Scientology calls Belgian police raid "witch-hunt"

By Saskia Stegeman
Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited.

BRUSSELS, Oct 1 (Reuters) - The Church of Scientology on Friday condemned Belgian police raids on more than a score of church-related sites, calling them "a modern-day witch-hunt."

Belgian police on Thursday seized what were described as "truck loads" of documents during raids throughout Belgium of 25 offices and homes of Scientology members, Josef Colpin, a spokesman for the Public Prosecutor's Office, told Reuters.

Colpin said the raids were part of an investigation into alleged racketeering and fraud.

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Colpin said Thursday's raids were part of a probe into the financial activities and structure of the Church of Scientology of Belgium started in early 1997 after a member alleged he had been swindled.

He said several members were questioned on Thursday but there were no arrests.

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Colpin said police raids were also carried out on Thursday at Scientology sites in Paris at the request of Belgian authorities. They were separate from a fraud probe already being held in France, he said.

More international raids -- including in Luxembourg, where Scientology deposits the funds for its Belgian activities -- could be requested, depending on evidence found in the documents seized, Colpin said.

12:04 10-01-99