A rapid history of FECRIS The European Federation of Centres for Research and Information on Sects and Cults (FECRIS) is a French-registered umbrella organization that gathers anti-cult associations all over Europe and beyond. It was created on June 30, 1994, by the French anti-cult association UNADFI (National Union of Associations in Defense of the Individual and Families against...

Another Minority Religion Under Threat in Russia: Who Is Afraid of Sri Prakash?

Open Letter The situation of religious minorities in Russia has been a cause of serious concerns for several years. While Russia hosts high-level academic institutes and tolerant intellectuals, it is also home to radicals who believe that the Russian Orthodox tradition should be defended by cracking down on minority religions. Notorious in this respect has been, again for years, one Alexander...

Forced Conversion in South Korea Should Be Put to an End: An Open Letter to President Moon Jae-in

한국의 강제 개종을 근절해야 합니다 : 문재인 대통령에게 보내는 공개서한 Dear President Moon: 문재인 대통령님 We represent international NGOs and scholarly organizations specialized in researching religious pluralism and new religious movements throughout the world, and advocating for religious liberty. 우리는 종교 다원주의와 세계의 새로운 종교 운동을 연구하고 종교 자유를 옹호하는 국제 민간단체와 학술 단체를 대표합니다. South Korea is a democratic country in an...

Press Release - Faith and Freedom Summit II

A New Direction for the European Union Source: https://faithandfreedomsummit.eu/faith-and-freedom-summit-ii (EIFRF is a member of the Faith and Freedom Summit Coalition) A New Direction for the European Union Religion or Belief The EU Faith & Freedom Summit For the second year in a row the Faith & Freedom Summit met on April 2 in the European Parliament, to forge...

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Religious Freedom - 02/17/2020 EIFRF

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe takes the lead on FoRB in the workplace

On January 29, 2020 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) passed a resolution called "The protection of freedom of religion or belief in the workplace". As all PACE's resolutions, this one is not a binding law for the 47 countries of the Council of Europe. Nevertheless, it has the strength of its consensus amongst European members of national parliaments that represent their countries at the PACE. In terms of soft law, every government in the Council of Europe's...

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Books and publications - 09/22/2019 EIFRF

OSCE/ODIHR releases new important guidelines on FoRB and security

On September 19, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) released a new document called "Freedom of Religion or Belief and Security: Policy Guidance". As said on the ODIHR website : This publication is designed to clarify the interrelationship between freedom of religion and security in light of the OSCE’s comprehensive framework for peace and security. It further explains the nature, status and scope of freedom of religion or belief as enshrined in OSCE...

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Events - 03/14/2019 EIFRF

Register to the Faith and Freedom Summit II

The Faith and Freedom Summit, a campaign for freedom of religion of belief in the EU run by a coalition of NGOs (including EIFRF), will have its second event on April 2, in the European Parliament. The announcement includes the following: "We strongly believe that EU citizens must enjoy a real freedom of religion or belief, at every level, and that this fundamental right is not given the importance it deserves in the EU institutions, and in the EU instruments to protect the...

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Religious Freedom - 01/21/2019 EIFRF

NGOs write to international Govt leaders to alert on 45 reporters of Bitter Winter arrested in China

A group of NGOs, including EIFRF, wrote a joint letter to various international government leaders to alert them on the arrest of 45 reporters working for the online newspaper Bitter Winter, and calling them to action. The letter reads as follows: To: Dr Ahmed Shaheed UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion Mrs Federica Mogherini High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Mrs Dunja Mijatović Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe...

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Religious Freedom - 01/05/2019 EIFRF

The Faith and Freedom Summit has a new website

The Faith and Freedom Summit is not an organisation. It’s a campaign proposed and run by a large coalition of faith-based and non faith-based NGOs and supported by many EU stakeholders. The Summit launched a pledge that all MEP candidates are asked to sign, that reads as following: "I pledge that I will uphold and defend the freedom of conscience and religion of all individuals by rejecting and speaking out against bigotry, discrimination, harassment and violence; and so build a more equitable...

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Religious Freedom - 12/15/2018 EIFRF

US State Dept places Russia on Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedom

On December 11, 2018 the US State department placed Russia on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or tolerated “severe violations of religious freedom." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced it in a press release that can be found here: https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2018/12/288006.htm, with these words: "In far too many places across the globe, individuals continue to face harassment, arrests, or even death for simply living their lives in accordance...

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Religious Freedom

Attitude of Sweden ”liberal” towards sects

Translation of a swedish article by EIFRF

Source in Swedish

In the report, which will be discussed in the plenary meeting of 10 April, one can observe that it is not certain which damage sects commit against children in the 47 countries which participate in the Council of Europe. Neither is there any uniform definition of the concept, for which Rudy Salles prefers to use the expression “excesses of sects” (something like, extravagance of sects). This could mean, according to a French definition, “the use of oppression or techniques with the purpose of, or leading to,the creation of, the maintenance of or abuse of a psychological or physical disadvantage for an individual, to the damage of the individual or the society”.

