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”.
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”.
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.
The most extensive “anti-cult” efforts have been in France. Since 1998, the French government has had a governmental entity specifically tasked with collecting and disseminating official information on groups deemed to be “cults” and coordinating government efforts to oppose such groups. The organization in its current form is called the “Inter-ministerial Mission for Vigilance and to Combat Sectarian Aberrations,” or MIVILUDES
International human rights organizations have warned that the French government has retreated from its mandate toward respecting religious pluralism. In spite of the principles of non-discrimination and equal treatment, the French government has determined to arbitrarily classify religious groups into two separate categories: 1) religions viewed as law-abiding and beneficial to society; and 2) “sects” or “sectarian movements” viewed as dangerous to society, which are the targets of oppressive and discriminatory measures, and which the government declares must be “fought” against.
