Scientology Faces Criminal Charges

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP)
A Belgian prosecutor on Tuesday recommended that the U.S.-based Church of Scientology stand trial for fraud and extortion, following a 10- year investigation that concluded the group should be labeled a criminal organization.

Scientology said it would fight the criminal charges recommended by investigating prosecutor Jean-Claude Van Espen, who said that up to 12 unidentified people should face charges.

Van Espen's probe also concluded that Scientology's Brussels-based Europe office and its Belgian missions conducted unlawful practices in medicine, violated privacy laws and used illegal business contracts, said Lieve Pellens, a spokeswoman at the Federal Prosecutors Office.

"They also face charges of being ... a criminal organization," Pellens said in a telephone interview.

An administrative court will decide whether to press charges against the Scientologists.

In a statement, Scientology's Europe office accused the prosecutor of hounding the organization and said it would contest the charges.

"For the last 10 years, the prosecutor has been using the media, trying to damage the reputation of the Church of Scientology and not being able to put a case in court," Scientology said. "As a consequence, this created a climate of intolerance and discrimination" in Belgium.

It added that the prosecutor's recommendations suggested Scientology was guilty even before a court could hear the charges, making it "difficult for the Church of Scientology to recover and properly defend (itself) before the court."

Scientology has been active in Belgium for nearly three decades. In it opened an international office near the headquarters of the European Union to lobby for its right to be recognized as an official religious group, a status it does not enjoy in Belgium.

A Belgian parliamentary committee report in 1997 labeled Scientology a sect and investigations were launched into the group's finances and practices, such as the personality tests conducted on new members.

Investigators have spent the past decade trying to determine how far Scientology went in recruiting converts after numerous complaints were filed with police by ex-members alleging they'd been the victims of intimidation and extortion.

Justice officials seized financial records, correspondence, bank statements and other papers in their decade-long probe to track the flow of money to Scientology. Police also raided the offices of several consultancy firms linked to the Church of Scientology.

Pellens said that prosecutors expect Scientology to mount a strong legal challenge to the charges at a court hearing, which could come in the next two to three months. She acknowledged that could delay the case for years.

Belgium, Germany and other European countries have been criticized by the State Department for labeling Scientology as a cult or sect and enacting laws to restrict its operations.

The German government considers Scientology a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people.

The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology, which is seeking to expand in Europe and be recognized as a legitimate religion, teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems. The church, founded in 1954, counts actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its 10 million members.

Of course the "10 million members" that the 'church' claims have never been confirmed.

More accurate numbers place the 'church' population around less than 500,000 members, not including Xenu the Galactic Overlord. Xenu is the main belief system in Scientoloogy and is just of the thousand's of ways Scientology will take all your money and disconnect you from your family and friends. In Scientology you must get rid of all your alien space cooties before you can become "Clear". Then you can fly around and stuff and hook up with hot chicks like Katie Holmes.

It's all documented here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenu
Animated: http://www.scientomogy.com/southpark_scientology.php

THE END OF THE "CHURCH" OF SCIENTOLOGY IS UPON US - Get your Xenu dolls before they are all sold out!

The Church of Scientology in Belgian will be banned and shutdown. The twelve or more Scientologists involved will rightfully go to prison. Also, who knows how many others they'll bring down with them because as we all know, Scientologists are a bunch of huge pussies who would sell their own grandma for a bottle of Niacin and a Dianetics book.

Belgian Prosecutors have 10 years of investigating this. They have all the corrupt illegal activities all caught on audio/video and other information that will set a precedent for EVERY other Scientology "church". It's not too late to get out Scientologists, but run fast! 12 of your buddies are going to jail and possibly more.

As a side note:

While in Germany, crews working on a movie starring Scientology follower Tom Cruise were banned from filming at military sites due to the actor's membership in this criminal organization (Scientology).

Xenu Speed!

Prosecutors have charged twelve members of the Church of Scientology in Belgium

After a ten-year investigation, Belgium prosecutors have charged twelve members of the Church of Scientology. The accusations include fraud, extortion, illegal practice of medicine, and infringement of privacy law, among others. The decision opens the way for Scientology to be considered a criminal organization.

The group, which is based in Los Angeles, teaches that the human mind can control the

A Scientology center in the Belgium capital Brussels. Photo (c) MBrus

physical world through mental training. It has several high-profile celebrity members who laud its teachings, as well as former members that describe Scientology as a vicious cult.

Henre de Cordes is chairman of the Information and Advice Centre on Harmful Sectarian Organizations in Belgium. He says the investigation showed some of the allegedly illegal activities undertaken by individuals.

"In the police raids during the investigation of 1999, they found lots of personal files on the followers of Scientology, which led to the charge of infringement of privacy law."

Grey area
While the organization itself is implicated in the prosecutor's decision, it may not mean the end of Scientology in Belgium. De Cordes thinks the Church will adapt and survive after the charges.

"It would probably lead to the end of the structure which is present right now in Belgium. If a new structure is being organized by other people than those charged in this criminal case, a new group could continue the activity of Scientology."Scientology exists in a grey area. Governments have defined it as either a religious organization or commercial enterprise. De Cordes thinks the Belgian decision, as with any attempt to ban the group, will probably be contested in court.

"They would argue that freedom of religion has not been respected. After this Belgian decision there could also be a decision at the level of the human rights court of Strasbourg."

Mixed European success
The Scientologists have had mixed success in Europe. In April, the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Russia, which had refused to acknowledge the Scientology branch in Moscow.

While in Germany, crews working on a movie starring Scientology follower Tom Cruise were banned from filming at military sites due to the actor's membership in the group.