The Michael Trust will monitor and get involved with IICSA, Independent Inquiry

It has been decided that the Michael Trust will monitor and become involved with the IICSA Inquiry. Our Co-founder has been contacted since December 2019 from a number of people from a variety of faiths including two from the Islamic faith, that showed concerns that the IICSA were looking to regulate religious groups and faith based communities, we had contact from those from the Jehovah's Witnesses faith especially concerned that they potentially were under attack as they felt they were at the Australian Inquiry. Please also see an update to this post.......

This IICSA Inquiry focuses on child protection in religious settings and any recommendation this Inquiry makes will get a response from the UK government. Their last report on Westminster was very good and we hope they stick to the brief on this one as well. We have waited for the first transcript and to see who has become involved before we decided. Well last week we have decided two things;

1.  To monitor and give our genuine opinion on the IICSA Inquiry on our website here and to look into the claims that this is being used as a way to create negative publicity for the Jehovah's Witnesses faith. Some of you may have read 'Polly spends time with the Anti JW-Activists. which certainly shows the depths some go to on social media.
2. We have been given the opportunity to provide a witness statement in relation to the MTs experience with not just the JWs but also other groups. This is in process and we will be reporting in full how we as an organisation has been getting on after a disastrous start back in 2015 with the IICSA Inquiry.  
   

We are very pleased to learn that the Pagan Federation has been accepted as a Core-Participant, which is great news for the many alternative faith based communities and groups. We will be reporting on here regularly on our findings over the coming weeks. We start at the beginning with a look at the background and who the Core-Participants are and their connections. If you would like to get in touch please comment on this post or contact us through the contact box.

We have had such a large experience with so many faith based groups over the years and especially as we will be carrying out our new report. We will keep you posted.

Related links - More on why the MT is getting involved...