Observatory Intervenes on Freedom of Assembly at OSCE Meeting in Vienna

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A female Dutch participant at the Catholic World Youth Day in Madrid reported to the Observatory: I "was verbally (and almost physically) attacked during World Youth Day in Madrid in August 2011 by a group anarchists who shouted at me and at the others in my group at a metro station and one of the anarchists wanted to beat me but somebody from our group protected me." The attacking groups include the radical left, anti-religion groups, antifa groups, radical feminists groups or radical LGBT activist. They are partly funded by governments. Their methods include insult shouted in chorals – such as „If Mary had had an abortion, we would have been spared of you“ – or drawings of a crucified pig on billboards. Incitement to violence, overboarding noise to make public speaking impossible, as well as the blocking of roads or doors of conference halls, material damage and even physical attacks are not uncommon. Read the entire statement here...