contact@forbroundtable.org
https://www.forbroundtable.org
 
A :
Tous les députés français
Tous les sénateurs français
 
Traduction
 
Objet : La proposition de loi française « renforçant la lutte contre les dérives sectaires »
 
Chers membres du Parlement français,
 
Nous vous écrivons en tant que coalition informelle d'organisations et d'individus qui sont des universitaires, des responsables religieux et de la société civile, ainsi que des défenseurs et des praticiens des droits de l'homme, afin d'exprimer nos profondes inquiétudes concernant le projet de loi « renforçant la lutte contre les dérives sectaires », qui est actuellement débattu au Parlement français.
 
Bien que nous ayons des opinions théologiques et des positions politiques extrêmement diverses, nous sommes tous d'accord sur l'importance de la liberté de religion ou de conviction pour chacun. Elle renforce les cultures et jette les bases de démocraties stables et de leurs composantes, notamment l'harmonie sociale, la société civile et la croissance économique. En tant que telle, elle constitue également une arme efficace de lutte contre le terrorisme, car elle permet de saper de manière préventive l'extrémisme religieux. Du cylindre de Cyrus à la charte coloniale de 1663 de Roger Williams, l'histoire et les études modernes montrent clairement que lorsque les gens sont autorisés à pratiquer leur foi librement, ils sont moins susceptibles de se sentir exclus par le gouvernement et plus susceptibles d'être de bons citoyens.
 
Bien que nous sachions que la France a le devoir d'adopter une législation pour s'attaquer aux problèmes de criminalité et poursuivre les crimes commis par des membres de mouvements spirituels et religieux, nous pensons que vous pouvez atteindre cet objectif sans ajouter de nouvelles restrictions à la liberté de pensée, de conscience et de religion ou de conviction dans votre pays.
 
Le projet de loi « renforçant la lutte contre les dérives sectaires », tel qu'il est rédigé, comporte plusieurs lacunes qui le rendent non conforme à la Constitution de la Vème République et aux engagements internationaux de la France, notamment l'article 18 de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme et du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques.
 
Tout d'abord, la stigmatisation des minorités religieuses comme « sectes » ou « groupes sectaires » par les États et les gouvernements est contraire aux normes internationales en matière de liberté de religion ou de conviction. C'est ce qui est abordé dans l'observation générale 22 du Comité des droits de l'homme des Nations unies :
 
L'article 18 protège les convictions théistes, non théistes et athées, ainsi que le droit de ne professer aucune religion ou conviction. Les termes conviction et religion doivent être interprétés au sens large. L'article 18 n'est pas limité, dans son application, aux religions traditionnelles ou aux religions et croyances comportant des caractéristiques ou des pratiques institutionnelles analogues à celles des religions traditionnelles. Le Comité est donc préoccupé par toute tendance visant à faire preuve de discrimination à l'encontre d'une religion ou d'une conviction quelconque pour quelque raison que ce soit, notamment parce qu'elle est nouvellement établie ou qu'elle représente des minorités religieuses susceptibles d'être en butte à l'hostilité d'une communauté religieuse dominante.
 
La Cour européenne des droits de l'homme condamne régulièrement cette stigmatisation par ses États membres (voir par exemple "Tonchev et autres c. Bulgarie", Requête n° 56862/15).
 
Actuellement, les principaux pays qui s'en prennent aux minorités religieuses et spirituelles, qu'ils qualifient de manière dérogatoire de « sectes », sont la Russie, la Chine et l'Iran. Ces pays sont parmi les pires violateurs de la liberté de pensée, de conscience et de religion ou de croyance dans le monde, et nous ne voulons pas voir la France rejoindre ce groupe.
 
