Guest guest Posted June 19, 2000 Report Share Posted June 19, 2000 HUMAN RIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS without frontiers International Secretariat Ave. Winston Churchill 11/33 - 1180 Brussels - Belgium Phone: +32 2 345 61 45 - Fax: +32 2 343 74 91 Email: info (AT) hrwf (DOT) net - Website: www.hrwf.net 1.FRANCE: France Restricts Religious Freedom Again Religion Today (15.06.2000) / HRWF International Secretariat (16.06.2000) - Website: www.hrwf.net - Email: info (AT) hotmail (DOT) com - France is restricting religious freedom. The national Senate approved legislation allowing private citizens to take legal action against "marginal religious groups" thatpractice "mental manipulation," according to The Guardian, a British publication. The law is aimed primarily at Scientologists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other fringe religions, but could include some evangelical Protestants, observers said. The government blacklisted 700 religious groups it identified as "sects" and "cults" in 1997, causing an outcry from religious rights advocates. Among the groups listed was the Nimes Theological Institute, an evangelical school, according to news reports. President Jacques Chirac rebuffed President Clinton's call for tolerance, and criticized the U.S. Congress for meddling when it introduced laws to protect religious freedom internationally. "No one can forbid us to take action against sects in the interest of human rights," said Alain Vivien, chairman of the French ministerial mission to combat the influence of cults. ---------- -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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