French Hijab ban during sports, ‘discriminatory and must be reversed’ says Human Rights Council
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French Hijab ban during sports, ‘discriminatory and must be reversed’ says Human Rights Council

Bymikeg

The UN Human Rights Council experts criticized France’s football and basketball federations for banning hijab-wearing players, including at the amateur level, and the government’s decision to prevent hijab-wearing athletes from representing France at the Paris Olympics. They argued that these measures violate fundamental rights, including religious expression and cultural participation. The experts stated that France’s…

French Interior Ministry agency launches “cult” attack on respected kibbutz
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French Interior Ministry agency launches “cult” attack on respected kibbutz

Bymikeg

In France, Miviludes is a sub-agency of the Ministry of Interior, dedicated to fight against what they call “cults” – a term they interpret to include a large variety of well accepted new religious movements as well as alternative medicine practitioners or even dissident political eco-movements. In their report on “sectarian aberrations” (“derives sectaires” in…

Christian Observatory reports on intolerance and discrimination
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Christian Observatory reports on intolerance and discrimination

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Another presentation made at the monthly meeting of the UK Freedom of Religion or Belief Forum (25th June) was presented by Anja Hoffmann, MA, Executive Director of OIDAC Europe.  The report, “Monitoring Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians: Growing Challenges to Religious Freedom in Europe” covers European i

Responses to new French law on “fight against sectarian deviances”
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Responses to new French law on “fight against sectarian deviances”

Bymikeg

One of two presentations made at the monthly meeting of the UK Freedom of Religion or Belief Forum on the 25th June covered the French law on “The Fight Against Sectarian Deviances”, and gives more insight and understanding on how and where this discriminatory law comes from and it’s potential impact. The presentation is a…

Tribunal usurps Catholic institution ruling
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Tribunal usurps Catholic institution ruling

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In yet another indication where French judiciary appear to be pushing further into, and limiting, the religious ‘space’ in the country a civil court, the Tribunal of Lorient, judged against the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Spirit, a Catholic Institution, was determined to have wrongfully dismissed a Sister of that Order. After internal apostolic investigation…

New French law targets religious minorities
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New French law targets religious minorities

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France has passed a shocking new law on 9th April, that targets religious minorities (though can be used against any religion) as well as certain natural health practitioners who have been recategorized as ‘cult leaders’ for not supporting mainstream medical treatments. The core of this new law now states that it is a criminal offence…

Working group on religious discrimination in France
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Working group on religious discrimination in France

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The Working Group held an online meeting to explain and understand the potential discriminatory results that the French law proposal on “Reinforcing the Fight Against Cultic Deviances” could have. Since the law proposal on “Reinforcing the Fight against Cultic Deviances” was proposed it went before the Senate on the 19th December. Over 100 academics and…

France: Bill “to reinforce the fight against cultic deviances” a real threat to freedom of conscience, religion and belief
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France: Bill “to reinforce the fight against cultic deviances” a real threat to freedom of conscience, religion and belief

Bymikeg

A draft law “aimed at reinforcing the fight against cultic deviances”, presented to the Council of Ministers on November 15, 2023, and immediately forwarded to the Senate Law Commission under accelerated procedure, will be discussed in plenary session in the Senate on December 19[1] . Comprising 7 articles, if passed into law, it would seriously…

French Draft Law Against “Separatism”: Targeting Radical Islam, but Problematic for Religious Liberty
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French Draft Law Against “Separatism”: Targeting Radical Islam, but Problematic for Religious Liberty

Bymikeg

France has a serious problem with radical Islam, but the draft law against “separatism” announced by President Macron may create more problems than it claims to solve. This is the conclusion of a “White Paper” co-authored or endorsed by well-know scholars of new religious movements Massimo Introvigne, Italian sociologist and managing director of CESNUR (Center…