France

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 individuals from organisations concerned with
religious freedom signed a letter pointing out and opposing it most
discriminatory clauses.

The Senate essentially suppressed article 1 and 2 (on “psychological
subjection”) and article 4 (provocation to abandon treatments…). This
was good progress.

The next step of the legislative process was to submit the initial law
proposal along with the Senate’s amendments to the National Assembly’s
Commission on Law. It has already been assigned to a member of the
committee, Brigitte Liso, who is closely associated with CAFFES – a
French anti-cult (essentially anti-minority religions). She has stated
her intention to re-implement the articles removed by the Senate. Once
adopted by the Law Commision it will go before the National Assembly on
the 13th or 14th February.

If it passes through the National Assembly in a different version than
the version adopted by the Senate (for example, with reintroduction of
articles 1, 2 and/or 4), it will not become law immediately. The
government would then have to call for a “mixed committee”, composed of
7 senators and 7 deputies, who will have to come to an agreement on a
compromised version. If they do not, then it goes back to Senate and
Assembly and the Assembly has the final word.

If it passes through the National Assembly without changes it could
become law immediately – though may be subject to challenge before the
Constitutional court.

It is also worth noting that Sabrina Agreti Roubache, Minister for
Citizenship, also said in an interview that they are going to fight for
the initial version of the law proposal to be adopted.

Please find a more extensive explanation of the law by Mr. Eric Roux,
Chair of the European Freedom of Religion or Belief Roundtable.

The Working Group’s discussion with Professor Eileen Barker on the
potential dangers of passing such legislation is also summarised.