The Church of Scientology has been racked with scandal after scandal in 2012. The year 2013 isn’t lining up to be any better as Belgium made the decision to prosecute Scientology and its members as a “criminal organization.”
Scientology isn’t recognized as a religion in Belgium and federal officials announced that after many years of investigations, prosecutors will begin legal proceedings. Prosecutors will be filing charges of extortion, illegal practice of medicine, fraud, and violations of privacy legislation against Scientology and its members.
In Belgium, there are approximately 500 members of Scientology. Armed with numerous police complaints, prosecutors spoke with former Scientologists who alleged that they were victims of intimidation and extortion.
One report indicated that more than ten years were spent by investigators as they tried to figure out just how far Scientology went to recruit new members. The De Standaard reported that the Scientology offices had been raided and evidence that the group spied on and extorted money from converts was discovered.
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