http://europe.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/05/17/france.scientology/index.html

PARIS, France -- A French court has fined the Paris branch of the Church of Scientology for attempted fraud in connection with its efforts to boost membership.

The court on Friday fined the church 8,000 euros ($7,300), while imposing a 2,000-euro fine ($1,800) on Marc Walter, the president of the Ile de France section that includes Paris.

But the court declined to impose the heaviest penalty sought by prosecutors -- an order to disband the church's Paris branch.

France has long had a contentious relationship with the church, which was founded in 1954 by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard and counts actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its members.

A number of the church's leading figures in France have faced separate legal battles.

Scientologists have likened the trial to a witch hunt and say their faith is a religion like any other. The church has 40,000 members in France, including 20,000 in Paris.

The Church of Scientology has sought recognition as a religion in Europe, but in many European countries its activities are regarded unsympathetically. In France, it is placed on a list of nearly 200 groups under surveillance to prevent cult activities.

France has increasingly been hostile to groups it classifies as sects. Last year it adopted a law that increases the powers of the courts against sects as part of a larger crackdown.

The church is to a significant extent devoted to the personality cult of L. Ron Hubbard, who died in somewhat mysterious circumstances in California in 1986 leaving a corporate empire worth millions of dollars as well as a huge personal fortune.

From: rkeller@netaxs.com (Rod Keller)
Subject: AP: Paris org fined
Message-ID: <Hq9F8.512$cw5.543740@monger.newsread.com>
Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 15:35:03 GMT

French court fines Church of Scientology over data violation, acquits church of attempted fraud and false advertising Associated Press Fri May 17,10:42 AM ET By VERENA VON DERSCHAU http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020517/ap_wo_en_ge/france_scientology_trial_5

PARIS - A French court on Friday fined the Paris branch of the Church of Scientology for a data protection violation but acquitted the church of attempted fraud and false advertising in connection with its efforts to recruit and keep members.

The court fined the church 8,000 euros (about dlrs 7,300), while imposing a 2,000-euro fine (dlrs 1,824) on Marc Walter, the president of the Ile de France section that includes Paris.

The court also declined to impose the harshest penalty sought by prosecutors Ñ an order to disband the church's Paris branch.

The church said it would appeal the ruling, saying that it violated the European Convention on Human Rights.

"The decision is an attempt to apply commercial law to prohibit religious expression. It is an intolerable interference by the state with the religious freedom won from 2000 years of history in Europe," said Leisa Goodman, human rights director for the Los Angeles-based church.

The conviction stemmed from a complaint by a former member who said he was bombarded with publicity materials even though he wished to end his membership.

France has long had a contentious relationship with the church, and the trial marked the first time the organization itself was being taken to court. Several of the group's leaders in France have faced separate legal battles.

Scientologists have likened the trial, which began in February, to a witch hunt and say their faith is a religion like any other. The church has 40,000 members in France, including 20,000 in Paris.

The Church of Scientology has sought recognition as a religion in Europe, but many Europeans are skeptical. In France, it figures on a list of nearly 200 groups to be tracked to prevent cult activities.

France has been increasingly inhospitable to groups that it calls sects.

Last year it adopted a law that increases the country's judicial arsenal against sects as part of a larger crackdown.

The Church of Scientology, which counts actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its members, was founded in 1954 by L. Ron Hubbard. It teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems.

Copyright 2002 Agence France Presse Agence France Presse

May 17, 2002 Friday 11:01 AM Eastern Time

HEADLINE: French Scientology church convicted in privacy case

DATELINE: PARIS, May 17

The Paris branch of the US-based Church of Scientology was found guilty on Friday of breaching France's laws on confidentiality in a decision that opponents hope could pave the way to its ultimate dissolution.

The Spiritual Association of the Church of Scientology of the Ile-de- France (ASESIF) was fined 8,000 euros (7,320 dollars) after being sued for continuing to send out unwanted literature to former members. Its head Marc Walter was personally fined 2,000 euros (1,832 dollars).

However the church was cleared of the more serious charges of fraud and spreading mendacious publicity. A spokesman said it would appeal against the conviction.

The National Union of Associations for the Defense of Families and the Individual (UNADFI), which brought the case, said the result was a victory because under a controversial law on sects passed a year ago if the church is convicted a second time it could be disbanded.

"The way is open for other cases. UNADFI has an appointment with Scientology in other courts," said lawyer Olivier Morice.

"A few hours ago the scientologists were saying that they would not be found guilty. But here on a matter of principle the church is convicted. The symbolic importance should not be underestimated," he said.

The church, which claims around 10,000 members in France, says it is the victim of an establishment witch-hunt operated from the government's Mission to Combat Sects, which has officially classified it as one of 172 sects in the country.

Spokesman Jean Dupuis said the church's acquittal on the more serious counts was welcome, but the conviction for breach of confidentiality was "evidence of the political and judicial conspiracy which sets out to destroy those who dare to think differently."

The suit was launched after a former member complained to the French National Commission on Freedom and Technology (CNIL) that the church had retained his personal records against his wishes.

However according to Dupuis the CNIL has received more than 30,000 complaints over the last 20 years, barely any of which have come to court, and the decision to single out the Church of Scientology was further evidence of a plot.

The church says it is the principal target of last May's anti-sect law, which was described by the US administration and international human rights groups at the time as an assault on religious tolerance.

