Staff members of the organization beat up a school girl -
Code Office stated, "We have no legal means of handling"
Stuttgart, Germany
by Michael Deufel
Not only does Scientology continue to make headlines with
its psycho-practices: recently a member even beat up a
school girl. Despite that the group may continue to advertise
in Stuttgart.
The event already took place several weeks ago. A mild
Saturday afternoon in March: a sales crowd. On "Kleinen
Schlossplatz," Scientologists were advertising for the "What
is Scientology?" exhibition on 39 Friedrich Street. Four
school girls who happened to be passing by discovered
balloons on which "Scientology" was written in large letters.
Annoyed that she had been accosted several times
previously by members of the controversial organization,
one of them stuck a pin in a yellow balloon. "A dumb trick,"
the young woman has since admitted. This sort of thing,
however, drove one of the Scientologists into a rage so that
he hit the 16 year old girl. "Repeatedly," she said. "A slap,"
is how Scientology says it. According to statements by the
victim, the man had to be restrained by two passersby. The
school girl got away with bruises and a headache. In the
meantime, the state attorney's office has the case.
Not only are Scientology's psycho-practices controversial:
do some members of the organization also tend to physical
violence? "Scientologists normally avoid such
confrontation," said Codes Office Director Till Neumann.
The conduct of the Dianeticians in public has not now
reached new proportions. Advertising for exhibitions is and
always has been permitted, even if not gladly seen.
Neumann said, "We try to do much, too often we lack the
legal means." Offering books or expensive Dianetics
courses for sale or recruiting members are still prohibited.
That was decided by a judge of the Stuttgart municipal
court.
But for how long? "The Administrative Court in Mannheim
recently permitted an appeal of that judgment," reported
Reinhard Egy. The Stuttgart Scientology spokesman sees
that as a good sign. Will the Scientologists, who have been
under surveillance by Baden-Wuerttemberg Constitutional
Security, then soon be able to offer their questionable
practices on Koenig Street? The city's administration is
staying calm. "We have our line," asserted office director
Neumann, "in given cases we can issue a special use
permit."
That is exactly what Untertuerkheim SPD city councilman
Andreas Reissig is demanding, "If that alternative exists,
why is more not being done about Scientology." He would
like to see all activities by the group prohibited. But not
commercial advertising, as happened in March with the
balloon operation by Scientology ended with slapping.
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May 20, 2000
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