Date: 24 Nov 2002 04:59:30 GMT
Subject: Italian Scientologists jailed 1997
Message-ID: <20021123235930.00497.00000099@mb-fl.aol.com>
Copyright 1997 Agence France Presse Agence France Presse
January 18, 1997 18:18 GMT
SECTION: International news
LENGTH: 294 words
HEADLINE: Italian Scientologists jailed
DATELINE: MILAN, Italy, Jan 18
BODY:
A Milan appeal court has sentenced 29 members of the Church of Scientology to between nine and 20 months' jail for criminal association, the Corriere della Serra reported Saturday.
It said the ruling was handed down on December 2 after an appeal by Milan prosecutors against the acquittal of 67 of 74 Scientologists six years ago.
The remaining seven then were given light sentences for ill-treatment of people regarded as mentally weak, but they all were acquitted of tax evasion charges even though the Church refuses to pay taxes.
In December's court ruling, the stiffest penalty of 20 months was given to Gabriele Segalla, who is considered to have brought Scientology to Italy.
The cult claims to have 100,000 members in italy, but is often accused of taking advantage of its members by promising happiness in return for money.
A Scientology spokesman, Fabio Amicarelli, said Scientologists were being victimised in Italy just as much as in Germany.
German authorities accuse the Scientologists of anti-democratic behaviour and "pretentions at domination," while in Bavaria they are banned from civil service jobs.
"We are being persecuted because we are growing and because people find positive answers with us and our churches are always full," Amicarelli said, in reaction to the Milan court's ruling.
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Background on the case from prior years.
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December 6, 1986, Saturday, AM cycle
SECTION: International News LENGTH: 260 words
HEADLINE: Police Crack Down on Scientologists
DATELINE: MILAN, Italy
BODY:
Authorities said Saturday they closed all 16 Italian offices of the Church of Scientology and seized books, documents and financial records.
The raids began Thursday and involved Treasury and Carabinieri paramilitary police. Officials also announced the closing of 11 Narconon drug rehabilitation centers, but did not elaborate on the connection.
Raids were conducted in 20 cities including Milan, Turin, Florence, Rome, Genoa and Naples. The last one was Saturday when police shut down a recently opened Scientology office in the eastern town of Macerata.
No arrests were made or charges filed. The office of Milan investigating magistrate Guicla Mulliri said the raids were part of an investigation into possible physical abuse, fraud, violation of labor laws and tax evasion.
The president of the Italian chapter of Scientology, Silvio De Fante, told a news conference Friday: "These charges have to be proved and there has been no proof. "He declined to discuss the church's financial status, but said, "We will continue with donations. Every church survives by donations." Scientology, founded in the United States by L. Ron Hubbard, the author of "Dyanetics,"
combines self-improvement theories with counseling and instructional seminars.
The U.S. government has long claimed that Scientology is not a religion and should not be exempt from taxes.
In 1978, federal agents raided Scientology headquarters in Los Angeles and Boston and seized documents that authorities claimed showed infiltration of government agencies by Scientologists.
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Copyright 1989 Reuters
The Reuter Library Report
March 29, 1989, Wednesday, AM cycle
LENGTH: 188 words
HEADLINE: 75 CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY LEADERS GO ON TRIAL IN ITALY
DATELINE: MILAN, March 29
BODY:
Seventy-five leaders of the Church of Scientology in Italy went on trial on Wednesday on charges including fraud, tax evasion and illegal practice of medicine.
The defendants were ordered to stand trial by magistrate Guicla Mulliri, who investigated the group at the instigation of relatives of members of the Church, founded by American L. Ron Hubbard.
Parents said they were not allowed any contact with their children who had joined the Church or entered its drug rehabilitation programmes.
The investigation made headlines in Italy in December 1986 when police confiscated records from Church branches and drug rehabilitation centres throughout the country.
The defendants are also charged with defrauding local governments because of contributions to the drug programmes, which the prosecution says did not meet medical standards.
Outside the courthouse, supporters of the defendants held up banners accusing the prosecution of carrying out a "modern inquisition" against freedom of religion.