Entitled "the law to reinforce the prevention and repression of groups of a sect-like character," it made it an offence to abuse a vulnerable person via the "exertion of heavy or repeated pressure or techniques liable to alter his judgement.

It also allowed courts to close down associations after two convictions for a range of crimes.

Founded in the US in 1954 by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology was accorded the status of religion there in 1993, but is regarded with suspicion in many European countries, where opponents accuse it of manipulating adherents for financial ends.

In December a court in the Spanish capital Madrid threw out a case against 13 Church of Scientology members, ruling that they had not "committed any offense whatsoever."

From: "Bat Child (Sue M.)" <batchild1@NOSPAM.cox.net>
Subject: Re: Associated Press video report on cult loss in France
Organization: Knights of Xemu
Message-ID: <tjdbeu8n0rkn66cbo6onod4kchr4lausk8@4ax.com>
Date: Sat, 18 May 2002 02:00:29 GMT

On Fri, 17 May 2002 21:41:47 GMT, Mike O'Connor <mike@leptonicsystems.com> wrote:

>The Associated Press is distributing a video news report "French Court
>Fines Church of Scientology" which runs 2 minutes. You should be able to
>find it at <http://news.yahoo.com>, there is a link on that page.

====================

[footage inside and outside French courthouse]

VOICEOVER: The French court fined the Paris branch of the Church of Scientology, but the sentence could have been much harsher. The convictions stem from a complaint by a former member who said he was bombarded with publicity material even though he wished to end his membership.

[prosecutor Olivier Morice speaking to reporters in French]

VOICEOVER: The prosecution lawyer, Olivier Morice, said after the hearing that he felt the court had made an important decision in recognizing the church's legal status. He said it paved the way for more severe sentencing and any future legal action against the church.

[reporters outside courthouse, Scieno Marc Walter]

VOICEOVER: The church was also acquitted of fraud in connection with its efforts to recruit and keep members. It fined the church $7300 U.S. dollars and the president of its Paris section, Marc Walter, seen here, nearly $2000. French Scientologists have called the trial a witch hunt.

[Scieno spokeswoman Daniele Gounord speaking to reporters in French]

VOICEOVER: Its spokeswoman, Daniele Gounord, said she thought the court had no option given what she called the political hysteria surrounding the case. "We will continue our activities as normal,"

she said, "and will remain in France for a good while, because we have our faith, we believe in it, and those who belittle us or civil parties like the one we are facing today will not stop us from practicing Scientology.

[John Travolta, Isaac Hayes and Chick Corea at 1997 U.S. Senate hearing about discrimination in Germany]

VOICEOVER: The Church of Scientology counts as its members Hollywood actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta. In 1997 in the United States, Travolta defended the church in a discrimination case against Scientologists in Germany.

[L. Ron Hubbard, "Dianetics" exploding volcano video, outside Paris org]

VOICEOVER: L. Ron Hubbard founded the church in 1954. Scientology teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems.

The church has 40,000 members in France including 20,000 in Paris.

The country has long had a contentious relationship with the church, and the trial marked the first time the organization itself was taken to court.

====================

http://members.cox.net/batchild1 http://members.cox.net/scorseseinfo

From: rkeller@netaxs.com (Rod Keller)
Subject: VOA: France
Message-ID: <OhvF8.1043$W83.1083246@newshog.newsread.com>
Date: Sat, 18 May 2002 16:27:26 GMT

French Court Finds Church of Scientology Guilty Of Breaching Privacy Laws Voice of America 17 May 2002 by Lisa Bryant http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=1D964FEC-B042-423B-9CB06A5E91A45062&title=French%20Court%20Finds%20Church%20of%20Scientology%20Guilty%20Of%20Breaching%20Privacy%20Laws&catOID=45C9C784-88AD-11D4-A57200A0CC5EE46C

A French court fined the Church of Scientology for violating privacy rights of former members but threw out charges of attempted fraud and false advertising. The decision reflects France's tough and controversial stance against so-called religious sects.

The Paris chapter of the Church of Scientology says it will appeal the fine of about $7,300 and a separate fine of about $1,800 against the group's local president, Marc Walter.

French prosecutors say the Church of Scientology harassed former members of the group long after they left the organization.

The court did not impose the strongest penalty sought by prosecutors - that of dissolving the Paris Scientology chapter - but would consider such action if the chapter faces similar charges in the future.

According to a spokeswoman for Scientology, Gaetane Asselin, the court's decision represents a partial victory for the organization.

"The main accusation of fraud and false publicity was relaxed," she said.

"So it means we were found not guilty of any of these accusations, which is very good for us. Because the attorney of the opposition has been trying to prove for years that is what we are doing, and one more court admitted it has nothing to do with us."

The Church of Scientology says it has about 40,000 members in France and millions worldwide. It was founded in the United States by science fiction writer, L. Ron Hubbard.

Critics say Scientology is not a religion, but a dangerous scam. The church rejects such accusations.

The organization will face even tougher scrutiny under a new French law that sets stricter controls on religious groups.

Lucia Salazar, who works with a private group that is fighting Scientology, says her organization will continue its efforts to dissolve the church.

Mrs. Salazar supports the new French law on sects. She says it allows victims of so-called cults to fight for reparations. But some human rights organizations, religious groups and the U.S. government have expressed concern the French law may infringe on religious freedom.

Go Back