera ntashidikanya ko nakoze ibikwiriye. Kugeza ubu ndacyafite uburyo bwo guhindura imitekerereze, ariko byaba ari ubuhemu ku Mana. Twese uko turi hano twifuza kubera Imana indahemuka no kuyubaha. . . . Nkurikije ubumenyi nagize, iyo nza kurahirira kujya mu gisirikare nari kuba nkoze icyaha gihanishwa urupfu. Nari kuba nkoze ishyano sinzazuke. Ariko nkomeza kuzirikana ibyo Kristo yavuze agira ati ‘ushaka gukiza ubugingo bwe azabubura, ariko uhara ubugingo bwe ku bwanjye azabubona.’ None rero Mama nkunda cyane, bavandimwe na bashiki banjye mwese, uyu munsi nasomewe, ariko ntimushye ubwoba, nakatiwe urwo gupfa kandi nzicwa ejo mu gitondo. Imana yampaye imbaraga, nk’uko buri gihe yazihaga Abakristo b’ukuri uhereye kera kose. Intumwa zaranditse ziti, ‘umuntu wese wabyawe n’Imana ntakora ibyaha.’ Ibyo ni ko bimeze no kuri jye. Ibyo narabibagaragarije kandi mushobora kubibona. Ncuti zanjye, ntimwicwe n’intimba. Byaba byiza mwese mukomeje kurushaho kumenya neza Ibyanditswe Byera. Nimukomeza gushikama kugeza ku gupfa, tuzongera tubonane mu gihe cy’umuzuko. . . .

“Yari Franz

“Kugeza twongeye kubonana.”

Ibaruwa Berthold Szabo, wishwe arasiwe i Körmend muri Hongiriya, ku itariki ya 2 Werurwe 1945:

“Kuri mushiki wanjye nkunda Marika!

“Muri iyi saha imwe n’igice nsigaranye, ngiye kugerageza kukwandikira, kugira ngo uzamenyeshe ababyeyi banjye imimerere ndimo mpanganye n’urupfu.

“Mbifurije ko bagira amahoro yo mu mutima nk’ayo mfite muri ibi bihe bya nyuma ngomba kumara muri iyi si yugarijwe n’amakuba. Ubu ni saa yine zuzuye, kandi ndi bwicwe saa tanu n’igice; ariko ndatuje rwose. Ubuzima bwanjye busigaye mbushyize mu biganza bya Yehova n’Umwana akunda cyane Yesu Kristo, Umwami utazigera yibagirwa abamukunda nta buryarya. Nanone nzi ko vuba aha hazabaho umuzuko w’abapfuye, nako abasinziriye muri Kristo. Ikindi nifuzaga kubabwira by’umwihariko, ni uko mbifuriza ko Yehova yabitura urukundo mwangaragarije. Nsuhuriza papa na mama, hamwe na Annus. Ibyanjye ntibibahangayikishe; tuzongera tubonane vuba. Ubu ndumva ntuje kandi ngiye kuruhuka kugeza igihe Yehova azongera kumpamagara. Ndetse n’icyo gihe nzahigura ibyo namuhigiye.

“Ubu igihe cyanjye kirarangiye. Imana ibane namwe kandi ibane nanjye.

“Ndabakunda cyane, . . .

“Berthi”

[Agasanduku ko ku ipaji ya 663]

Bamenyekaniye ku butwari n’ukwizera kwabo

◆ “Nubwo Abahamya bo mu bigo byakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa bari bahanganye n’ingorane nyinshi, bateraniraga hamwe, bagasengera hamwe, bagakoporora ibitabo kandi bagahindura abantu abigishwa. Abahamya bari itsinda rito ry’imfungwa ritazibagirana, barangwaga na mpandeshatu y’isine kandi bamenyekaniye ku butwari n’ukwizera kwabo, bakaba bari batandukanye n’izindi mfungwa nyinshi kuko bo bakomezwaga n’ubumwe bwabo, kandi bari bazi neza impamvu ahantu nk’aho habaho n’impamvu bagomba guhura n’imibabaro.” Byanditswe na Dr. Christine King, mu gitabo cye “The Nazi State and the New Religions: Five Case Studies in Non-Conformity.”