They set free 75 doves to protest against the trial, which was adjourned until next week after opening formalities.
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH LOAD-DATE: 032989
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[correction appended]
The Associated Press, July 4, 1991
HEADLINE: Court Acquits Some Scientology Followers, Cojvyats Others DATELINE: MILAN, Italy
BODY:
A Milan court has acquitted 67 Scientology followers of charges ranging from criminal association to tax evasion, but it convicted six others of deceiving confused people.
While not ruling that the group is a church, as Scientologists contend, the court said Wednesday that it is a non-profit organization and thus need not report to the Italian tax office.
The trial was brought after a five-year investigation into activities of Scientology centers in Italy after disenchanted followers filed lawsuits.
The six who were convicted of deceiving confused or weak people were sentenced to prison terms of one to two years.
The prosecutor appealed the acquittals.
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The Associated Press
July 24, 1991, Wednesday, AM cycle SECTION: International News LENGTH: 77 words DATELINE: MILAN, Italy
BODY:
The Associated Press erroneously reported July 4 that six people who had been associated with the Church of Scientology received one- to two-year jail terms after conviction on charges known in Italy as "deceiving confused people." The six received suspended sentences.
The sentencing was part of a decision on July 3 in which the court also acquitted 67 followers of the Church of Scientology on charges ranging from criminal association to tax evasion.
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
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Copyright 1991 Chicago Tribune Company
Chicago Tribune
July 5, 1991, Friday, FINAL SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 4; ZONE: M LENGTH: 114 words HEADLINE: 6 Scientologists convicted, others acquitted in Italy BYLINE: From Chicago Tribune wires DATELINE: MILAN, Italy
BODY:
A Milan court has convicted six Church of Scientology followers of deceiving confused people but it acquitted 67 others of charges ranging from criminal association to tax evasion. While not ruling that the group is a church, as Scientologists claim, the court said Wednesday that it is a non-profit organization and thus needn't report to the Italian tax office. The trial was brought after a five-year investigation into activities of Scientology centers in Italy after disenchanted followers filed lawsuits. The six who were convicted of deceiving confused or weak people were sentenced to prison terms of one to two years. The prosecutor has appealed the acquittals.
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Copyright 1991 PR Newswire Association, Inc.
PR Newswire
July 31, 1991, Wednesday SECTION: State and Regional News DISTRIBUTION: TO CITY EDITOR LENGTH: 299 words HEADLINE: CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY WINS LANDMARK COURT VICTORY IN ITALY; COURT REAFFIRMS RELIGIOSITY AND NON-PROFIT STATUS OF CHURCH DATELINE: MILANO, Italy, July 31
BODY:
A decade of judicial conflict has resulted in another major religious legal victory for the Church of Scientology. On July 2, a Milano court judge recognized the innocence of 67 church members unjustly accused in Italy by dismissing all charges levelled against them and exempting the church from taxes.
The written decision, officially released today, reaffirms the religiosity of the church. In the decision, the judge states: "... the basis of the treatments and courses of Scientology is a greater knowledge of one's own spirituality and the achievement of greater spiritual freedom resulting in stronger mental and physical well- being ...
"The Constitution of Italy has won and the religion of the Church of Scientology has made the Constitution even stronger. Every allegation has been completely annihilated by today's decision," said Leale, lead attorney for the Church of Scientology in Italy.
Following the decision earlier this month, major Italian newspapers carried headlines depicting it as a major victory. " Scientology has won" proclaimed the respected Corriere della Sera. " Scientology is a religion -- all followers acquitted" and "Church of Scientology -- not guilty" reported other well-known national newspapers such as La Stampa and La Republica.
Church of Scientology President Rev. Heber Jentzsch today said, "Scientologists throughout the world are celebrating. This is not only a victory for Scientology in Italy, it is a victory for religious freedom throughout the world.
"We exposed and have now defeated the vested psychiatry-backed interests that have, for years, attempted to destroy this freedom," said Rev. Jentzsch.
CONTACT: Rev. Heber C. Jentzsch, president of the Church of Scientology International, 213-960-3500
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