The Supreme Court’s conclusion was that religion is an ever-evolving concept and that courts must interpret it within the framework of a specific historical and geographical context, taking into account the expertise of scholars.
A potential source of discrimination arose in April 1998 when the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a report entitled “Cults and New Magical Movements in Italy.” Prepared by a police body which coordinates intelligence activities, the report contained entries for 70 religious and philosophical groups, but mentioned that a total of 137 are being monitored in Italy. The sources for the report include credible scholars although information was also taken from old court findings rendered null by the Italian Supreme Court ruling referred to above. While moderate compared to the French and Belgian parliamentary reports, this police report also forwarded rumours and claims by unnamed sources which contribute to negative stereotyping of religious minorities. Adding insult to injury, the report was converted to sensationalised headline news stories throughout Italy by being sent to several politicians and journalists. The parts of the report most quoted by the media were of course the most sensational and the least accurate.
Arriving in Italy in July 1998, the European Journey for Religious Freedom conducted a series of events and marches which were widely covered by Italian media and attended by government officials, religious and human rights leaders. As a result, by the time the Journey left Italy, hundreds of thousands of people whose awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had only been peripheral now understood its importance.
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