by CAP Liberté de Conscience | Oct 1, 2013 | CAP LC Europe, OSCE
For years, France has had a policy of stigmatization and negative stereotyping of minorities of religion or belief it has labeled as “sects” or, more recently as “sectarian movements”. This derogatory classification corresponds to the improper assessment of religion or beliefs and the consideration that some of them, new or minority ones not belonging to traditional Churches or Institutions, are “deviant” and constitute “sectarian drifts”.
by CAP Liberté de Conscience | Jul 31, 2013 | France
In a decision of January 31, 2013, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) sentenced France in 3 cases (vs. Association cultuelle du Temple Pyramide, Association des Chevaliers du Lotus d’Or, and Église évangélique missionnaire, also known as « Missionary evangelical church of Besançon) for violation of religious freedom (violation of Article 9 of the Convention – Requests 50471/07, 50615/07 and 25502/07).
by CAP Liberté de Conscience | Jul 31, 2013 | news
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) dedicates a whole chapter of their annual report published on April 30, 2013 to criticizing several Western European countries, including France, accused of developing “ a climate of intimidation against certain forms of religious activities”.
by CAP Liberté de Conscience | Jul 31, 2013 | news
Miviludes keeps repeating that « the sectarian phenomenon » allegedly puts 50,000 to 60,000 children at risk. As to Georges Fenech, its former head, he gets entangled in figures. In an interview to daily Le Figaro on October 13, 2010, he talks about 50,000 children who would be « victims of sectarian hold ». On TV France 2, he claims that 60,000 children are in danger, then on TV France 3 they are 80,000 but on TV LCP they are no more than 20,000. And on October 30, 2012, before an enquiry commission in the Senate, he admits that after being at the head of the Miviludes for 4 years, he has “no statistical data”.
by CAP Liberté de Conscience | Jul 31, 2013 | news
Since it was established in 2002, the Miviludes has accumulated drifts and abuses. But when publishing a « black list » of alternative therapies in 2012, the interministerial mission crossed the white line, overtly attacking freedom to choose one’s therapy like they attacked freedom of beliefs.
