Egypt detains two people for promoting Scientology
Associated Press
February 26, 2002
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- A Cairo court has prolonged the detention of a
Palestinian woman and her Israeli husband suspected of "contempt of
religion" by promoting Scientology in the country, Egypt's Middle East
News Agency reported Tuesday.
Wafaa Hassan Ahmed, 26, and Mahmoud Mufid Masarwa, 28, have confessed to
being assigned by their followers in Tel Aviv and Rome to promote
Scientology in Egypt as "a pivotal country in the region that would ease
its spread to neighboring countries," MENA reported.
The agency referred to Scientology as a religious belief that "defames
Islam and Christianity and calls for disobeying their teachings."
It wasn't clear when the couple was arrested. No officials were available
for comment Tuesday.
The Church of Scientology, which claims 8 million members worldwide, was
founded in 1954 by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. It teaches that
technology can expand the mind and help solve problems.
According to MENA, Ahmed confessed to being chosen for her mission because
she is Palestinian and hoped to draw sympathy from Egyptians because of
Palestinian-Israeli violence.
MENA said she also confessed to selling copies of Hubbard's book
"Dianetics," which outlines the teaching's ideology, during the 2001 Cairo
Book Fair.
Scientology followers have come under attack in various parts in the
world, including Germany, where they are banned from public jobs. In the
United States, however, the church, which counts actors Tom Cruise and
John Travolta among its members, has been granted a tax-free status as a
religion since 1993.
[Note: The
Scientology®
organization has at best estimate approximately
45,000 to 50,000 followers world wide -- contrary to the 8 million figure
that the organization has been claiming for the past few years or so.
While that number continues to drop (thanks in part to the Internet) few
of the remaining followers are even aware of the unending series of police
raids, indictments, and prison terms their leaders and fellow cultists are
subjected to routinely. Few are allowed to know about their organization's
criminal history, or its current racketeering activities. Even fewer of
the cult's remaining followers are privy to their messiah's written
policies which dictates the criminal behavior that keeps getting their
organization raided (see Xenu.NET for
suitable references of Scientology policy) Scientology management
is the problem, not the thousands of honest believers who are good,
honest citizens; themselves victims of Scientology - flr]
The name "Narconon"® is trademarked to the Scientology organization through one of their many front groups. The name "Scientology"® is also trademarked to the "Church" of Scientology. Neither this web page, nor this web site, nor any of the individuals mentioned herein assisting to educate the public about the dangers of the Narconon scam are members of or representitives of the Scientology organization.
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