Denouncing Certain Religions by Affiliating Them with Dangerous "Cults" or "Sects"

Some Western European governments continue to use restrictive legislation and practices to brand minority religions as dangerous "cults."

Belgium. The Government continued to observe and monitor some groups that a parliamentary commission's unofficial report listed as having been investigated as possible "harmful sects." In July 2003, a report issued by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights asserted that the Government had not taken any effective measures to counteract the hostility and discrimination suffered by members of religious groups depicted as "sects." The Government has denied visas to volunteer teachers of the Assemblies of God because they did not qualify under visa limitations on foreign teachers. Since late 2003, the Church of Scientology International has sought to establish a dialogue with the Government to address the Government's perceptions and concerns. Due to ongoing Belgian criminal investigations of some local Belgium Church of Scientology officials, the Government has not yet agreed to their request.

France. Since being established in November 2002, an inter-ministerial Government organization has observed and analyzed the movements of "sects" and "cults" that allegedly constitute a threat to public order or that violate French law. The organization also coordinated responses to abuses by cults, informed the public about potential risks, and helped victims to receive aid. The 2001 About-Picard law remained in force, though its provisions for the dissolution of groups have never been applied. In 2002, the Council of Europe passed a resolution critical of the law and invited the Government to reconsider it. In March, the Government passed a law (to be implemented in September) that restricts the wearing of "conspicuous religious symbols" — including Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps, and large crosses — in public schools. Implementing regulations finalized in May provide for the display of "discreet religious symbols" and grant considerable discretion to individual schools to interpret and implement the law. Some religious leaders, human rights groups, and foreign governments voiced concerns about the law's potential to restrict religious freedom.

Germany. The Church of Scientology, which operates 18 churches and missions, remained under scrutiny by both federal and some state officials, who contend that its ideology is opposed to the democratic constitutional order. The Hamburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution published "The Intelligence Service of the Scientology Organization," which outlines its claim that Scientology has tried to infiltrate governments, offices and companies and that the Church spies on its opponents, defames them, and "destroys" them. Scientologists continued to report instances of societal discrimination.

Part II: Significant Improvements in the Promotion of Religious Freedom

The International Religious Freedom Act prescribes that a section of the Executive Summary identify countries where "significant improvement in the protection and promotion" of religious freedom has occurred.

Afghanistan. The Constitution, ratified in January, helps secure religious freedom and equal rights for women and minorities that had been severely restricted under the Taliban regime. Article 7 commits the state to abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international treaties and conventions to which the country is a party; these documents include robust protections for religious freedom. Since the ratification of the constitution in January, there have been few instances of religious intolerance. There have been no more reported blasphemy cases or attacks on mullahs or mosques. The Government also encouraged Sikhs, Hindus, and other minorities to return, and there was a small but steady flow of returnees during the year. A curriculum and textbooks that emphasize general Islamic terms and principles steadily replaced the preaching of extremist views in schools. All Kabul schools and the surrounding provinces were using the new texts, which covered just under half of all provinces.