FRANCE:
DISCRIMINATORY AND REPRESSIVE LEGISLATION
TO BAN TARGETED RELIGIOUS MINORITIES

Proposed Draconian Measures (cont...)

The attempt to define and punish “mental manipulation” (also referred to as “brainwashing”) is truly remarkable in light of the finding in the recent report of the government’s Interministerial Mission for the Fight Against Sects that theories of “mental manipulation” have, “in the present status of science, a subjective character making it difficult to be used in a legal scenario.”

Moreover, a host of respected scientific studies have unanimously found that this theory is devoid of merit. The academic community, including scholars from psychology, sociology, and religious studies, have articulated an almost unanimous consensus that “mental manipulation” and “brainwashing” theories as applied to religious communities are completely lacking in scientific merit. Brainwashing has never gained any scientific credibility. Major studies by the leading authorities in the field and by prestigious organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the American Sociological Association debunking the myth of brainwashing symbolize of the consensus that had emerged over the issue of brainwashing as it applies to new religious movements. Yet, these studies are ignored in favor of popular ignorance and prejudice in an attempt to create a crime around a scientifically debunked myth.

This legislation represents a flagrant violation of fundamental human rights principles. The legislation has been severely criticized by interfaith groups, and by human rights organizations. The intentional vagueness and the sweeping nature of the new law is such that even the mainline Catholic and Protestant organizations in France have spoken out against it. “The role of the State is to protect religious liberty and guarantee its exercise, not to limit it,” said Monseigneur Claude Dagens, the Roman Catholic bishop of Angoulme. “We want a laity which shows respect [for religion], not intolerance.” Michel Bertrand, president of the Council of Protestant churches in France said: “We will not move forward through repression, nor by casting suspicion on all forms of religious faith.”

As a result of this public outcry, Justice Minister Elizabeth Guigou (no friend of the targeted minority religions and author of an earlier vitriolic circular letter on “sects” to the courts) called for a “pause” to seek the views of both human rights and mainline religious groups and a re-examination before the law is approved by the Senate.

Within the context of the heated debate on this law since it was introduced on May 30th , it is significant that Pope John Paul II, upon accepting the new French Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr. Alain Dejammet, on June 10, 2000, reminded the Ambassador that “religious liberty, in the full sense of the term, is the first human right. This means a liberty which is not reduced to the private sphere only”. The Pope noted that “to discriminate between religious beliefs, or to discredit one or another form of religious practice...is a form of exclusion contrary to the respect of fundamental human values and will eventually destabilise society, where a certain pluralism of thought and action should exist, as well as a benevolent and brotherly attitude. This will necessarily create a climate of tension, intolerance, opposition and suspect, not conductive to social peace”.

If passed, the draconian measures in this bill will represent a blatant violation of minority and religious rights and result in a serious setback for civil and human rights in France. The extremist nature of this legislation reflects the anti-democratic recommendations and all-out war declared against religious communities designated as “sects"by Alan Vivien, the President of MILS, who is personally responsible for fanning the flames of religious prejudice and creating the pervading hysteria against new and minority faiths in France.