THE MITCHELL FIRM, INC. for CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
What was lobbied
One issue area, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Foreign Relations FOR
On behalf of 23 religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, who previously signed a multi-faith letter to members of Congress and the Administration, made contacts to express our deep concerns about the new religion law in Hungary, and to respectfully urge the U.S. government to raise this issue with the Prime Minister of Hungary, and urge him to make revisions to the religion law as recommended by the Venice Commission in Europe. On behalf of several religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, made contacts to urge U.S. government leaders to make international religious freedom (IRF) a high priority of the U.S. government so IRF is fully integrated into U.S. foreign policy and national security; U.S. foreign policy tools are used to promote and advance religious freedom around the world, per the mandate established by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act; and global levels of religious intolerance, discrimination, persecution, terrorism and instability are significantly reduced. On behalf of 26 religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, who signed a multi-faith letter that was sent to the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) -- urging him to visit Kazakhstan at the earliest possible opportunity, perform a review of the situation, identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief, and present recommendations on ways and means to overcome these obstacles -- made contacts to share this letter with U.S. government leaders, and to express our deepening concern about rising restrictions on religion in the Republic of Kazakhstan. In fact, recent press reports make it clear that over 200 Protestant churches and 32 non-traditional organizations will be liquidated. Media reports indicate that Kazakhstan has just finished re-registration of all the religious institutions in the county that slashed their number by one third; out of the 4,551 religious institutions representing 46 faiths as of January 1, 2012, only 3,088 religious institutions representing 17 faiths have been able to complete the obligatory re-registration; out of the earlier registered 666 Protestant churches, 462 churches have met the registration criteria, with the other churches to be liquidated; and only 16 out of 48 non-traditional organizations have been re-registered. The remaining 32 will be liquidated in court based on statements of Kazakhstan Justice Ministry. We urged U.S. government leaders to take actions to raise awareness of this situation, and to press Kazakhstan authorities on this matter, and urge them to amend the Religion Law to bring it into conformity with international human rights standards, Kazakhstan's international commitments, and its own Constitution. Along with several religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, made contacts to inform U.S. government leaders that two troubling new laws -- the Law on "High Treason" and the Law on "Foreign Agents" -- are the most recent examples of the steadily deteriorating human rights situation in Russia. Most non-profits in Russia that receive some form of foreign funding now run the risk of being branded as foreign agents (a Cold War term which evokes betrayal and treachery in Russia) by the government. And espionage now includes furnishing financial, material, technical, consultative or other help to a foreign state, or international or foreign organization. Almost any conversation between Russian citizens and representatives of foreign organizations on human rights abuses could now be considered as treasonous. Along with several religious and human rights organizations and leaders of varying faiths, including the client, made contacts to inform U.S. government leaders that a new book has been published that analyzes the latest example of an anti-sect group that enjoys the support of public powers and/or traditional religions in the fight against minority religious groups in Western societies. This book Freedom of Religion or Belief. Anti-Sect Movements and State Neutrality. A Case Study: FECRIS contains a collection of papers and essays on FECRIS (the European Federation of Research and Information Centers on Sectarianism) that were written by European scholars, researchers, human rights attorneys and practitioners. FECRIS unites 25 European organizations to fight against minorities of religion or beliefs that they label as "sects". This study focuses on the FECRIS member associations in five European countries: France, the cradle of laicite; Austria and Germany, where public powers and dominant churches lead a common struggle against "sects"; and Serbia and Russia, two Orthodox countries in which FECRIS member associations include Orthodox missionary departments. Can their activities be reconciled with the public funding granted to FECRIS and its affiliates as well as the international standards to guarantee freedom of religion and belief? This is the question addressed in this study.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| GREG MITCHELL | — |
Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.