Paris court to rule in Scientology case

[November 11, 1998]

The Paris Appeal Court rules this week on whether to continue a 15-year investigation into the organization of the French justice, now accused of being manipulated by Scientology. The inquiry was launched as a component of several allegations brought against Scientologists for fraud and practicing "illegal medicine."

Anti-cult campaigners, siting the unexplained disappearance of several files from the investigating magistrate's offices prior to the current hearing as additional proof of Scientology's illegal influence and possible use of coersion in the French justice system, believe they routinely infiltrated the upper echelons, successfully placing pressure on judges to block inquiries.

Scientology claims it has 40,000 followers in France and that the current allegations are "a witch-hunt;" both statements are disputed by anti-cult groups.