Jehovah’s Witnesses have maintained a continuous presence in Argentina for over a century. Having arrived with early 20th-century migration waves, their establishment in the country was not always welcomed. They were banned during two periods, severely restricting their religious activities. However, with the return of democracy in 1983, gradual social acceptance began, allowing them to operate more freely. Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Argentina can be considered to be in a stage of “low-key integration.” This term refers to their ability to publicly identify with their faith and engage in religious activities without facing direct state persecution or severe societal backlash. However, their presence remains a topic of debate, particularly about conscientious objection in medical and civic matters.
According to official sources, Argentina currently has 1,938 Jehovah’s Witness congregations and 153,751 active publishers. With a total population of 46,045,000, this means that there is approximately one Jehovah’s Witness for every 301 inhabitants. Their presence is widespread across the national territory, encompassing urban centers, rural areas, and indigenous communities. While they constitute a religious minority in statistical terms, their steady expansion and missionary efforts have made them widely recognized by the general population.
Despite their relatively small numbers, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Argentina have developed a public image associated with civic responsibility and legal compliance. Their growing visibility in mass media has reinforced this perception in recent years. Over the past five years, several mainstream news reports have portrayed them in a neutral or even positive light, in contrast to the negative coverage they received during earlier decades when they faced state-imposed restrictions.
However, challenges remain, particularly regarding their stance on key issues such as blood transfusions and patriotic symbols. These issues have led to legal disputes and have shaped public discourse around their rights and integration into Argentine society. While Argentina’s legal framework formally guarantees religious freedom, it does not provide full equality among religious groups. The Catholic Church has historically held a privileged position, influencing legislation, public policy, and cultural perceptions of religion. In this context, Jehovah’s Witnesses—like other non-Catholic religious groups—have encountered legal obstacles and social resistance.
One of the most contentious issues surrounding Jehovah’s Witnesses in Argentina is their refusal to accept blood transfusions, even in life-threatening situations. Courts have generally upheld their right to conscientious objection, particularly in cases involving adult patients explicitly stating their refusal in legal documents. However, conflicts persist, particularly in cases involving minors or individuals with disabilities, where the state may intervene to authorize blood transfusions against the wishes of the patient or their guardians. The second major point of contention is their refusal to honor patriotic symbols, including saluting the flag or participating in nationalistic ceremonies. While legal precedents have generally protected their right to abstain from such practices, tensions remain, particularly in educational settings and public institutions.
These specific issues are part of a broader challenge: Argentina’s lack of a clear and comprehensive legal framework regulating religious freedom. In the absence of specific legislation, courts handle religious freedom cases on an individual basis, leading to inconsistencies in judicial decisions. This creates legal uncertainty for Jehovah’s Witnesses and other religious minorities, as their rights are subject to varying interpretations by different judicial and administrative authorities.
Although Jehovah’s Witnesses in Argentina maintain generally cordial relationships with other religious communities, they do not actively participate in interfaith dialogue initiatives or religious diversity advocacy groups. This absence often limits their representation in public discussions concerning religious minority rights. One notable exception to this trend was their collaboration with the Jewish community in an exhibition addressing religious persecution during the Nazi era. This initiative, which highlighted the historical suffering of both groups under totalitarian regimes, served as a rare moment of public engagement between Jehovah’s Witnesses and other religious organizations.
To contextualize the situation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Argentina, this presentation will integrate findings from the JW-MAP (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Motivations, Attitudes, and Practices) project. JW-MAP is a comparative study analyzing the experiences of Jehovah’s Witnesses in six countries: Argentina, Canada, France, Japan, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom. The project utilizes multiple data sources, including national reports and three comprehensive surveys, to examine Jehovah’s Witnesses’ social integration, religious practices, and public perception in diverse cultural and legal contexts.
The first survey was distributed among Jehovah’s Witnesses in each participating country. It collected data on religious practices, motivations, and attitudes, providing insights into members’ lived experiences. This is particularly relevant for Argentina, where such data has been scarce until now.
The second survey is a YouTube content analysis assessing social perceptions of Jehovah’s Witnesses in digital spaces. By examining how Jehovah’s Witnesses are portrayed on online platforms, the study provides an additional dimension to understanding public attitudes toward the community.
The third is a YouGov public opinion survey, which measured levels of public awareness and perceptions of Jehovah’s Witnesses in each country. This survey is crucial in assessing how the general population views Jehovah’s Witnesses, whether they are perceived positively or negatively, and how these perceptions vary across different national contexts.
In this presentation, we will analyze the findings for Argentina in detail, situating them within the historical trajectory of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the country. By comparing these findings with data from the other JW-MAP countries, we aim to highlight the unique characteristics and common patterns of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ experiences across different cultural and legal environments.
This comparative approach will allow us to assess how Jehovah’s Witnesses’ legal and social status in Argentina aligns with or differs from their experiences elsewhere. Additionally, it will provide insights into broader themes of religious freedom, minority rights, and the role of legal frameworks in shaping the integration of religious communities.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have a long history in Argentina, arriving in the early 20th century. They faced two periods of religious prohibition, but with democracy’s return, their presence gradually gained acceptance. Today, they experience “low-key integration,” publicly practicing their faith without reprisals. However, challenges persist, particularly regarding blood transfusion objections and resistance to patriotic symbols. This paper examines the Argentinean context in comparison to other countries. It draws on data from the JW-MAP (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Motivations, Attitudes, Practices) project, which conducted three surveys across six nations. These include a member survey, a YouTube presence and reactions analysis, and a YouGov survey. By analyzing these sources, we aim to explore different forms of social integration of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Argentina and how they compare to global trends.