De plus, l'article 1 du projet de loi crée un nouveau délit appelé « sujétion psychologique ». Un tel concept, à appliquer aux questions liées aux croyances religieuses ou spirituelles :
 
● Est pseudo-scientifique et n'a jamais été soutenu par un consensus scientifique, alors qu'au contraire certains groupes scientifiques reconnus comme l'American Psychological Association et l'American Sociological Association ont rejeté totalement un tel concept appliqué aux mouvements religieux et/ou aux soi-disant « sectes ». Comme l'a déclaré la CEDH dans l'affaire des Témoins de Jéhovah de Moscou c. Russie (Requête n° 302/02), le 10 juin 2010 : « il n'existe pas de définition généralement acceptée et scientifique de ce qui constitue la "manipulation mentale". »
 
● Est si vague qu'il ouvre la porte à des abus arbitraires, qui peuvent toucher n'importe quelle foi, ou même des groupes philosophiques non religieux.
 
● Fera peser la charge de la preuve sur les psychiatres qui devront évaluer des pratiques religieuses ou spirituelles pour lesquelles ils ne sont pas qualifiés, sur la base d'une notion dépourvue de fondement scientifique.
 
● Criminalisera les croyances en fonction du degré de popularité ou d'acceptation des idées et des croyances des groupes spirituels ou religieux minoritaires.
 
Nous pensons que cela serait inacceptable dans un pays démocratique comme la France.
Nous vous demandons instamment de prendre en compte les répercussions d'une telle loi. Les conséquences sociales comprennent, sans s'y limiter, les protestations indignées non seulement de ces groupes minoritaires, mais aussi de coalitions multiconfessionnelles, ainsi qu'un examen de plus en plus minutieux de la part de la communauté internationale.
 
En outre, l'article 3 du projet de loi permettra aux associations « antisectes » de se porter partie civile dans des procès pénaux contre des groupes qu'elles considèrent comme des « sectes », même si elles n'ont pas personnellement subi de dommages. Considérant que ces associations s'attaquent par définition aux minorités spirituelles et religieuses qu'elles qualifient de « sectes », cet article mettra en péril le droit à un procès équitable auquel chacun a droit. 
 
Nous comprenons que la lutte contre la criminalité est un objectif légitime.
 
Malheureusement, le projet de loi dans sa forme actuelle sera contre-productif et permettra la criminalisation de personnes qui ne sont pas des délinquants mais des croyants sincères. Nous sommes certains que le droit pénal français contient toutes les dispositions nécessaires pour lutter contre la criminalité, et la création d'un nouveau délit vague et arbitraire fondé sur des théories pseudo-scientifiques est dangereuse.
 
En tant que coalition multiconfessionnelle informelle, nous vous demandons instamment et respectueusement de ne pas vous précipiter pour adopter ce projet de loi et de faire appel aux principaux experts du droit à la liberté de religion ou de conviction, tels que le Bureau des institutions démocratiques et des droits de l'homme (BIDDH) de l'OSCE ou le rapporteur spécial des Nations unies sur la liberté de religion ou de conviction, afin d'obtenir des avis et des conseils bien étayés.
 
Il s'agit d'une question cruciale pour l'avenir de la France, le sort de tous les citoyens français et le monde entier, car le résultat de votre travail sera observé et évalué au niveau international. Allez-vous promulguer une loi qui cible et punit les citoyens pour leur foi ou leurs croyances ? Allez-vous stigmatiser les croyances minoritaires, créer un délit arbitraire et accroître les restrictions à la liberté de religion ou de croyance, ou allez-vous défendre la liberté dans le pays des droits de l'homme ? Nous espérons vraiment que ce sera la seconde option, et nous sommes convaincus que vous entendrez cet appel.
 
Nous vous remercions de votre attention.
 
Nous vous prions d'agréer, Messieurs les parlementaires, l'expression de nos sentiments respectueux,
 

contact@forbroundtable.org
https://www.forbroundtable.org

December 17, 2023

To:
All French Deputies
All French Senators
 
Re: The current French bill on “Reinforcing the Fight Against Cultic Deviances”
 
Dear Members of the French Parliament,

We write as an informal coalition of organizations and individuals who are scholars, religious and civil society leaders, and human rights advocates and practitioners to express our deep concerns about the bill, “Reinforcing the Fight Against Cultic Deviances,” which is currently being debated at the French Parliament.

