Paris July 11 (Agènce France Presse)
The Jehovah¹s Witnesses lost a defamation action Friday
which they brought against Deputy Jean-Pierre Brard, vice president of the
sect study group, which in July 2006, had denounced their actions during a
news report broadcast on TF1 (TeleFrance 1)
"I will give you three examples where [the Jehovah¹s
Witnesses] are entirely delinquent" declared the member from Seine-Saint-Denis on
July 20, 2006, adding, "By avoiding paying taxes, condemning people to
death by refusing them blood transfusions or covering up very grave wrongs
such as paedophilia, you can see very well that it isn¹t a
question of public opinion, but also there are laws that must be applied."
Friday, the 17th judicial correctional chamber of Paris
decided that the words were in fact defamatory, but these words were
entitled to the benefit of the good faith of a member of Parliament who happens
also to be a member of the interministerial mission to survey and combat sects.
The judicial tribunal declared that the words must be
considered as having a sufficiently serious foundation. Although not stripped of
violence, the words will not be regarded as exceding the admissible
limits of free opinion.
"This judgement is a real comfort for those who, in the
process of Parliamentary discussion, dare to bring to light the
dangerous practices of the Jehovah¹s Witness organization" said Monsieur Brard
in a published statement.
http://www.la-croix.com/afp.static/pages/080711170334.5xq7x5k3.htm
Les Témoins de Jéhovah perdent un procès en diffamation
contre un député
La Croix
PARIS, 11 juil 2008 (AFP)
Les Témoins de Jéhovah ont perdu vendredi le procès en
diffamation qu'ils avaient intenté au député Jean-Pierre Brard (app PCF),
vice-président du groupe d'études sur les sectes, qui en juillet 2006
avait dénoncé leurs agissements au cours d'un reportage diffusé sur TF1.
"Je vais vous donner trois exemples où (les Témoins
de Jéhovah) sont de parfaits délinquants", avait déclaré le député de
Seine-Saint-Denis le 20 juillet 2006, ajoutant : "Se soustraire à un impôt,
condamner des personnes à mort en leur refusant la transfusion sanguine ou couvrir
des délits très graves comme la pédophilie, vous voyez bien qu'on ne
peut pas seulement s'en remettre à l'opinion publique, mais qu'il y a des
lois qui doivent être appliquées".
Vendredi, la 17e chambre du tribunal correctionnel de Paris
a jugé que ces propos étaient bien diffamatoires, mais a accordé le
bénéfice de la bonne foi au parlementaire, également membre du conseil
d'orientation de la Mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre
les dérives sectaires (Miviludes). Le tribunal a jugé que les déclarations du prévenu
devaient "être considérées comme ayant un fondement suffisamment
sérieux". "Bien que non dénuées de violence, elles ne sauraient être regardées
comme excédant les limites admissibles de la libre opinion", a-t-il
complété.
"Ce jugement est un véritable réconfort pour tous
ceux qui, au-delà de l'engagement des parlementaires eux-mêmes, osent
mettre en lumière la dangerosité des pratiques de l'organisation des
Témoins de Jéhovah", a réagi M. Brard dans un communiqué.
http://www.la-croix.com/afp.static/pages/080711170334.5xq7x5k3.htm
Really Good News: JWs lost a defamation action against French Deputy
by AndersonsInfo 26 Replies latest jw friends
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AndersonsInfo
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Gopher
Chalk one up for free speech! Sure those statements are defamatory, but JW's deserve to be defamed -- and the statements made are very supportable with facts and examples.
If the WTS wants to improve its image, maybe they should improve their behavior rather than trying to silence their critics.
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quietlyleaving
nice one
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Atlantis
Barbara:
This is great news! Thank you for sharing with us!
N.
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Do Not Call
Very good news indeed!!!
Thanks for posting it. -
WTWizard
It seems that they were trying to use the laws to make a worldly publication post the same kind of comments that are common within the boasting sessions and in the washtowels. Giving them undeserved praise instead of deserved bashings.
No wonder--they are in fact trying to start the Second Dark Ages worldwide.
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TooOpinionated
Great news! Thank you, Barbara.
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Quandary
The organization can dish it out but can't take it! For over a century they have written countless defamatory words against governments and religions. Shame on them for attempting to silence others for doing the same! HYPOCRISY to utmost degree!!
Q
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Finally-Free
The organization can dish it out but can't take it! For over a century they have written countless defamatory words against governments and religions. Shame on them for attempting to silence others for doing the same! HYPOCRISY to utmost degree!!
Exactly. The comments made are nothing compared to the watchtowers criticisms, denunciations, and slander against pretty much everything they don't own. They're quick to squeal like pigs when someone says a single word against them.
W
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AndersonsInfo
bttt