Sweden has received a particular place in the report, and is classified, side by side with Denmark, as a country which ” has a very liberal attitude towards religious freedom and, consequently, to the phenomenon of sects”.

Sweden was one of the two countries which Rudy Salles choose to visit as part of his investigative assignment. He wrote that in December 2012 he met with representatives of the parliament, School Inspection, the Youth Council, the Association Save the Individual (FRI) and the Committee for state support of religions.

“Sweden has really a very liberal attitude towards religious freedom, which occasionally can counteract the protection of children”, noted Rudy Salles.

“ At the end of my visit I concluded that the national education system in Sweden, and particularly the system of financing private schools, just like the registration of associations, contains loopholes which could lead to abuses by sect-like movements”.

Bo Nyberg, chairman of the Christian private school Council (KRF), says that his organization since then has sent written submissions to Rudy Salles with the viewpoint of the Christian leader on the matter.

- One can´t call it proper research what he did in Sweden because he only met with persons who acknowledged the picture he already had, says Bo Nyberg to Världen idag.[The world today]

The report of Ruddy Salles contains even an account of reposes to a questionnaire which was sent out last Spring to all member states.

In the answer which was written up by the Swedish Parliamentary Research Service is the Swedish private school system accounted for, just like the state support to religions. Furthermore is the question answered which deals with the fact whether the Swedish school authorities at any time “have given, or withdrawn, the authorization to a ´new religious movement´ to establish a school”.

“ A particular controversial question was raised about the school, run by the ´Plymouth Brothers´in South Sweden”, writes the Parliamentary Research Service.

”The School Inspection has reviewed the school many times and criticized the lack of objectivity and completeness; for example through a censorship of internet pages by the Swedish parliament and public service radio. The authorization of the school has nevertheless not been withdrawn”.

The Labora school, located in Långaryd and which is not religion-based, was the target of observation by the School Inspection some years ago and is the school as referred to by Sweden in its answer to the Council of Europe. The matter was closed 2012. In connection with the inspections was responsible Roger Niklewsk interviewed by the paper Schoolworld.

- There is no school in Sweden which had more visits, he told the paper.

- My impression is that the Laboraschool is better than many other schools. The atmosphere is relaxed, the school has no discipline problem and has a high target attainment. The education is objective and comprehensive. The students are study-motivated.

Rédigé par EIFRF le Thursday, March 6th 2014 | Comments (0)

Religious Freedom

Sveriges hållning ”liberal” mot sekter - PACE

http://www.varldenidag.se/nyhet/2014/03/05/Sveriges-hallning-liberal-mot-sekter/

I rapporten, som tas upp i plenum den 10 april, konstaterar man att det inte går att säga med säkerhet vilken skada sekter tillfogar barn i de 47 länder som ingår i Europarådet Inte heller finns det någon enhetlig definition av begreppet, varför Rudy Salles väljer att använda uttrycket ”excesses of sects” (ungefär, överdrifter av sekter). Detta skulle, enligt en fransk definition, innebära ”bruket av påtryckningar eller tekniker som syftar till, eller leder till, att skapa, upprätthålla eller utnyttja ett psykologiskt eller fysiskt underläge för en individ, till skada för individen eller samhället”.

Sverige har fått en särskild plats i rapporten, och klassas, vid sidan av Danmark, som ett land som ”intar en mycket liberal hållning till religionsfrihet och, följaktligen, till fenomenet med sekter”.

Sverige var ett av två länder som Rudy Salles valde att besöka som del av sitt utredningsuppdrag. I december 2012, skriver han, träffade han företrädare för riksdagen, Skolinpektionen, Ungdomsstyrelsen, Föreningen rädda individen (FRI) och Nämnden för statligt stöd till trossamfund.

”Sverige intar verkligen en mycket liberal hållning till religionsfrihet, vilket ibland kan motverka skyddet av barn”, konstaterar Rudy Salles.

”I slutet av mitt besök drog jag slutsatsen att det nationella utbildningssystemet i Sverige, och i synnerhet systemet för att finansiera privatskolor, liksom för att registrera föreningar, innehåller kryphål som skulle kunna leda till övergrepp av sektliknande rörelser”.
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Rédigé par EIFRF le Thursday, March 6th 2014 | Comments (0)

Religious Freedom

Civil society and religious leaders support a motion for religious freedom at PACE

30 civil society and religious leaders and 10 organizations have joined EIFRF in a supportive letter regarding Motion for a Resolution 13333 at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The letter has been sent to every member of the Committee on equality and non-discrimination. Here are the text of the letter and the signatories.

Members of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe
Palais de l’Europe
Strasbourg

Europe, the 20^th of February 2014

Dear members of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,

We, members of civil society, being aware of the Motion for a Resolution Doc. 13333, “The protection of the rights of parents and children belonging to religious minorities”, and being aware that this resolution has been sent to your Committee by the Bureau for “possible follow-up”, would like to express our strong support to this resolution.

Indeed, we think that the appointment of a rapporteur to examine this very important question in the 47 countries of the Council is something that should be done.