While we hold an extremely broad diversity of theological views and political positions, we all agree on the importance of freedom of religion or belief for everyone. It strengthens cultures and provides the foundation for stable democracies and their components, including social harmony, civil society, and economic growth. As such, it is also an effective counter-terrorism weapon as it pre-emptively undermines religious extremism. From Cyrus’ Cylinder to Roger Williams’ 1663 Colonial Charter, history and modern scholarship make it clear that where people are allowed to practice their faith freely, they are less likely to be alienated from the government, and more likely to be good citizens.

While we know France has a duty to enact legislation to tackle the problems of criminality and prosecute crimes committed by members of spiritual and religious movements, we believe you can achieve this purpose without adding new restrictions on freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief in your country.

The bill, “Reinforcing the Fight Against Cultic Deviances,” as it is written, contains several flaws that make it non-compliant with the Constitution of the Fifth Republic and its international commitments, including Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

First, the stigmatization of religious minorities as “cults” or “cultic groups” by states and governments is contrary to the international standards in freedom of religion or belief. That is what is tackled in General Comment 22 of the UN Human Rights Committee:

The European Court of Human Rights regularly condemns such stigmatization by its member states (see for example "Tonchev and Others v. Bulgaria", Application no. 56862/15).

Currently, the leading countries that target religious and spiritual minorities they distastefully refer to as “cults” are Russia, China, and Iran. These countries are among the worst violators of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief in the world, and we do not want to see France join this group.

Moreover, Article 1 of the law creates a new crime called “psychological subjection.” Such a concept, to be applied to matters related to religious or spiritual beliefs:

●      Is pseudo-scientific and has never been supported by scientific consensus, while to the opposite some scientific recognized groups as the American Psychological Association and the American Sociological Association rejected utterly such a concept applied to religious movements and/or so called “cults.” As the ECHR stated in "Case of the Jehovah's Witnesses of Moscow v. Russia" (Application no. 302/02), on June 10, 2010: "there is no generally accepted and scientific definition of what constitutes ‘mind control.’"
 
●      Is so vague that it opens the door to arbitrary abuses, which can touch any faith, or even non-religious philosophical groups.
 
●      Will put the burden of proof on psychiatrists who will have to evaluate religious or spiritual practices for which they are not qualified, based on a notion devoid of scientific basis.
 
●      Will criminalize beliefs based on the degree of popularity or acceptance of the ideas and beliefs of minority spiritual or religious groups.
 
We believe this would be unacceptable in a democratic country like France.

We urge you to consider the repercussions of such a law. The social consequences include but are not limited to outraged protests not only from these minority groups but from multi-faith coalitions and increasing scrutiny of the international community.

Further, Article 3 of the bill will allow “anti-cult” associations to be plaintiff in criminal trials against groups they consider as “cults,” even if they have not personally suffered any damage. Considering that these associations are by definition attacking the spiritual and religious minorities they label as “cults,” this article will endanger the right to a fair trial that everyone is entitled to. 

We understand that fighting against criminality is a legitimate aim. Unfortunately, the bill in its current form will be counter-productive and will allow for the criminalization of people who are not criminals but sincere believers. We are certain that French criminal law contains all necessary provisions to tackle criminality, and creating a vague and arbitrary new crime based on pseudo-scientific theories is dangerous.

As an informal multi-faith coalition, we strongly and respectfully urge you to refrain from rushing to pass this bill into law and ask you to engage the leading experts in the right to freedom of religion or belief, such as the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE or the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religions or Belief, to get well-rounded advice and guidance.

