About-Picard Law

The 2001 About-Picard law (named after French parliament members Nicolas About and Catherine Picard), a piece of French legislation, broadly speaking, makes it possible to act against organisations (legal entities) when such organisations have become involved in certain crimes. The law, in its own words, aimed at movements deemed cultic (mouvements sectaires) that "undermine human rights and fundamental freedoms". The law does not define new crimes, except in association with existing crimes.

This law has caused controversy internationally, with some commentators alleging that it infringes religious freedom. Proponents of the law allege, on the contrary, that it reinforces religious freedom, since it aims at protecting people in a weak position (including children), preventing criminal organizations from forcing such people into religious and other activities. As of 2005, the French authorities had applied the law only once — in the case of a doomsday cult leader who had induced his followers to commit suicide.

The full title of the law reads Loi n° 2001-504 du 12 juin 2001 tendant à renforcer la prévention et la répression des mouvements sectaires portant atteinte aux Droits de l'Homme et aux libertés fondamentales ("Law number 2001-504 of June 12, 2001 intended to reinforce the prevention and repression of sectarian (cultic) movements that infringe on human rights and on fundamental freedoms").