False therapists, or "slips", do not hesitate to affix plaques on the facades of buildings with enticing promises.
"The isolation of people during the pandemic fixed them on their screens, and some took the opportunity to capture their attention in a much stronger way than usual", explains the president, Jean-Louis Amelineau.
“The most eccentric theories advancing that we are being manipulated by underground networks have flourished everywhere, and the pandemic has generated an infodemic, leading to conspiracy and potentially leading to sectarian aberrations.
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More than 3,000 reports of sectarian aberrations during the year 2020, up 7.2% compared to 2019. And some 120 of them were "in direct connection with the health crisis" according to the latest report of the Miviludes (Interministerial Mission for Vigilance and the Fight Against Sectarian Abuses) which does not observe a "massive increase in reports", but affirms that "all the movements which present risks of a sectarian nature have remarkably adapted their speeches and their offers" to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Miviludes was the guest on Saturday in Bordeaux at the Fecris (European Federation of Research and Information Centers on Sectarianism) conference organized this year by Info-Sectes Aquitaine.
The debates revolved around the theme of “sects in the era of Covid-19.
The opportunity to take stock of the evolution of sectarian movements with the president of Info-Sectes Aquitaine, Jean-Louis Amelineau.
What is a sectarian movement, and when do we consider such a practice to be dangerous?
The sectarian movement is a movement within which deviations of the order of mental control have been observed, which prevent people from thinking for themselves, in particular by placing them at odds with those around them.
This enslavement of the person can be used for pecuniary or sexual purposes, or even both.
We also have gurus who are in the crosshairs for the illegal practice of medicine, for example when they make a patient abandon his cancer treatment in favor of fruit juice, injections of mistletoe, or others… The point attack is a person's vulnerability, which is unrelated to intelligence or social condition.
Are there any movements that are particularly followed, especially since the start of the Covid-19 crisis?
Of course, Miviludes has organizations in its sights. We, as an association, we mainly do prevention and guidance for victims when they come to see us. What we have seen in recent years, and even more since the start of the Covid crisis, is that the Internet and social networks have allowed the explosion of small movements or deviant gurus. They surf on the fear of the virus, in the health field in particular. False therapists without any diploma, or "slips" as they are called, do not hesitate to affix plaques on the facades of buildings with enticing promises of the type "awaken the genius in you" or "live the life that you are in. you deserve "…
These activities also take advantage of a great opportunity, because with the Covid-19 crisis, psychiatrists are overbooked at the moment.
It often takes months to get an appointment.
With an attractive website and catchy words, these fake shrinks succeed in convincing ... Be careful, I'm not saying that all those who provide psychological support are deviant or incompetent, there are some very good people, but the minimum is to be inquire before contacting them.
What should alert us?
The high-sounding formulations promising cures, the financial commitment if it is unreasonable, are strong enough warning signals.
We recently had the case of a person whose family had just left 67,000 euros for remote coaching!
We can find that incredible, but it is possible, because they are people who know how to make themselves indispensable, and on whom the family is ready to rest.
Some even manage to completely destroy families.
In what other aspects has the pandemic had an impact on the activity of these sectarian movements or other false therapists?
The pandemic has had several effects. First, the isolation of people fixed them on their screens, and some took the opportunity to capture their attention in a much stronger way than usual. Then, the pandemic has made many people vulnerable, who are wondering about the future, who have doubts about institutions in general and health institutions in particular. The most eccentric theories advancing that one is manipulated by underground networks have flourished everywhere. The pandemic has generated an “infodemic”, leading to conspiracy and potentially leading to sectarian aberrations. Finally, there has been in some people a desire to return to nature, or even to community life, which in itself is of course not problematic, but which can constitute fertile ground for deviance.We are looking carefully at everything related to "ecovillages", and we have two or three cases in the region about which we have doubts.
What types of problems are involved in your association?
75% of our cases concern, equally, the areas of personal development, health and religion.
These are clearly the three main points of entry into the sectarian drift.
However, it is not always easy to convince a victim to file a complaint, as she usually feels ashamed at first.
It often takes years for him to make up his mind.
A young woman recently came to see me for facts that dated back to five years ago.
You also do prevention, with the general public, but also with professionals ...
We want to reach the front-line actors, it is essential because they are the ones who can raise suspicions, especially in the case of families whose children are brought up in the name of sectarian precepts.
There, it is all the staff in the schools who can spot a particular behavior in a child.
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Miscellaneous
Fight against sects: "The victims come from all social backgrounds, sometimes even the wealthiest"
Aquitaine
Bordeaux
Crisis
Coronavirus
Covid 19
Society
Sect