This is a critical issue for the future of France, the fate of all French citizens, and the entire world, as the outcome of your work will be watched and evaluated internationally. Will you enact a law that targets and punishes citizens for their faith or beliefs? Will you stigmatize minority beliefs, create an arbitrary crime, and increase restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, or will you uphold freedom in the country of Human Rights? We definitely hope it will be the latter, and we trust you will hear that call.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,
 
Organizations
 
Aido Network International (AIDO)
 
Alliance For Democratic Justice – USA
 
America Sikh Forum Inc.
 
American Sikh Council
 
Association of the Hungarian Romani Police Officers
 
BRIDGES NGO for Dialogue – Bulgaria
 
Center for defence of human rights - Switzerland
 
Center for Studies on Freedom of Religion Belief and Conscience (LIREC) – Italy
 
CESNUR (Center for Studies on New Religions) - Italy
 
Children’s Education Fellowship – USA
 
Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, Washington DC – USA
 
Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAPLC)
 
Ethnic Debate Forum / Jewish Muslim Platform - Denmark
 
European Federation for Freedom of Belief (FOB) – Italy
 
European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom (EIFRF) – Belgium, France
 
FALMIS - Association of Banat Bulgarian
 
Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations North American (FIACONA)
 
FOREF EUROPE (European Forum for Religious Freedom) – Austria

Gerard Noodt Foundation for Freedom of Religion or Belief – Netherlands
 
Human Rights Without Frontiers Int’l
 
Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) - USA
 
International Christian Concern – USA      
 
Law and Liberty Trust – USA
 
Mission Lanka – Netherlands
 
ORLIR (International Observatory of Religious Liberty of Refugees)
 
PARITY (New York)
 
Peacefully Connected – Belgium
 
Soteria International
 
The All Faith Network – UK
 
Udhetim I lire (Free to Travel) – Albania
 
Ukrainian Association of Religious Studies (UARR)
 
UNITED SIKHS UK
 
The World Uyghur Christian Union (WUCU)
 
 
Individuals
With title and organization for identification purposes only
 
Dr Abdul Basit Syed
Founder Chairman
World Humanitarian Drive
 
Dr Adam Klin-Oron
Director, Social Impact
The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute
 
Dr. Adrian Hollaender
Rechtsanwaltskanzlei / Law Office
Rechtsanwalt / Attorney at Law
Vienna, Austria, Europe
 
Alan Murray
Board member
AFAN (All Faiths And None)
 
Alessandro Amicarelli
President
FOB – European Federation for Freedom of Belief
 
Anastasia Aseeva
Executive Director
Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union (UCSJ)
 
Angelina Vladikova
President
Bridges NGO for Dialogue
 
Arvinder Singh
Director
America Sikh Forum Inc.
 
Bachittar Singh Ughrha
Founder and President
Center for defence of human rights
 
Bashy Qurashy
Chairman
Ethnic Debate Forum / Jewish Muslim Platform
 
Bernadette Rigal-Cellard
Professeur émérite
Université Bordeaux Montaigne
 
Prof. Boaz Huss
Aron Bernstein Chair in Jewish History
Chairperson of the Goldstein-Goren International Center of Jewish Thought
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
 
Bryan Nerren
President
Children’s Education Fellowship
 
Congressman Dan Burton
International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace
Universal Peace Federation
 
Ven. Dharmavajra D. Schultze
Buddhist minister
Member of Nätverket för Tro och Tolerans  (network for faith and tolerance) - Sweden
 
David Perry
President
Family Federation for World Peace and Unification France
 
Eileen Barker
FAcSS, FBA, OBE, Professor Emerita
London School of Economics
 
Enrique Miguel Sánchez Motos
Civil State Administrator
Madrid Spain
 
Franco Famularo
President
FFWPU Canada
 
Dr. Ferenc Horvath
President
Association of the Hungarian Romani Police Officers
 
Dr. Habil. Gabor Dániel Nagy
Associate Professor
University of Szeged
IEP de Paris alumnus
 