◆ Anna Pawełczyńska yanditse mu gitabo cye cyavugaga iby’amahame n’urugomo byabaga mu kigo cya Auschwitz (“Values and Violence in Auschwitz”), agira ati “izo mfungwa zari zigizwe n’abantu bari bakomeye ku bitekerezo byabo kandi batsinze intambara barwanaga n’Abanazi. Abayoboke b’agatsiko k’iryo dini mu Budage bari bameze nk’akarwa gato k’abantu bihagazeho bari mu ndiba y’ishyanga ry’ibikange, kandi uwo mwuka w’ubutwari ni wo wakomeje kubaranga mu kigo cya Auschwitz. Bashoboye gutuma izindi mfungwa zibubaha . . . kandi bubahwaga n’imfungwa zakoraga imirimo itandukanye muri icyo kigo, ndetse n’abasirikare ba Hitileri. Abantu bose bari bazi ko nta [Muhamya wa Yehova] wari kubahiriza itegeko rinyuranye n’imyizerere y’idini rye.”

◆ Mu nkuru ivuga iby’ubuzima bwa Rudolf Hoess yasohotse mu gitabo cyavugaga ibyabereye mu kigo cya Auschwitz (“Commandant of Auschwitz”), yavuze ukuntu bamwe mu Bahamya ba Yehova bishwe bazira ko banze guteshuka ku kutabogama kwa gikristo. Yaravuze ati “ntekereza ko Abakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere bishwe bazira ukwizera kwabo na bo ari uko bari bameze igihe babaga bari mu kibuga bategereje gutanyaguzwa n’inyamaswa z’inkazi. Mu maso habo harahindutse burundu bubura amaso yabo bareba mu ijuru, bafatanya ibiganza bazamura amaboko basenga, maze barapfa. Abababonye bapfa bose bakozwe ku mutima, kandi n’ababishe byabagizeho ingaruka.” (Icyo gitabo cyasohotse mu gipolonye gifite umutwe uvuga ngo “Autobiografia Rudolfa Hössa-komendanta obozu oświęcimskiego.”)

[Agasanduku ko ku ipaji ya 673]

“Ntibarwanya igihugu”

“Ntibarwanya igihugu; gusa bashyigikira Yehova.” “Ntibigaragambya batwika impapuro zisaba abantu kujya mu gisirikare, ntibigomeka ku butegetsi . . . cyangwa ngo bakore ibindi bikorwa byose byo kugandira ubutegetsi.” “Abahamya bahora ari inyangamugayo kandi ntibatezuka ku budahemuka bwabo. Icyo umuntu yatekereza ku Bahamya cyose, ni intangarugero mu mibereho yabo nubwo bavugwaho ibintu bibi byinshi.”—“Telegram,” Toronto, Kanada, Nyakanga 1970.

[Agasanduku ko ku ipaji ya 674]

Ni nde ubayobora?

Abahamya ba Yehova bazi ko inshingano yabo yo kubwiriza idaturuka ku mikorere y’umuryango wa Watch Tower Society cyangwa undi muryango wo mu rwego rw’amategeko. “Umuryango wa Watch Tower Society uramutse usheshwe, na leta zigafunga ibiro by’amashami yawo mu bihugu bitandukanye, ibyo ntibyaburizamo inshingano Imana yahaye abagabo n’abagore biyeguriye gukora ibyo Imana ishaka kandi ikaba yarabasutseho umwuka wayo. Mu Ijambo ryayo handitswemo mu buryo busobanutse neza ngo ‘mubwirize!’ Iryo tegeko riza imbere y’andi mategeko yose y’abantu” (“Umunara w’Umurinzi,” 15 Ukuboza 1949). Bakomeza kubwiriza ubutumwa bw’Ubwami nubwo barwanywa, kubera ko bazi neza ko amategeko bayahabwa na Yehova Imana na Yesu Kristo.

[Agasanduku ko ku ipaji ya 677]

Kimwe n’Abakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere

◆ “Abahamya ba Yehova bubaha idini ryabo cyane kurusha uko abandi babigenza. Amahame bagenderaho atwibutsa ay’Abakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere batakundwaga n’abantu kandi batotejwe bikabije n’Abaroma.”—“Akron Beacon Journal,” Akron, Ohio, 4 Nzeri 1951.