Freedom of religion or belief is one of the most fundamental rights of human beings, and in some countries of Europe this right is regularly challenged, minimized or infringed upon without valid justification.

When religious freedom is threatened it is almost always the rights of the minorities that are first to be denied or curtailed. There are many examples of this throughout the Council of Europe’s Member States and it is important that these be taken into account in order that we do not become complacent and we take action to protect those minorities in question. Particular attention should be given to the rights of minorities especially where it concerns the right to educate one’s children in conformity with one’s own religion or belief, this in itself being the subject of European Court of Human Rights decisions.

We are appreciative and supportive of the work of the Council of Europe in protecting and promoting human rights throughout Europe and we believe that you will take this matter seriously. Nevertheless, we wished to express our support for appointing a rapporteur for this motion.

Respectfully,

Individuals (in their own names)

• Sheikh Dr Muhammad Al-Hussaini, Secretary of Interfaith Alliance – UK

• Dr Alessandro Amicarelli, attorney at law of the BAR of Italy and LAW Society of England and Wales, Doctor of Research in International Order and Human Rights "SAPIENZA" University of Rome – Italy

• Dr Iftikhar Ayaz, OBE, Consul General of the Tuvalu Islands in UK, member of the UN Working Group for the Rights of Minorities, Chair of the board of trustees of the All Faith Network – UK

• Thierry Bécourt, President CAPLC – France

• Dr Luigi Berzano, full professor of Sociology at the University of Torino, Catholic priest – Italy

• Dr Silvio Calzolari, professor of History of Religions at the ISSR (Higher Institute of Religious Sciences) of Firenze – Italy

• Dr Maria Chiara Giorda, Professor, History of Religions at the University of Torino – Italy

• Jacques Dubreuil, President of the Omnium des Libertés – France

• Dr Juan Ferreiro Gualguera, Professor of Ecclesiastical Law at the State University of Coruna – Spain

• Gurjit Singh, UNITED SIKH Trustee – UK

• Gursev Singh, Dutch Sikh Council, spokesperson – Netherlands

• Karan Singh, President of the Sikh Foundation of Switzerland – Switzerland

• Rev. Dr Dominique Kounkou, attorney at law, PhD in international public law, Honorary President of the Council of Christian Churches of an African Approach in Europe - France

• Rev. Dr William McComish, Dean Emeritus of St. Peter's Cathedral in Geneva, Presbyterian minister, general treasurer of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

• Robin Marsh, Secretary General Universal Peace Federation (UPF) – UK

• Raffaella di Marzio, psychologist of religion, contributing partner to the Brussels based NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers – Italy

• HE Irénéo Namboka, Human Right adviser for UN, former HR Officer of UNHCHR – Switzerland

• Jura Nanuk, President of Central-European Religious Freedom Institute – Hungary

• Hans Noot, President of the Gerard Noodt Foundation, member of the board of the ICRLS – Netherlands

• Carmine Onnembo, UPF Board of Directors – Germany

• Bertil Persson, National Chancellor of International Association of Educators for World Peace (UNESCO) Scandinavian rep. University of Peace (UNESCO) – Sweden

• Dr. Elke Preußer-Frank, Foundation member of the Federal Association of the Woman Federation for World Peace – Germany

• Bashy Quraishy, Secretary General of EMISCO (European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion – Strasbourg) – Denmark

• Andrew S. Reed, former secretary to Chairman (EFD group), EU Parliament – Belgium

• Æthelwine Richards, Orthodox Chaplain, York St. John University – UK

• Eric Roux, Steering Committee of EIFRF – France

• Dr Vjekoslav Saje, Centre for Inter-Religious Dialogue – Bosnia-Herzegovina

• John Tamale, Associate at UNCHR – Switzerland

• Professor Aldo Natale Terrin, Pontifical Institute of Pastoral Liturgy of Padua, Catholic priest – Italy

• Professor Dr G.P.P. Van Tillo, honorary professor of Sociology of Religion in the University of Amsterdam – Netherlands

• Angelina Vladikova, Chair of BRIDGES - Easter European Forum for Dialogue – Bulgaria

• Martin Weightman, Director All Faith Network – UK

• Graeme Wilson, Public Affairs Director, Church of Scientology – UK

Organizations

The ALL FAITH NETWORK UK – http://www.allfaithsnetwork.org.uk/

BRIDGES – Easter European Forum for Dialogue –https://www.facebook.com/bridges.forum

CAPLC-European Coordination for Freedom of Conscience – Member of ENAR and participant organization of the EU Fundamental Rights Platform – http://www.freedomofconscience.eu/

CERFI – Central-European Religious Freedom Institute – http://cerf-institute.org/

DUTCH SIKH COUNCIL – https://www.facebook.com/dutchsikh.council

EIFRF – European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom – http://www.eifrf-articles.org/

GERARD NOODT FOUNDATION for FoRB – http://www.noodtforb.eu/

SIKH FOUNDATION OF SWITZERLAND

UNITED SIKHS – http://www.unitedsikhs.org/

UNIVERSAL PEACE FEDERATION (UPF) – UPF is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations

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