Prof. dr. hab. Gabriel Andreescu
Center for International Studies, Bucharest
 
Gary Van Kennen
President
New York State Council of Churches (NYSCC) Executive Committee
 
G. Elaina Fowler
Founder/Principal
FWMgroup
 
Gerbrig Deinum
Treasurer
Chevelyns Care Foundation          
 
Gillian Dare, OBE
Member
UK FORB Forum's Working Group on FORB in the EU
 
Greg Mitchell
Founder & Chair
IRF Secretariat
 
Pastor Greg Young
Host
Chosen Generation Radio – USA
 
Hans Noot
President
Gerard Noodt Foundation
 
Hubert Thurnhofer
Chefredakteur
ethos.at
 
H.E. Irenee Namboka
Retired Human Rights Advisor
United Nations
 
Prof. Dr. Istvan Szikinger
Constitutional specialist
Attorney at law – Hungary
 
Jan Figel
European Union former Special Envoy on FoRB
 
Dr Jasbir Singh Puri
Peace Commissioner
Sikh Community - Ireland
 
Jean MAHER
President
OFEDH
 
Prof. Dr. Jelle Creemers
Director
ISFORB (Institute for the Study of Freedom of Religion or Belief)
 
John Redman
Executive Director
Communities in Action
 
Jonathan K. Ammons
President
NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief
 
Koshy George
Chairman
Federation of Indian American Christian Organisations of North America (FIACONA)
 
Larry Moffitt
Sec. Gen.
UPF North America
 
Laslo Trencsenyi
assistant professor
Wesley János Lelkészképző Főiskola, Budapest
 
Lauren B. Homer
President
Law and Liberty Trust
 
Lotfi Amine Hachemi
President
Peacefully Connected
 
Prof. Luigi Berzano
Università di Torino
 
Lyudmila Filipovych
Vice-president
Ukrainian Academy of Sciences
Head of the Department of Philosophy and History of Religion, Institute of Philosophy, NASU
 
Marco Respinti
Director in charge
Bitter Winter – a daily magazine for religious liberty
 
Rev. Dr. Marian Edmonds-Allen
Executive Director
PARITY
 
Martin Weightman
Director
The All Faith Network UK
 
Massimo Introvigne
Managing director
CESNUR (Center for Studies on New Religions)
 
Dr. Michael Jenkins
President
The Washington Times Foundation
 
Miranda Mansaku
Executive Director
Udhetim i Lire
 
Morgana Sythove
Global Trustee
URI (United Religions Initiative)
 
Nadine Maenza
President
IRF Secretariat
 
Naoufal El Hammoumi
Vice-President
International League of Young Journalists
Activist in freedom of religion in North Africa       
 
Nasim Malik
General Sec.
IHRC – International Human Rights Committee
Kalmar- Sweden.
 
Navleen Kaur, MBE
Sikh Faith Minister
UK
 
Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, MBE
Director
Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies (UK)
 
Patrice J. Pederson
President
First Freedom Foundation
 
Patricia Duval
Attorney at law
Paris
 
His Excellency Paul Eganda
President
Ateker International Development Organisation
 
Peter Cook
Executive Director
New York State Council of Churches
 
Peter Zoehrer
Secretary General, Editor in chief
FOREF EUROPE
 
Apostle Dr. Precious Toe
Pastor
Restored To Ignite Minister
 
Puneet Ahluwalia
Executive Director
Alliance For Democratic Justice
 
Raffaella Di Marzio
Psychologist of Religion
Director
Center for Studies on Freedom of Religion Belief and Conscience (LIREC)
 
Rosita Šorytė
President
ORLIR (International Observatory of Religious Liberty of Refugees)
 
