DECLARATION OF PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL FREEDOM
PRONOUNCED AT: PARIS, PLACE DE LA BASTILLE, 23 Oct 2000

WHEREAS, the French Constitution nobly guarantees the freedoms of assembly, expression, conscience and belief as well as the other values that inherently define the nature and character of a true democracy;

WHEREAS, the French government is charged both with the duty and responsibility to propagate, teach and perpetually maintain these freedoms for all of its citizens, by enforcing the appropriate laws, rules and regulations and by setting an example in conduct;

WHEREAS, the French government is expected, in the spirit of the Basic Freedoms, to maintain a neutral attitude toward and to treat with equal fairness, all citizens regardless of their race, gender, politics, ideology, religion and ethnic origin;

WHEREAS, a democratic government is relied upon to especially protect and shelter, as a minimum requirement for an enlightened state, the minorities among its people and to discourage, bar and, if necessary, outlaw any opportunity against them for discrimination, hate and societal disharmony;

WHEREAS, the French government, through the person of its official Alain Vivien, has intentionally orchestrated campaign generally designed to foment intolerance, hatred and discrimination against religious minorities and their members in France;

WHEREAS, the French government, through the persons of political figures Jacques Guyard and Jean-Pierre Brard, have blacklisted 173 religious groups, maligning their names and reputations, and have repeatedly mischaracterized their intentions, objectives and activities;

WHEREAS, members of the French Congress, specifically Senator About and Deputy Picard, have conspired and acted to introduce legislation that is designed to deny basic due process rights to the members of religious minorities; to prosecute and punish all adherents of a religious minority for the misstep of an individual member; to impermissibly invade and censor the field of legitimate and self-determined religious practice;