2007 HRWF OSCE FECRIS : Some Reflections About The Scope of Religious Intolerance

In the last ten years, France, Belgium and Austria have been identified and repeatedly criticized as the main state actors fostering religious intolerance and discrimination in the European Union. Many complaints have been publicly expressed against these three Western European democracies, all related to actions by government authorized and funded entities engaged in the denigration of a number of communities of faith or belief primarily through innuendoes and allegations in public seminars, workshops for state employees and teachers, and declarations to the media.

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2007 Universal Peace Federation Deutschland OSCE FECRIS : The Case of the Federal Republic of Germany:The government’s continuing failure in taking a balanced view towards religious minorities

The OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting provides an unique opportunity to NGOs to voice their opinions, face to face with firmly established governments, which are not always ready to listen to the voice of their people. Western countries in particular like to present themselves as exemplary democracies, where all its citizens enjoy equal rights and freedom. And while this is true for maybe the great majority of people, certain minorities are still struggling to be granted their rights and respectability granted by the constitution.

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2007 Universal Peace Federation OSCE FECRIS : Preserving Freedom of Faith

Some thirteen years ago such supposed ‘sect experts’, who actively campaign against most minority religions; joined together to form a European network called the ‘Federation of European Centres for Research and Information on Sects’ [FECRIS]

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2008 hrwf osce fecris : religious intolerance in the osce space some reflections about the scope of religious intolerance

In recent years, the participating states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have expressed increasing concern over the rising number of hate crimes and violent acts of intolerance throughout the OSCE region. An excellent report, “Hate Crimes in the OSCE Region: Incidents and Responses,” was presented by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at its last annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) held in Warsaw from 24 September to 5 October 2007.

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2009 FOREF OSCE FECRIS : “State Sanctioned Religious Intolerance in European Countries”

In Austria, we have over 70 percent Catholics. Islam, with 400 000 Muslims constitutes the second largest faith community. There are approximately 600 religious minority groups. Only 14 faith communities enjoy special privileges by the state. With a population of 8.2 Million Austria has no less than 34 Anti–Sect offices operating in the country. Proportionally, this marks an unmatched record in Europe and even on a global scale.

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2009 Scientology OSCE FECRIS : Religious Discrimination in France

Mr. Fenech assumed his position as President of MIVILUDES on 1 October, 2008. This appointment is of great concern to minority religious organizations in France. Not only is Mr. Fenech unfit for such a high level government appointment due to his controversial background, which includes pending penal proceedings and suspension from Parliament, Mr. Fenech has also exhibited a complete lack of objectivity and neutrality on the issues of religious tolerance and religious freedom. His appointment as President has resulted in policies, statements and activities from MIVILUDES that represent a backward step for religious freedom and a return to religious repression of minorities in France.

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2010 Human Rights Office Scientology OSCE FECRIS : FECRIS: A Source of Religious Discrimination in the OSCE in Contravention of the Right to Religious Freedom under the Helsinki Accords

The European Federation of Centres of Research and Information on Sectarianism (FECRIS) FECRIS portrays itself as a collection of national groups protecting the family, the individual and democratic society and representing associations concerned with “sectarian” characteristics. In reality, this group fosters and fuels discrimination and intolerance directed at minority religious organizations and their members in the OSCE region through the dissemination of false and misleading information about these groups and through actions which interfere with the right of minority members to freedom of religion, freedom of association and freedom from discrimination. These actions violate the principles of non-discrimination and minority religious tolerance at the heart of the Helsinki Accords, the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Bill of Rights.

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2010 Kazakhstan Scientology OSCE FECRIS: Scientology Scriptures Censored: Surgut Decision

Like other targeted faiths in Russia, authorities are also attempting to suppress the Scientology religion by seizing upon the June 2002 Extremism Law to justify confiscation and censorship of Scientology religious Scriptures.

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2015 FOREF OSCE FECRIS : AUSTRIA: Policies on Religion at Variance with OSCE Standards and the European Convention on Human Rights

Austria has embraced policies and practices that demonize “sects” and “cults,” while cooperating with the established churches, and finances private anticult organizations, which spread biased and distorted information stigmatizing new religious movements and their members. Most recently the government has promoted legislation imposing grossly unequal treatment on the Austrian Muslim community.

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2016 CAP LC OSCE FECRIS : FECRIS, a NGO financed by the French government

However, the department of French PM fully finances (100%) an association called FECRIS (European Federation of Research and Information Centers on Sectarianism), which is recognized by the Council of Europe and the UN as a NGO and the objective of which is, according to its bylaws, to identify « as a sect/cult or a guru the organization or the individual which misuses beliefs and behavioral techniques for his own benefit ».

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2017 CAP LC OSCE FECRIS : We therefore ask the French Government to cease its support to FECRIS and its harmful activities in Russia.

The situation of religious minorities has now worsened during the last months: the banning of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ practice of their faith on the Russian territory; and the sentencing of five Scientologists to two months pretrial detention and a raid of their Church in St Petersburg.

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2019 CAP LC OSCE FECRIS : Is Religious Freedom ever possible in the Russian Federation ?

During the last OSCE sessions on Freedom of Religion or Belief, we exposed the harmful activities of FECRIS (the European Federation of Centres of Research and Information on Cults and Sects) in Russia and its integral financing by the French Government. Members of FECRIS and of its Russian branch, the Saint Ireneus of Lyons Centre for Religious Studies which is affiliated to the Orthodox Church, have been waging for years a campaign against non-Orthodox minorities in order to eradicate them from the Russian territory.

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2019 CAP LC OSCE FECRIS : Is Religious Freedom ever possible in the Russian Federation ?

Download NGOs contribution on FECRIS

2007 2019 FECRIS OSCE