Paris, France - Sects have taken advantage of last year's riots in poor high-immigration French suburbs to boost their presence there under the guise of offering humanitarian aid, an official report warned Wednesday.
"The presence in French suburbs following the disturbances of the autumn of 2005 of certain sect-like organisations proclaiming loud and clear the merits of their humanitarian action for the disadvantaged is worrying," according to the annual report from France's offical sects watchdog (MIVILUDES).
According to the report, sects are increasingly offering aid as a cover for their activities.
It cited a communique from the Church of Scientology, considered a sect in France, which the report said appeared to be taking the credit for calming the situation in one of the riot-hit suburbs.
"It has the double advantage of helping polish their humanist image while at the same time opening the door to proselytisation and the collection of funds," it said.