Following are various press articles about French Minister Alain Vivien, who received the 2002 Leipzig Award for his work in promoting human rights for those who have been oppressed by cults. Destructive cults have been recognized as a problem, but of course, it is difficult to get a cult to admit to destructiveness. The Leipzig Award may be one way of confronting this problem in that it recognizes a positive aspect of cult control.
Leipzig honors Frenchman for his fight against cults
Leipzig, Germany
May 13, 2002
http://www.lvz-online.deby Marco Mach
Leipzig. Now the image of the Nicholas Church can also be seen in France. On Saturday, Alain Vivien, the French government's cult commissioner, was distinguished for his involvement in taking action against totalitarian organizations with the presentation of the third Leipzig Human Rights Award. In the "Old Stock Exchange" of the Fair City (home of annual fairs), the 63-year-old socialist received from the hands of Bavaria's Interior Minister Guenther Beckstein (CSU) the "Alternative Charlemagne Award", an image of the Nicholas Church encased in glass.
Vivien successfully applied himself to creating a legal framework to protect the victims of Scientology and other similar organizations in France. This was the basis of the award decision by the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA. The minister has been addressing problems related to sects and totalitarian cults since 1983. In 1993 he worked on the first French Enquete report in that area. He has been the French president of the "Interministeriellen Mission im Kampf gegen Sekten" (MILS) for the Prime Minister of the Republic of France.
Beckstein described Vivien in his laudatio as a "pioneer in the Scientology controversy across Europe and across the world." At the same time he called for cooperation among political parties in the fight against totalitarianism. Vivien said he was pleased "to receive the award in a place from which freedom of thought has for so long emanated." Last year, former Labor Minister Norbert Bluem (CDU) was the award recipient.
Scientologists are critics of the human rights award. Vivien managed to push legislation against religious minorities into a law that is a source of discussion at the international level.
People in the News
Alain Vivien
May 13, 2002
http://www.suedwest-aktiv.de
Südwest Presse(...)
Alain Vivien the French cult commissioner has been honored with the 2002 Leipzig Human Rights Award. Bavaria's Interior Minister Gunther Beckstein, in his presentation speech, called Vivien one of the "most outstanding personalities in French politics." He said Vivien's work showed clearly that misuse of the word "religion" by totalitarian organization can be prevented. Beckstein said that Vivien was a pioneer against the Scientology organization in Europe and beyond. Scientology has protested against Vivien's recognized accomplishment.
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Leipzig Human Rights Award for French Cult Commissioner
May 11, 2002
epdLeipzig (epd). On Saturday Alain Vivien, the French government's cult commissioner, was distinguished for his fight against cults with the 2002 Leipzig Human Rights Award. Besides his work with the influences exerted by cults, Vivien has also personally dedicated himself to the welfare of the individual, said the basis of the award given in the Saxon "Fair City".
The unremunerated award is bestowed by the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA. According to their statement, the politician was commissioned in 1983 by Prime Minister Pierre Mauroy to produce the first situation report on the influences exerted by cults and totalitarian groups upon French society. As cult commissioner, he was said to have been instrumental in getting a law through the French National Assembly that protects victims of Scientology and comparable organizations. For that reason he was also said to have been specially targeted by cults that operate worldwide.
The internationally composed European-American citizens committee presents itself as an anti-Scientology organization. Its goal is to get politicians on both sides of the Atlantic involved with putting an end to "human rights violations" committed by Scientology and similar organizations in Europe and the US.
Cult critic receives Leipzig Human Rights Award
May 11, 2002
KNALeipzig - Alain Vivien, cult commissioner for the French Prime Minister, has received the 2002 Leipzig Human Rights Award. On Saturday the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA handed over the award, sculpted by Leipzig artist Ruediger Bartels, in the Fair City. For the basis of its third annual award, the committee named Vivien's work in protecting victims of Scientology and of similar organizations. He had, for instance, gotten legislation to that effect through the French National Assembly. The citizens committee says it consists of European friends of the USA and US citizens who address "attacks by the Scientology organization on the lives and human dignity of not only its members, but also its critics." Last year the award went to CDU politician Norbert Bluem.
Frenchman honored with 2002 Leipzig Human Rights Award for his work against cults
May 11, 2002
APLeipzig - Alain Vivien, French cult commissioner, has been honored with the 2002 Leipzig Human Rights Award. Vivien has been constructively involved with cults and totalitarian organizations for years, said Bavarian Interior Minister Gunther Beckstein in the award speech on Saturday in Leipzig. He characterized Vivien as one of the "most outstanding personalities in French politics."
Beckstein pointed out that party boundaries played no role in essential issues like human rights, a fact he said was demonstrated by him, as a CSU member, giving the award speech for a socialist politician. He said the staff in his ministry had worked extensively with Vivien's on cults and totalitarian organizations and that they had learned much. It had become clear in the French example, for instance, that misuse by totalitarian organizations of the word "religion" could be hindered.
Beckstein honored Vivien as a pioneer against the Scientology organization across Europe and beyond
He said that it constantly put human rights and human dignity at risk. "Parties have to work together more closely here in Germany, too, in order to confront organizations like Scientology and be able to handle them," said the Bavarian Interior Minister.
The Scientologists have criticized the award ceremony and the recipients. Vivien was said to have created an internationally disputed law against religious minorities, explained Sabine Weber, the Vice President of the organization. She also said the Chinese government planned to adapt the law to use it against the Falun Gong movement.
This is the third presentation of the Leipzig Human Rights Award from the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA. The committee says it is composed of Scientology opponents from all over the world.
Frenchman Vivien honored with Leipzig Human Rights Award
May 11, 2002
ddpLeipzig - On Saturday Alain Vivien, a Frenchman, was distinguished with the Leipzig Human Rights Award. In 1993, Vivien produced the first French Enquete report on cults and totalitarian organization, and since 1998 he has been president of the Interministerielle Mission to Combat Cults for the Prime Minister of the French Republic (MILS), reported the event organizers. The laudatio was given by Bavarian Interior Minister Gunther Beckstein (CSU).
The Leipzig award is bestowed by the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA. The internationally composed citizens committee says that it is concerned about violations of human rights and religious freedom by Scientology and other totalitarian organization. Vivien is, after Robert Minton and Norbert Bluem, the third recipient of the award (www.leipzig-award.org).