TRAMPLING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
(cont...)

COMPARISON 9:

European Convention on Human Rights:

European Court of Human Rights:

“While religious freedom is primarily a matter of individual conscience, it also implies, inter alia, freedom to ‘manifest [one’s] religion.’ Bearing witness in words and deeds is bound up with the existence of religious convictions.” (Kokkinakis v. Greece, May 1993)

Denis Barthelemy, Secretary-General of the Interministerial Mission on Combating Sects:

“In Europe, we’re more likely to consider that fundamental liberties should have fixed, legal limits.” (United Press International, April 23, 2001).

COMPARISON 10:

United Nations:

U.N. Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance:

“What are the major religions if not successful sects?... The distinction between a religion and a sect is too contrived to be acceptable.”

Alain Vivien, president of MILS:

“We take charge of sects, and not new religious movements or spiritual minorities....” (Actualite et Religions, May 2001)

COMPARISON 11:

International Human Rights Law:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practise, worship and observance.”

Statement:

Roger Ikor, founder of the government-funded CCMM:

“We’ll go and wreak havoc in these dens of death that cults are. Smash macriobiotic restaurants, Krishna centers and others.” (Le Matin, January 26, 1981.)

Conclusion

Today’s witchhunters in France are seeking a charter from Parliament called the About-Picard bill. Their aim is to destroy religious organizations because these protect human rights and morality. But since you can’t pass a law that changes what men can or will believe, they would have to kill the millions of members of minority religions in France in order to achieve their aim.

Freedom of thought was a great advance for man. This bill makes it illegal to think and believe. If passed, France’s reputation, already hard-hit, will be destroyed.

Instead of encouraging the new inquisitors to attack churches, Parliament ought to open an enquiry into gross acts of persecution committed against minority religions. Testimony before panels of religious leaders, scholars and government bodies has exposed the outrageous human rights abuses committed by those behind the campaign against freedom of religion.

We urge you to reject the About-Picard bill for the sake of the Constitution and for France.

oOo