http://www.jp.dk/indland/artikel:aid=1608360/

(quick'n'dirty translation)

Scientology lost a libel case today in Copenhagen.

The sect's magazine 'Friheden' (Freedom) had, in an article, accused Danish journalist Jørgen Pedersen and German filmmaker Walther Heinowski of being agents for Stasi, the former East German intelligence service.

Anette Refstrup (the editor) got a DKK 10,000 fine (about USD1200) and each of the plaintiffs were awarded DKK 30,000 damages. Scientologi was also ordered to pay their costs - DKK 130,000.

The 'Frihed' article was published after a TV programme focussing on the sect.

From: Tilman Hausherr <tilman@berlin.snafu.de>
Subject: Re: Scientology loses court case in Denmark
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 18:27:31 +0100
Organization: Xenu's Ranch
Message-ID: <be0u1v495rro46ruaplr1r08ghcrvi3ogg@4ax.com>

On Fri, 10 Jan 2003 15:04:32 +0100, "Rasmus Hayseed"

<lost_in_denmark@NOSPAM.hotmail.com> wrote in <avmjth$1m48$1@news.cybercity.dk>:

>http://www.jp.dk/indland/artikel:aid=1608360/
>
>(quick'n'dirty translation)
>
>Scientology lost a libel case today in Copenhagen.
>
>The sect's magazine 'Friheden' (Freedom) had, in an article, accused Danish
>journalist Jørgen Pedersen and German filmmaker Walther Heinowski of being
>agents for Stasi, the former East German intelligence service.

Heynowski

>
>Anette Refstrup (the editor) got a DKK 10,000 fine (about USD1200) and each
>of the plaintiffs were awarded DKK 30,000 damages. Scientologi was also
>ordered to pay their costs - DKK 130,000.
>
>The 'Frihed' article was published after a TV programme focussing on the
>sect.

This URL (which I assume to be ones declared to be libellous) is still online:

http://www.freedommag.org/danish/stasifor/page01.htm

-- Tilman Hausherr [KoX, SP5.55] Entheta * Enturbulation * Entertainment tilman@berlin.snafu.de http://www.xenu.de

Resistance is futile. You will be enturbulated. Xenu always prevails.

Find broken links on your web site: http://home.snafu.de/tilman/xenulink.html The Xenu bookstore: http://home.snafu.de/tilman/bookstore.html

From: janeebislis@hotmail.com (Praxis)
Subject: Church of Scientology fined by Danish court for defamation
Date: 10 Jan 2003 12:03:34 -0800
Message-ID: <80ee9418.0301101203.36cde4dd@posting.google.com>

From http://infobrix.yellowbrix.com/pages/infobrix/Story.nsp?story_id=35783646&ID=infobrix&scategory=Business+and+Finance&

Church of Scientology fined by Danish court for defamation Source: Associated Press Publication date: 2003-01-10

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) -- The Church of Scientology was fined by a Danish court Friday for publishing defamatory remarks about an east German filmmaker and a Danish journalist described by the church as having links to the former East German secret police.

Anette Refstrup, the Danish editor-in-chief of the Frihed, or Freedom, was fined 10,000 kroner (US$1,370) and the church was ordered by the Copenhagen City Court to pay court fees of 130,000 kroner (US$17,800).

In 1999, Frihed published a story that claimed filmmaker Walther Heynowski worked for East Germany's Stasi and trained Danish journalist Joergen Pedersen.

The article was published after the Church of Scientology tried to stop Pedersen from making a television show critical of the church, which is not recognized as a religious organization in Denmark.

Heynowski, a German citizen, and Pedersen worked together on the show.

They sued the church for defamation and demanded 250,000 kroner (US$34,200) apiece.

Among those who testified in the trial, which started in October, was former East German spymaster Markus Wolf, who denied Heynowski had worked for him.

A call to the church's Copenhagen office by The Associated Press went unanswered.

The Los Angeles, California-based Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by L. Ron Hubbard. It teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems.

From: Rod Keller <rkeller@unix01.voicenet.com>
Subject: AP: Scn fined in Denmark
Message-ID: <W3WT9.1138$gU.549622@news2.voicenet.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 14:43:02 GMT

Church of Scientology fined by Danish court for defamation Associated Press Friday January 10, 2003 http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030110/ap_wo_en_po/eu_gen_denmark_scientology_3

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - A Danish court fined the Church of Scientology on Friday for publishing defamatory remarks about an east German filmmaker and a Danish journalist described by the church as having links to the former East German secret police.

Anette Refstrup, the Danish editor-in-chief of the church's magazine Frihed, or Freedom, was fined 10,000 kroner (US$1,370) and the church was ordered by the Copenhagen City Court to pay court fees of 130,000 kroner (US$17,800).

In 1999, Frihed published a story that claimed filmmaker Walther Heynowski worked for East Germany's Stasi and trained Danish journalist Joergen Pedersen.

The article was published after the Church of Scientology tried to stop Pedersen from making a television show critical of the church, which is not recognized as a religious organization in Denmark.

Heynowski, a German citizen, and Pedersen worked together on the show.

They sued the church for defamation and demanded 250,000 kroner (US$34,200) apiece.

Tarja Vulto, a spokeswoman for the Church of Scientology in Europe, told The Associated Press that the church would appeal the decision.

"We are quite shocked about this ruling because it stops the freedom of speech," she said from the church's Copenhagen offices. "We think it is totally unacceptable and we are going to appeal it."

Vulto said there are more than 15,000 Scientologists in Denmark. The church's European headquarters is based in Copenhagen.

Among those who testified in the trial, which started in October, was former East German spymaster Markus Wolf, who denied Heynowski had worked for him.

The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by L. Ron Hubbard.

Go Back