◆ “[Abakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere] babagaho mu buzima butuje, buzira amakemwa mu by’umuco kandi bari intangarugero. . . . Bari abaturage b’intangarugero muri byose uretse ikintu kimwe gusa cyo kosa imibavu.” “None se ko gutambira umwami w’abami ibitambo ari byo byapimirwagaho gukunda igihugu, abategetsi bashoboraga kwirengagiza agasuzuguro k’abo Bakristo batakundaga igihugu? Akaga kagwiririye abo Bakristo ntigatandukanye na busa n’akaga kagwiririye abayoboke b’agatsiko katava ku izima kitwa Abahamya ba Yehova mu myaka y’intambara muri Amerika bitewe n’ikibazo cyo kuramutsa ibendera.”—“20 Centuries of Christianity,” cyanditswe na Paul Hutchinson na Winfred Garrison, 1959, ipaji ya 31.

◆ “Ikintu gikomeye Abahamya bazwiho ni uko bumva ko bagomba kugandukira mbere na mbere Imana, mbere yo kugandukira ubutegetsi ubwo ari bwo bwose bwo ku isi.”—“These Also Believe,” cyanditswe na Dr. C. S. Braden, 1949, ipaji ya 380.

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 644]

Iki kinyamakuru cyamamaje cyane ibiganiro mpaka Dr. Eaton yagiranye na C. T. Russell (“The Pittsburgh Gazette”)

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 646]

Abarwanyaga Charles Russell bakwirakwije ibinyoma byambaye ubusa ku byerekeye ibibazo yari afitanye n’umugore we Maria

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 648]

Abayobozi b’amadini bararakaye cyane igihe hatangwaga kopi 10.000.000 z’iyi nkuru y’Ubwami igaragaza ko inyigisho n’ibikorwa byabo bidashingiye ku Ijambo ry’Imana

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 649]

Mu mwaka wa 1918 ibinyamakuru byatumye ibitotezo byibasiraga Abigishwa ba Bibiliya birushaho gufata intera

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 651]

Muri uru rubanza rw’abakoraga ku cyicaro gikuru cy’umuryango wa Watch Tower Society, havuzwe cyane igitabo “Le mystère accompli”

Urukiko n’ibiro by’iposita, Brooklyn, N.Y.

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 653]

Bahawe ibihano bikaze kuruta igihano cyahawe umwicanyi watumye Intambara ya Mbere y’Isi Yose irota Ibumoso ugana iburyo: W. E. Van Amburgh, J. F. Rutherford, A. H. Macmillan, R. J. Martin, F. H. Robison, C. J. Woodworth, G. H. Fisher, G. DeCecca

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 657]

Igihe iri koraniro ry’Abahamya ryaberaga i New York mu mwaka wa 1939, abantu bagera kuri 200 bari biremye agatsiko bayobowe n’umupadiri w’Umugatolika bagerageje kurisesa

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 659]

Mu Ntambara ya Kabiri y’Isi Yose Abahamya ba Yehova babarirwa mu bihumbi bafungiwe mu bigo byakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa

Ikirango cy’abasirikare barindaga Hitileri gifite ishusho y’igihanga (ibumoso)

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 664]

Igice cy’igitabo cyakoreshwaga mu kwiga Bibiliya cyagizwe gito kigashyirwa mu kibiriti, kikagezwa rwihishwa ku Bahamya bari bafungiye mu kigo cyakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 665]

Bamwe mu Bahamya bahuye n’ibigeragezo bikaze byageragezaga ukwizera kwabo mu bigo by’Abanazi byakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa

Wewelsburg

Mauthausen

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 667]

Urugomo rw’abantu bari biremye agatsiko hafi y’i Montréal mu ntara ya Québec, mu mwaka wa 1945. Urwo rugomo rwabaga ruyobowe n’abayobozi b’amadini rwibasiye cyane Abahamya mu myaka ya 1940 n’iya 1950

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 669]

Abahamya ba Yehova babarirwa mu bihumbi (hakubiyemo na John Booth ugaragara aha) bafashwe batanga ibitabo by’imfashanyigisho za Bibiliya

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 670]

Nyuma y’icyemezo Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwafatiye Abahamya mu mwaka wa 1940, urugomo rw’abantu biremye udutsiko rwakwiriye muri Amerika hose, amateraniro aradurumbanywa, Abahamya barakubitwa n’imitungo yabo irangizwa

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 672]

Mu duce twinshi byabaye ngombwa ko hashyirwaho Amashuri y’Ubwami kubera ko abana b’Abahamya bari barirukanywe mu mashuri asanzwe