US Congress rebukes France for curtailing religious freedom

 Washington D.C./Paris:
US Congress rebukes
France for curtailing religious freedom

The U.S. Congress reacted to the publication of a bulletin from the french Ministry of Justice. This bulletin, which has already been the object of polemical discussions in recent days, « instructs prosecutors and judges of courts of appeal to consider certain religious practices, such as fasting, as means of psychological subjection. »

In a letter to Prime Minister Francois Fillon dated October 28, co-signed by the presidents of House International Religious Freedom Caucus, the members of U.S. Congress, express their worries : « We are worried because there is no chance of real justice for these movements (religious minority) and this appears as a direct intervention of the executive power to influence and direct the decisions of judges in criminal cases. »

Congressmen also tackle the About Picard law. They recall that in 2002 the Council of Europe demanded that this worrying legislation may be « reconsidered », which France never did.

Finally, they expressly demand that the financing by the state of associations as the FECRIS « attacking and defaming individuals and communities on the basis of their beliefs and practices, often in coordination with Miviludes » be stopped.


Letter of the US-Congress (PDF)

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