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http://www.tj-encyclopedie.org/Alain_Garay
http://www.tj-encyclopedie.org/Alain_Garay
ALAIN GARAY-French lawyer at the Court of Paris. An associate member of the Law and Religions Team of LIDEMS [Le Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Droit et Mutations Sociales = The Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Law and Social Changes], he is also a Lay Master teacher of Cult Law [or, the Law and Non-Mainstream Religions] at the His activity as a lawyer is documented from 1988, when in a direct relationship with the French Bethel, through the AMS [l’Association Médico-Scientifique d’information et d’assistance du malade = the Medical-Scientific Association of Information and Assistance to the Ill] connection (he is the secretary of that association), he published a supplementary brochure in the bulletins of the OMS [Organization Mondiale de Santé = World Health Organisation] on the theme “Saving lives without violating consciences.” In 1990, still edited by the same association and directed by ’s medical counsel, he and Sabine Besson published “The Refusal of Blood Transfusions: Legal Aspects.” He remains in a close relationship with the international network of alternatives to transfusion, which was set up by the former French-Bethelites who founded AMS, and who have since regrouped within the LMS-Group and the Nata association – as is evidenced by the fact that the LMS-group is regularly entrusted to organise conferences of the associations, over which Alain Garay presides.His work as a lawyer has led him to defend Jehovah’s Witnesses in matters relating to: the refusal of young Jehovah’s Witnesses to accept either military service or alternative service for conscientious objectors before 1995; child custody (1993); the financial affairs of Jehovah’s Witnesses in France (the taxation of tangible gifts); and their stances in regard to blood transfusions, especially before the European Commission and the Bulgarian blood issue (1998). Besides his work as an attorney, he actively takes a personal interest in the controversies raised by these issues. For example:- He has written a book denouncing the anti-sect movement in .- He participates in discussion groups [questioned as a panel member] on the subject of Jehovah’s Witnesses even when he the subject is not within his brief; for example, on the subject of secrecy in religions in 2002, he developed the them of “secrecy in the organisation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” More recently, on the subject of marriage in religions (2006), he addressed the question in the context of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He has also participated in a colloquium with religious sociologists concerning Jehovah’s Witnesses.It is obvious, therefore, that the publication of his books and articles close follow the current judicial activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Until recently, it was difficult to find Master [Note: this is an honorific denoting his law degree and practice] Garay associated with any current clients besides Jehovah’s Witnesses.The strategy of lobbying that was put into place by Alain Garay can be followed over the years. It is one of a simple lawyer among other Jehovah’s Witnesses, acting through pseudo-official bodies of the religion – such as the AMS from 1988 to 1993. He takes the initiative in the Latin-American world to be at the creation of medical law associations that regularly deal with the subject of Jehovah’s Witnesses and transfusions. In ever-increasing concentric circles, his initiative moves from its genesis in Costa Rica to embrace, first, all of Latin America, then Spain (as of 1996). In conjunction with this, he has manifested notably increased activity against anti-sect movements in the years 1998 to 2000. This has resulted in his contributions at Cesnur [Centre d'études sur les nouvelles religions = the Center for Studies on New Religions], the CSCE [the Commission on Security and Cooperation in ], and the OSCE; his activities have also led to his rubbing shoulders with European authorities in order to defend [/represent] Jehovah’s Witnesses. Following his success with the endeavour in , as of 2000 he participates in the creation of French “national” associations for patients’ rights; these associations continue to attract interest in the medical and legal domains. Having good introductions [recommendations], he will succeed in shaping the training of new lower-court magistrates and journalists in matters concerning the right of non-mainstream religionsby making the University of Aix-Marseille his headquarters for the studies leading to the undergraduate diploma [degree] of Law of Religions and of Religious Associations.So, in 2006 Alain Garay is an inescapable force: from a global point of view in the area of patient law and transfusions (as Vice-president of the worldwide association or transcontinental network of the LMS-Group); from European and global points of view in the matter of freedom of worship for religious minorities (for example, as an expert to the OSCE for example, and by reason of his participation in CESNUR at the CSCE); and nationally [in France] in the matter of the financial affairs of religious associations (for example, the taxation of tangible gifts to the association of Jehovah’s Witnesses), religious law (he is ‘on-call’ in case of a judicial inquiry into the role of secrecy amongst Jehovah’s Witnesses in, for example, the matter of pedophiles), medical law (for example, as brought by Patrick Pelloux and the ANDP [Association Nationale des droits du Patient = National Association for the Rights of the Patient] into the area of medical emergencies). He is active in the education and training of future French elites in connection with the law of worship.Regularly accused by the anti-sect movements of being a Jehovah’s Witness himself, Garay has never expressed himself on the subject; however, the beginning of his career leaves little doubt as to his membership in the organisation.