After adopting a law last year that many believe eroded religious freedom in France, a French delegation at a major European meeting may be indicating second thoughts.
After adopting a law last year that many believe eroded religious freedom in France, a French delegation at a major European meeting may be indicating second thoughts. French delegates to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe issued a statement about the so-called “Anti-Sect” law, which some say unfairly targets religious minorities. Admitting that the law could lead to the dissolution of religious groups, the September 12 statement says this would only happen “under very restrictive conditions, and as a very last resort,” and that “to this date, the law has not been applied.”
One of the most criticized aspects of the anti-sect policy was the development of a so-called “sect list.” But according to the recent French statement, this list, “is a parliamentary working document [that] has no legal value.” The statement did, however, admit that some local authorities had used this list to deny religious freedom to some groups on the list, which included well-recognized religious organizations.
As a result, the French government said it is taking steps to make sure the sect list is not misused.
The statement also touched on what is probably the most controversial area of the law—the establishment of “MILS:” the government watchdog body of “the Inter-ministerial Mission for the Fight Against Sects.” The document said, “We are aware that the aforementioned mission has generated a lack of understanding and forwarded an image which does not correspond to French reality. The government has undertaken a fundamental review of the objectives, role, and structure of the inter-ministerial Mission…”
“Is the French government’s policy on such matters changing? Perhaps!” says John Graz, director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty. “These may be indications that the French authorities are responding to criticisms of this law, which reduces religious freedom and criminalizes certain groups and beliefs. We have been concerned that the provisions of this law could well be used to target religious minorities and cause great damage to their civil and religious rights as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We welcome the admission that the sect list is not to be used to discriminate against any religious group, and that the spirit of ‘MILS’ may be reviewed.”