Scientology to face the music in France

Tue, 26 May 2009 07:26:04 GMT

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=96015&sectionid=351020603

The Church of Scientology in France finds itself in troubled waters as revelations surface that it psychologically brainwashed its followers to rip them off.

After an 11-year inquiry into complaints from former scientologists, the two main branches of the Church of Scientology in France will go on trial on Tuesday on charges of "organized fraud".

The church is also charged with dispensing drugs illegally to its members.

A woman claimed she was psychologically pressured into paying thousands of dollars for lessons, books, drugs and a device called an "electrometer" by which the church says a person's "spiritual condition" can be measured.

Another plaintiff, meanwhile, described the Scientology organization as a deliberately manipulative system that exploits people's weaknesses to make money.

If the church is found guilty it could lead to a nationwide ban on Scientology.

Science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard founded Scientology in 1954 in the United States, where it is a recognized religion.

Since then, it has grown into a self-styled sect across the world with an estimate of 8 million members.

According to Scientology teachings, 75 million years ago, an evil galactic overlord named Xenu collected all the billions of people from 76 planets, brought them to earth and blew them up with hydrogen bombs. Their spirits now infest our bodies.

Followers include Hollywood big shots such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.