Date
Thu, 2 Jul
Time
10:40 – 12:10, PDT
Mandated shunning—the coerced severance of social and familial ties—is a widespread yet underrecognized form of coercive control used by almost all high-control religious groups and cults. This 90-minute panel discussion will explore mandated shunning as a human rights and mental health issue, using survivor testimony, psychological research, therapeutic insights, legal analysis, and advocacy strategies.
The session is divided into three parts. In Understanding the Problem, survivors will share first-hand stories that illuminate the emotional and relational toll of being the victims of mandated shunning. Researchers will define the practice and summarize data from recent studies on its prevalence and psychological impacts. In Consequences and Context, therapists and legal experts will examine the effects on mental health and why these practices are often shielded by religious freedom laws. In Solutions and Action, panelists will discuss current advocacy and legal initiatives to recognize and challenge mandated shunning, including international case studies and the goals of the Stop Mandated Shunning (SMS) project by the Open Minds Foundation.
Audience interaction will be encouraged through storytelling, thought-provoking questions, and structured Q&A. The session will close with a call to action. By weaving lived experience with professional expertise, the panel will provide attendees with a better understanding of mandated shunning and tools to support those affected, while highlighting how research can translate into both social and legal change. This conversation comes at a pivotal moment as global momentum builds to recognize mandated shunning as a form of psychological abuse rather than a protected religious belief.
Watch Recording
This session was recorded at the 2026 Conference and has been uploaded to the website for viewing here*.
*Recordings from the 2026 ICSA International Conference are available on demand for registered conference attendees. You will need to login to your Online Conference Track account to begin watching. If you have not yet created an account, register using the same name and email address used for your conference ticket purchase. Those who did not attend the conference can still purchase an online ticket to gain access here.
Patrick Haeck was a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses for forty years before leaving with his family in 2010. After publicly criticizing the organization’s policies and practices, he was disfellowshipped for apostasy in 2011. Since then, he has supported former members and spoken internationally about coercive control, religious trauma, and the effects of shunning. Patrick is a founding member of Stop Mandated Shunning and the Open Minds Foundation and has advocated against mandated shunning, including through legal action in Belgium.
Savin Bapir-Tardy’s work focuses on mandated shunning, freedom of religion, human rights, and the legal implications of coercive practices within high-control groups. Through advocacy and public education, he contributes to growing international efforts to increase awareness of the harms associated with mandated social exclusion and to promote legal and policy responses that protect affected individuals.
Richard Kelly is Secretary and Treasurer of the Open Minds Foundation and Managing Director of Advocates for Awareness of Watchtower Abuses (AAWA). Raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, he served at the Watchtower Society’s headquarters in New York before leaving the organization. His experiences have driven his advocacy for critical thinking, survivor support, and awareness of coercive influence. He is the author of Growing Up in Mama’s Club, The Ghosts from Mama’s Club, and Mariuca and Marilyn: Saying Goodbye to Mama’s Club, and is a retired CEO of an international manufacturing company.
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