France aims at banning 'dangerous' sects
United Press International - June 23, 2000 10:32
PARIS, June 23 (UPI) -- French Justice Minister Elisabeth Guigou says a proposed French law legally defining cults and banning them -- only just approved by the National Assembly -- is a "significant advance for democratic states."
The proposed statute won National Assembly approval Thursday and now needs only the final support of the French Senate before it is enacted. It has the backing of the Socalist-led government of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. Guigou told French radio today the new law would arm the country with "appropriate legal tools needed to combat cults." The language in the legislation makes "mental manipulation" or brainwashing a criminal offence.
The statute has come under fierce attack by various religious minorities -- most especially the Church of Scientology, which charges the statute as "anti-democratic."
A spokeswoman for the Scientologists in France, Danihle Gounord, said Friday of the new law:
"This is a steep and slippery slope for democracy. ... In western Europe, the only regime so far to pass a law on mental manipulation was the fascist government of Mussolini, in an attempt to get rid of the communists."
Under the proposed new law, courts would have a particular procedure to follow by which groups could be defined as cults and banned and -- significantly -- kept under a ban even if they reform under a new name. A government committee in France has already branded 173 sects as what the called dangerous quasi-religious groups in the country. But both the Church of Scientology and the Unification Church have called such identification fascist, anti-democratic and a breach of basic human rights laws.
According to one recent poll, 73 percent of French people believe sects are a danger to democracy, and 86 percent support banning the likes of such sects as the Church of Scientology or the Order of the Solar Temple.
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Coming to your UN Nation-State soon !
I am baffled how French Socialists have the cojones to voice an opinion of what constitutes an "advance for democratic states" or a "threat to democracy" !?! Ludicrous. But wait, I see now, religious freedom is a "threat to democracy", a clampdown on individual freedom is an "advance for democracy" ... sounds familiar.
I am not endorsing or condemmning Scientology, but just ask yourself how long your church of belief system will withstand gov't bureaucrats scrutiny in this PC universe we live in ?
United Press International - June 23, 2000 10:32
PARIS, June 23 (UPI) -- French Justice Minister Elisabeth Guigou says a proposed French law legally defining cults and banning them -- only just approved by the National Assembly -- is a "significant advance for democratic states."
The proposed statute won National Assembly approval Thursday and now needs only the final support of the French Senate before it is enacted. It has the backing of the Socalist-led government of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. Guigou told French radio today the new law would arm the country with "appropriate legal tools needed to combat cults." The language in the legislation makes "mental manipulation" or brainwashing a criminal offence.
The statute has come under fierce attack by various religious minorities -- most especially the Church of Scientology, which charges the statute as "anti-democratic."
A spokeswoman for the Scientologists in France, Danihle Gounord, said Friday of the new law:
"This is a steep and slippery slope for democracy. ... In western Europe, the only regime so far to pass a law on mental manipulation was the fascist government of Mussolini, in an attempt to get rid of the communists."
Under the proposed new law, courts would have a particular procedure to follow by which groups could be defined as cults and banned and -- significantly -- kept under a ban even if they reform under a new name. A government committee in France has already branded 173 sects as what the called dangerous quasi-religious groups in the country. But both the Church of Scientology and the Unification Church have called such identification fascist, anti-democratic and a breach of basic human rights laws.
According to one recent poll, 73 percent of French people believe sects are a danger to democracy, and 86 percent support banning the likes of such sects as the Church of Scientology or the Order of the Solar Temple.
__________________________________
Coming to your UN Nation-State soon !
I am baffled how French Socialists have the cojones to voice an opinion of what constitutes an "advance for democratic states" or a "threat to democracy" !?! Ludicrous. But wait, I see now, religious freedom is a "threat to democracy", a clampdown on individual freedom is an "advance for democracy" ... sounds familiar.
I am not endorsing or condemmning Scientology, but just ask yourself how long your church of belief system will withstand gov't bureaucrats scrutiny in this PC universe we live in ?
