The tragedy of September 11, 2001, changed forever how we reflect on “Islamic fundamentalism.” Twenty years after, a picture of the situation.
Massimo Introvigne
Brainwashing, Italian-Style: Some Want the “Plagio” Back
Some things return every year, such as the swallows, the primroses, and proposals by anti-cultists to re-introduce anti-brainwashing statutes in Italy.
Li Guangman: How an Obscure Electric School Teacher Scared Millions of Chinese
The main CCP media reprinted a blog article claiming that Xi Jinping is preparing a second Cultural Revolution—this time against the rich.
Brainwashing, Italian-Style: “It Does Not Exist,” Said the Constitutional Court
In 1981, the Constitutional Court ruled in the case of a Catholic priest accused of manipulating his followers, and concluded “plagio” was an imaginary crime.
Brainwashing, Italian-Style: The Braibanti Case
When judges in 1968 found a Communist gay philosopher guilty of “brainwashing” its pupils into homosexuality, a national controversy erupted.
Jehovas Zeugen: Wie das Urteil von Gent den Freiheitsgedanken untergräbt
Das Meiden von „Abtrünnigen“ zu einem Verbrechen zu erklären, ist gleichbedeutend mit der Ideologie, dass das Abtreten von Freiheiten an eine Organisation immer bedenklich ist.
Brainwashing, Italian-Style: The Fascist Law on “Plagio”
In 1930, Mussolini’s Justice Minister Rocco introduced in Italian law a provision against mind control that would last until 1981.
Xi Jinping Explains Why He Is Against Human Rights
The Chinese President argues that “human rights,” “freedom,” and “democracy” are bourgeois, Western values a Marxist country will never accept.
Brainwashing, Italian-Style: The Birth of “Plagio”
The Constitutional Court eliminated in 1981 a provision that incriminated mind control. It had a long history, from Roman to Italian law.
Khipro, Pakistan Hindu Temple Vandalized
To offend Pakistan Hindus even more deeply, the attack against the temple in Khipro was carried out in the day celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.
Massimo Introvigne
Massimo Introvigne (born June 14, 1955 in Rome) is an Italian sociologist of religions. He is the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), an international network of scholars who study new religious movements. Introvigne is the author of some 70 books and more than 100 articles in the field of sociology of religion. He was the main author of the Enciclopedia delle religioni in Italia (Encyclopedia of Religions in Italy). He is a member of the editorial board for the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion and of the executive board of University of California Press' Nova Religio. From January 5 to December 31, 2011, he has served as the "Representative on combating racism, xenophobia and discrimination, with a special focus on discrimination against Christians and members of other religions" of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). From 2012 to 2015 he served as chairperson of the Observatory of Religious Liberty, instituted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to monitor problems of religious liberty on a worldwide scale.