Satoshi Nishihata
Bureau Chief
Happy Science Washington Bureau
 
Scott Morgan
President
Red Eagle Enterprises
 
Senge Sering
President
Gilgit Baltistan Studies – USA
 
Shantha Dalugamage
Chairman
Mission Lanka
 
Sheik Rahman
President
Wilmbledon Association of Ahmadiyya Moslems
 
Sheik Ramzy
Director
Oxford Islamic Information Centre
and Imam
Oxford Brooks University
 
Prof. Silvio Calzolari
Storico delle Religioni
Istituto Superiore di Scienze Religiose
Facoltà Teologica Italia Centrale – Firenze
 
Simran Stuelpnagel
Global Affairs Advisor
SSSC Trust
 
Svetlana Karadzhova
President
FALMIS
 
Thomas J. Ward
Professor of Peace and Development
HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership
 
Tiar Rkia
President
European Women of Faith Network - EWFN
 
Tomer Persico
Scholar
Shalom Hartman Institute
 
Vilmos Hanti
President
The international federation of the resistance fighters (FIR) - association of the anti-fascists – Germany
 
Willem Koetsier
President
UPF NL
 
Copies to:
The Honorable Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic
The Honorable Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State
Susan Kerr, Special Advisor on FoRB at ODIHR/OSCE
Nazila Ghanea, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Eamon Gilmore, EU Special Representative for Human Rights

 
One of the keynote speakers was the EU’s Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU, Jan Figel. He told the conference, “The credibility of the EU and Europe is at stake,”and that the EU needed to “face up” to the numerous cases of discrimination that occur against religious minorities within its own borders. He also supported the need for extending existing European instruments, such as his own office and that of the Parliament’s Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU to having a role within the EU itself. He also supported another proposal of the organisers to use the upcoming European elections in May as a perfect opportunity to raise awareness of the threat to freedom of religion or belief.

The Faith and Freedom Summit is a coalition of 19 NGOs which have come together to promote religious tolerance, particularly within the European Union. It is a non-partisan body with no political affiliation though it has been supported by the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE) who have recognised the importance of this principle, as well as by MEPs from all over the political spectrum.

Also attending and speaking in support of the initiative were Kishan Manocha, Senior Advisor on Freedom of Religion and Belief, OSCE and Archbishop Thomas Schirrmacher, President of the International Society for Human Rights.

Bashy Quraichy, Secretary General of the European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion, told the conference that they are a “powerful movement against religious discrimination”and they appeal to the EU, especially the European Parliament, “to be more proactive in order to warn those countries who commit acts of oppression against religious minorities.” He added that he believes Europe needs to act in an “inclusive fashion” and not be “selective as to who to put pressure on and who not” whilst pointing out that populists and others were “spreading hatred” against Muslim communities, and noted that the number of hate crime incidents directed at Muslims had “jumped many fold…This, in turn, is breeding violence, murders and property damages.”
 

 
Martin Weightman, Director of the All Faiths Network, told participants that, “Government interference in religion or belief can be blatant or subtle. It can come in many forms from covert administrative blocks, delays and denials to overt legislative and policy statements that implement undue restrictions on religious expression or practice. Raising these issues within the EU institutions will not be easy but without any communication between all the relevant players – EU officials and politicians, belief groups and the wider public – then we go nowhere – or rather we go down.” 

The President of the Netherlands-based NGO the Gerard Noot Foundation, Hans Noot, told reporters that the aim of the EU’s policy should be to include minority groups, saying, “This applies not just to faith groups but all minorities, including refugees and the lesbian and gay community. We should be striving for a more inclusive society but, at present, minorities like asylum seekers and refugees are demonised and portrayed as the “bad boys” if anything goes wrong.”

Mr. Eric Roux, Vice-President of the European Office of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights outlined the list of initiatives that the Summit have called for implementation: 
 

Other key speakers at the Summit were:

The meeting ended with attendees agreeing to work on all the above initiatives and meet on a regular basis to implement them.

ooOOoo
 
Contact: contact@faithandfreedomsummit.eu
www.faithandfreedomsummit.eu