Church of Scientology could be banned in France

The Church of Scientology faces being thrown out of France if it is found guilty of organised fraud in a landmark trial which opened in Paris.

Eric Roux, head of the Paris Celebrity Centre of the Scientology Association, answers questions at the court house

The charges, which also include claims of illegally prescribing drugs, were filed by France’s professional pharmaceutical association and two women who accuse the Scientologists of bringing about their financial ruin.

One woman claimed she was psychologically pressured into paying thousands of pounds for lessons, books, drugs and a device called an “electrometer” which the church says can measure a person’s mental state.

The church’s main structure in France, the AGES-Celebrity Centre, and its bookshop face charges of “organised fraud”, along with six of its leaders.

The six, including Alain Rosenberg, 60, the manager of the AGES-Celebrity Centre, face a maximum million-euro fine and ten year jail term if convicted. The church itself faces a five million-euro fine and closure.

The case has taken ten years to come to court.

Scientology is not banned in France but has been considered a sect since 1995.

It is a recognised religion in the United States, where it was founded in 1954 by L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer. Followers include Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

This is only the second time the church itself has been targeted in France. All other trials have been of individuals.

One of the female plaintiffs, Aude-Claire Malton, was allegedly approached by Scientologists in a Paris street in 1998 and offered a personality test, which, according to the prosecution were “void of scientific value”. The Scientologists’ sole aim, they argued, was to “claim their fortune” by “exercising a psychological hold” over her.

Read full article

Related posts:

1. Scientologists convicted of fraud news.bbc.co.uk A French court has convicted the Church of...
2. Church of Scientology accused of torture and forced abortions www.timesonline.co.uk The Church of Scientology faces the prospect of...
3. French draft bill to fine burqa-wearing women www.expatica.com The leader of the governing UMP party in...
4. Secret mission to expose L. Ron Hubbard as a fake www.timesonline.co.uk The founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, was...
5. Holy mess: 11 million Irish Americans leave Catholic Church By Niall O’ Dowd www.irishcentral.com A new survey shows...
6. French publishers take Google to court for ‘forgery’ www.expatica.com French publishers and authors are demanding compensation from...
7. France warns Serbia on Kosovo www.expatica.com France warned Serbia on Friday that if it...
8. France: Police custody ‘against the law’ www.connexionfrance.com POLICE in France are denying suspects the right...
9. Microsoft banned from selling Word infotech.indiatimes.com WASHINGTON: A US judge has ordered Microsoft to...
10. France: Jail For Verbal Abuse In Marriage HUSBANDS and wives could face prison for threatening or verbally...