Hands off religion, Scientology tells French court
By Thierry Cayol
MARSEILLE, France, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Arguments in the fraud trial of
seven French members of the Church of Scientology ended on Thursday
with defendants insisting that the case was a religious matter that was
none of the court's business. [Presumably fraud and racketeering is a
major part of every religion - FLR]
[...cuts...]
Prosecutor Danielle Drouay-Ayral asked the court to jail Xavier
Delamare, a former leader of the church in southeastern France, for 18
months with another 18 months suspended.
He also sought two-year suspended sentences against five other
defendants and a nominal sentence for another who has turned against
the church.
The court said it would return a verdict on November 15.
[...cuts...]
U.S. film star John Travolta, a member of the Church of Scientology,
left Paris on Wednesday night, cancelling a news conference scheduled
on Thursday on his film "The Colonel's Daughter."
French radio reports said he had wanted to avoid being called as a
witness at the trial. His agent said he had left because the shooting
of another film had been brought forward.
[...cuts...]
Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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