Press Council rejects complaint of the free church ICF against Blick.ch
In an article, Blick.ch portrayed the International Christian Fellowship (ICF) as, at the very least, something close to a cult. The Swiss Press Council has ruled that the online platform adhered to the Code of Ethics for Journalists in doing so.
Under the title "Dangerous Gurus" and the headline "So powerful are sects in Switzerland", Blick.ch listed fourteen groups on October 22, 2016. Among them are Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientology, Fiat Lux and the free church ICF.
ICF then complained to the Swiss Press Council against this reporting. Several guidelines of the journalists' code had been violated. In particular, ICF participants were accused of belonging to a disparaging and disparaging sect. Blick.ch quoted, in addition to the list of 14 groups, statements by the sect counseling center Infosekta, according to which the term "sect" is not clearly defined and a classification is difficult. One speaks of a broad spectrum of groups.
In the opinion of the Press Council, these statements help readers to make up their own minds about the concept of sects.
In addition, the complaint was directed against Blick.ch's statement that strong emotional ties make it difficult to leave the ICF. ICF argues: It does not know any membership and therefore there are no entries and exits. This statement by Blick.ch therefore violates the duty of truth. The Press Council, on the other hand, can understand that an emotional attachment can make it difficult to leave a religious community, even if there is no formal membership.
