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On September 4, 2007, the European press reported that a Belgian federal court had indicted 12 physical persons associated with Scientology and two moral entities -- the Belgian Church of Scientology and Scientology's Office of Human Rights -- on counts of extortion, fraud, organized crime, obstruction of medical practice, illegal medical practice, invasion of privacy, conspiracy and commercial infractions like abusive contractual clauses. <ref>{{cite web | first = Roland | last = Planchar | title = La Scientologie plus près de son procès | url = http://www.lalibre.be/article.phtml?id=10&subid=90&art_id=368037 | publisher = La Libre Belgique | date = [[2007-09-04]] | accessdate = 2007-09-04}}</ref> {{fr icon}} The Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant called the Belgian charges the largest fraud case ever brought against Scientology worldwide. It also quoted several Belgian lawmakers as accusing Scientology of trying to infiltrate Belgian security services in order to access sensitive information. <ref>{{cite web | first = Bart | last = Dirks | title = Belgische justitie vervolgt Scientology | url = http://www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/article457899.ece/Belgische_justitie_vervolgt_Scientology | publisher = De Volkskrant | date = [[2007-09-04]] | accessdate = 2007-09-04}}</ref> {{nl icon}} |
On September 4, 2007, the European press reported that a Belgian federal court had indicted 12 physical persons associated with Scientology and two moral entities -- the Belgian Church of Scientology and Scientology's Office of Human Rights -- on counts of extortion, fraud, organized crime, obstruction of medical practice, illegal medical practice, invasion of privacy, conspiracy and commercial infractions like abusive contractual clauses. <ref>{{cite web | first = Roland | last = Planchar | title = La Scientologie plus près de son procès | url = http://www.lalibre.be/article.phtml?id=10&subid=90&art_id=368037 | publisher = La Libre Belgique | date = [[2007-09-04]] | accessdate = 2007-09-04}}</ref> {{fr icon}} The Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant called the Belgian charges the largest fraud case ever brought against Scientology worldwide. It also quoted several Belgian lawmakers as accusing Scientology of trying to infiltrate Belgian security services in order to access sensitive information. <ref>{{cite web | first = Bart | last = Dirks | title = Belgische justitie vervolgt Scientology | url = http://www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/article457899.ece/Belgische_justitie_vervolgt_Scientology | publisher = De Volkskrant | date = [[2007-09-04]] | accessdate = 2007-09-04}}</ref> {{nl icon}} |
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===Church of Scientology's response=== |
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The [[Associated Press]] reported on an official statement released by the Church of Scientology on September 4, 2007: |
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<blockquote>"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. |
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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." <ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295693,00.html</ref> </blockquote> |
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Revision as of 20:20, 4 September 2007
Scientology and the country of Belgium have had a combative relationship in recent years. Belgium allows only six religions to be officially recognized by their Government: Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Anglicanism, the Orthodox Church, Judaism and Islam. [1]
The Belgian government has been conducting an ongoing investigation of the Church of Scientology since 1997, when a Belgian parliamentary committee report expressed concern about complains from ex-members of the Church.
Belgium (as well as Germany and other European countries) has been criticized by the U.S. State Department for labeling Scientology a cult or sect and enacting restrictive laws against it. [2]
2007 indictment
On September 4, 2007, the European press reported that a Belgian federal court had indicted 12 physical persons associated with Scientology and two moral entities -- the Belgian Church of Scientology and Scientology's Office of Human Rights -- on counts of extortion, fraud, organized crime, obstruction of medical practice, illegal medical practice, invasion of privacy, conspiracy and commercial infractions like abusive contractual clauses. [3] Template:Fr icon The Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant called the Belgian charges the largest fraud case ever brought against Scientology worldwide. It also quoted several Belgian lawmakers as accusing Scientology of trying to infiltrate Belgian security services in order to access sensitive information. [4] Template:Nl icon
Church of Scientology's response
The Associated Press reported on an official statement released by the Church of Scientology on September 4, 2007:
"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." [5]
References
- ^ http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/2404
- ^ Constant Brand, "Scientology Faces Criminal Charges", Associated Press. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gDbHIiu78StkRGSY4VEMRVqtlfXA
- ^ Planchar, Roland (2007-09-04). "La Scientologie plus près de son procès". La Libre Belgique. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Dirks, Bart (2007-09-04). "Belgische justitie vervolgt Scientology". De Volkskrant. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295693,00.html