SCMP: Cult law 'not aimed at [group]' [Excerpt]

Monday, June 18, 2001

A law against cults enacted in France was not targeted at Falun Gong, a spokeswoman for Hong Kong practitioners said yesterday. Religious and human rights groups have expressed fears that the passing of the French law could provide the SAR Government, which has confirmed it is studying overseas anti-cult legislation, with an excuse to adopt a similar law.

She said Swiss journalist Daniel Wermus had interviewed Alain Vivien, who heads France's Inter-Ministerial Mission Against sects. He was quoted as saying: "In France, this movement [Falun Gong] is quasi non-existent. It has never gone against the law. It is only a free association in conformity with French law. We cannot mistake the word "cult," and use it for any religious movement, be it old or recent.

"According to French law, it [Falun Gong] does not [deserve to be called a cult]."

[...]

The law, opposed by rights groups, the US Government and mainstream religious groups, bans the psychological abuse of a person by "heavy or repeated pressure or techniques" liable to alter their judgment.

Asked about the crackdown on Falun Gong in China, Mr Vivien said the French Government had at times said using force for repression was not a solution when dealing with this kind of opposition.

[...]