Barring them from your church & religious services is fair enough but ostracising people to the point where you deliberately cut them off from friends & family who are quite possibly the only real or reliable social network they have - simply because because they've done something that goes against your sect's teachings is cruel to the point of being malicious.
Let me first address this statement. What do most people (on the outside looking in) understand about our policy of zero tolerance of deliberate wrongdoing and subsequent disfellowshipping?
Do you understand that no one can "join" Jehovah's Witnesses like some sort of club? We are bound by an oath to God at our baptism to uphold the laws of God as taught by his son. We also understand that it allows no willful or deliberate act of breaching God's laws without penalty. Does that mean that we don't make mistakes or have lapses in judgment for which we can seek forgiveness? NO!
We have elders in our congregations who have heavy responsibilities to make sure that no bad influences remain to corrupt others. These elders (usually a body of three) hear accusations and claims of wrongdoing and make careful examination of the evidence brought before them. In congregations where people from many nationalities and backgrounds mix as equals, problems will inevitably arise. No one is disfellowshipped from our ranks without incontrovertible evidence that they have unrepentantly broken God's law.
I emphasise the word "unrepentantly" because, if someone is genuinely sorry and humbly seeks God's forgiveness, there may be some disciplinary measures taken, (depending on the severity of the breach) but no disfellowshipping will take place. There will only be loving encouragement to keep improving.
Those who refuse to accept responsibility for their proven actions OTOH, either in denying them, or trying to shift the blame on others, will receive counsel and encouragement to reconsider their stance. If they still refuse these efforts to help them, then they leave the elders no choice. Disfellowshipping will take place but only after many attempts to help the person see why they are making a big mistake. Disfellowshipping has one of two potential outcomes.....it either leads to a humble confession and realisation of their actions, or it invokes pride and anger resulting in a vengeful spirit. Those are the ones who post their sob stories online.
The example of the prodigal son is a powerful lesson in tough love. (Luke 15:11-32)
The errant son, squandered his whole inheritance on a debauched life, but when his money ran out, so did his "friends". Alone and destitute, he realized how good his life had been in his father's household, despite the rules he imposed. Humbled by his current state, he decided to return to his Father, not as an entitled son, but as merely one of his hired workers.
His father had made no effort to contact his son or to offer incentives for him to return home....it had to be his decision, based on his own reasons and feelings. When the father saw his son in the distance returning home, he did not wait for him to walk in the door and grovel....but ran to meet him, aware of his contrite state and knowing his feelings of humiliation.
We have so many 'prodigals' who return to us, lessons learned and discipline appreciated. (Hebrews 12:5-6) We are saddened by the ones who only want revenge......
Imagine if society started cutting faithful Jehovah's Witnesses congregations & members off from vital services such as food, water, healthcare, public amenities etc because of what they believe - but only until they renounced their faith in the Watchtower Society's orthodoxy. You might view that as a sign that you're in the right but it would undoubtedly cause harm to those affected; at least at first. Such harm would be cruel & tragic, would it not?
Would it surprise you to learn that we are preparing to deal with that very situation? According to Bible prophesy, this world will soon be ruled by one world government. (It has been mooted in the UN for decades now) They will rule by the will of the nations, believing that true peace and security can only be achieved under the rule of one global government, with one set of laws for all. The first and most divisive element to be removed will be religion. It will sound like a good solution to the current state of affairs.....but there will be a sting in the tail. Totalitarian rule comes with enormous power, which we all know corrupts humans horribly.
There will be no activity that will not be controlled by them and enforced by a global military police force in combat gear, already trained for the job. Have you seen them?
People will walk into this situation with blinded eyes, believing the propaganda.....and they will rue the day they gave up their hard earned freedoms to achieve a pipe dream.....world peace under human control.....but it is a recipe for world chaos. There is nothing anyone can do to stop it, and this prophesy was written almost 2,000 years ago. We see it coming.....do you? Only God has the solution.