Positive and negative changes have been introduced, and some passed, at the Commission on Laws stage. The text will go to the Senate’s floor on March 30.
Massimo Introvigne
Why the Anti-Mormon Donation Lawsuit Endangers Religious Liberty—of All
Ex-Mormon billionaire James Huntsman sues the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He wants back what he donated in 24 years.
Pakistan: Khatam-e-Nabuwat Demolishes Ahmadi Mosque with Police Help
The journalist who reported on it is now himself at risk of being arrested.
Pakistan: Adventist Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy
Sajjad Masih Gill was serving a life sentence from 2013 for allegedly offensive SMS. On appeal, judges said this was not enough.
The Ghent Jehovah’s Witnesses Decision: Big Brother Is Watching You
The Belgian court adopted an intrusive view of the powers of the state, incompatible with democracy—and with common sense.
The Ghent Jehovah’s Witness Decision: Dangerous for All Religions
Suggesting that current members do not associate with “apostate” ex-members has been historically common in many religions.
The Ghent Jehovah’s Witnesses Decision: Dangers for Religious Liberty
Contrary to other courts in several countries, the Belgian judges dangerously intruded into the internal organization of a religious group.
Jehovah’s Witnesses Fined in Ghent for Their “Ostracism”: A Wrong Decision
Contrary to rumors spread by opponents, the Witnesses do not suggest that immediate family members shun relatives who left the faith.
Russian Repression of Religious Minorities Promoted in Paris
The notorious Alexander Dvorkin and some of his friends claimed they are those who are persecuted—by the U.S. and Bitter Winter.
Anti-Cultism in France: Old/New Risks for Religious Liberty?
The COVID pandemic, QAnon, and debates on “separatism” have revitalized the French anti-cult structure MIVILUDES. Folk statistics may lead to bad choices.
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.