Jehovah's Witnesses can't use stadium

MURMANSK, Russia, July 18 (UPI) -- Jehovah's Witnesses in the Russian city of Murmansk were told Friday they cannot use a stadium for a series of meetings.

Prosecutors said Russian law bars the use of sports facilities for religious services, the Novosti news agency reported.

The group had planned to hold meetings this weekend in the Central Stadium.

There are about 800 Jehovah's Witnesses in Murmansk. Last year, local authorities barred the Witnesses from building a religious facility in a dense neighborhood in the city.