Washington, DC ... In a 2 January 2001 letter to Institute President Joseph K. Grieboski, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright expressed her concerns regarding a dangerous trend of religious intolerance advancing across Europe.

In early September 2000, the Institute on Religion and Public Policy in a letter to President Clinton raised the concerns of representatives from a number of U.S. religious, human rights and academic organizations about legislation in France which provides for the dissolution of religious associations whose members have two or more criminal convictions, and which seeks to criminalize "mental manipulation," an ambiguous term that could be applied to many religious activities.

Secretary Albright stated that, "… the proposed legislation is part of a disturbing trend in western Europe where some states have adopted, or are considering, discriminatory legislation or policies that tend to stigmatize legitimate expression of religious faith by wrongfully associating them with dangerous 'sects' or 'cults.' Such laws and policies pose a danger to freedom of religion…We are concerned that legislation or policies that stigmatize these religious groups contravene international - and European - norms of religious freedom…We have made clear to our friends and allies in Europe that we are concerned about these trends"

Mr. Grieboski remarked, "While I am pleased that Secretary Albright has recognized the growing religious intolerance in western Europe and has expressed the concern of the U.S. Government to European capitols, neither the White House nor the State Department has taken credible and serious steps or actions to curb this dangerous trend. The Secretary's letter emphasizes strongly U.S. concerns, but in it she does not define what policy actions will and should be taken. At the end of her term, Secretary Albright should be setting a substantial example of the priority role of religious freedom in American foreign policy for her successor."

January 2, 2001

Dear Mr. Grieboski:

          I am responding to your letter to President Clinton in which you raise the concerns of representatives from a number of U.S. religious, human rights and academic organizations about pending new legislation in France regarding religious expression. Let me assure you that we also are concerned.

          The French legislation passed its first reading before the National Assembly in June, and will be considered by the Senate and French Constitutional experts before it is implemented. The Legislation provides for the dissolution of religious associations that have two or more criminal convictions. It also seeks to criminalize "mental manipulation," an ambiguous term that could be applied to many religious activities.

          French authorities, including former Interior Minister Chevenement, Employment and Solidarity Minister (formerly Minister of Justice) Elizabeth Guiogou, and head of the Interministerial Council of Fight Sects Alain Vivien, have questioned the constitutionality of the mental manipulation provisions. Representatives of the four largest churches in France (Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim) also criticized the proposed law, stating that it was unnecessary. These leaders called for an independent commission that would address not only the concerns of the public against sectarian organizations, but also the concerns of those organizations. We welcome this debate in France.

          We note that the proposed legislation is part of a disturbing trend in western Europe where some states have adopted, or are considering, discriminatory legislation or policies that tend to stigmatize legitimate expressions of religious faith by wrongfully associating them with dangerous "sects" or "cults." Such laws and policies pose a danger to freedom of religion. For example, government agencies for the dissemination of information on "harmful sects" (government agencies which now exist in France, Belgium and Austria), create the presumption that the groups on which they maintain such information are ipso facto suspect. Similar policies are under consideration in Poland, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

          The vast majority of the religious groups on government lists are legitimate religious denominations. Most are responsible members of civil society who make positive contributions to the communities where they live and worship. We are concerned that legislation or policies that stigmatize these religious groups contravene international -- and European -- norms of religious freedom.

          We have made clear to our friends and allies in Europe that we are concerned about these trends. I have personally addressed religious freedom issues in France with Foreign Minister Vedrine. Former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Robert Seiple also expressed our views directly to senior officials in Paris. The Director of the Office of International Religious Freedom has traveled to Brussels and Vienna to raise our concerns with those governments. At the recent OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Review Meeting in Warsaw, the U.S. delegation called on the French government, as well as the governments of Austria and Belgium, to close their "sect" offices. Furthermore, we have made clear to the democratic governments of central Europe our belief that such practices place religious freedom at risk. We have also articulated U.S. concerns in detail in the State Department's "Annual Report on International Religious Freedom."

          The United States has been, and will continue to be, active in urging the Government of France and other European governments to promote respect for freedom of religion. Religious freedom is a hallmark of democratic society; it should be viewed as a source of social strength and stability. Please be assured that the Department of State will continue to follow this issue closely.