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France
Scientology prosecuted for fraud, drugs
Article published on the 2008-09-08 Latest update 2008-09-08 14:55 TU
Scientologists in an anti-psychiatry demonstration in Scotland
(Photo: Wikimedia)
The Church of Scientology will face trial in France for fraud, and seven of its members are to be tried for illegally prescribing drugs after a woman filed a case against the the movement because she had paid more than 20,000 euros for lessons, books, drugs and an "electrometer", a device that the church claims can measure a person's mental state.
She allegedly made the payments after being approached by Scientologists in a Paris street in 1998. Two other plaintiffs have been named in the case, including France's professional pharmaceutical association.
Judge Jean-Christophe Hullin signed an order referring to the church's main holding in France, the Ases-Celebrity Centre and its bookshop, as "organised fraud", according to judicial sources.
The centre and bookshop could be closed if the church is convicted.
Scientologists have been accused in France and elsewhere of harassing opponents, including members of the media and government who have investigated its practices.
The group is also part of an anti-psychology and anti-psychiatry movement. A manual attributed to the group alleges that psychology is linked to German fascism. Scientology claims that there is no harmful agenda linked with its anti-psychology campaign.
This is not the first time the church has come up against the French government. A parliamentary commission has classified it as a sect.
Scientology was founded in the US in 1954 by science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard, who also wrote a book called Dianetics, which outlines the religion's philosophy. The principle of the dianetics method is based on alleviating unwanted sensations and emotions, including irrational fear.
This practice have never been recognised by established scientists as a valid theory.
Movie stars such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta are members of the scientology movement.
