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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Scientology on trial in France | Scientology on trial in France |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Church of Scientology has gone on trial in the French capital, Paris, accused of organised fraud. | The Church of Scientology has gone on trial in the French capital, Paris, accused of organised fraud. |
| The case centres on a complaint by a woman who says she was pressured into paying large sums of money after being offered a free personality test. | The case centres on a complaint by a woman who says she was pressured into paying large sums of money after being offered a free personality test. |
| The church, which is fighting the charges, denies that any mental manipulation took place. | The church, which is fighting the charges, denies that any mental manipulation took place. |
| France regards Scientology as a sect, not a religion, and the organisation could be banned if it loses the case. | France regards Scientology as a sect, not a religion, and the organisation could be banned if it loses the case. |
| It is the first time the church has appeared as a defendant in a fraud case in France. Previous court cases have involved individual Scientologists. | It is the first time the church has appeared as a defendant in a fraud case in France. Previous court cases have involved individual Scientologists. |
| Books and medication | Books and medication |
| The Church says it cannot be responsible for individuals | |
| The woman at the centre of this case says she was approached by church members in Paris more than 10 years ago, and offered a free personality test. But, she says, she ended up spending 21,000 euros ($29,400, £18,400) on lessons, books and medicines she was told would cure her poor mental state. | The woman at the centre of this case says she was approached by church members in Paris more than 10 years ago, and offered a free personality test. But, she says, she ended up spending 21,000 euros ($29,400, £18,400) on lessons, books and medicines she was told would cure her poor mental state. |
| Her lawyers are arguing that the church systematically seeks to make money by means of mental pressure and the use of scientifically dubious "cures". | Her lawyers are arguing that the church systematically seeks to make money by means of mental pressure and the use of scientifically dubious "cures". |
| A lawyer for the church, Patrick Maisonneuve, said: "We will contest every charge and prove that there was no mental manipulation." | A lawyer for the church, Patrick Maisonneuve, said: "We will contest every charge and prove that there was no mental manipulation." |
| The church's spokeswoman in France said it was being "hounded" by the French courts and that its members were facing persecution. | The church's spokeswoman in France said it was being "hounded" by the French courts and that its members were facing persecution. |
| Scientology was founded in the United States in the 1954 by science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard. High profile supporters include the Hollywood stars John Travolta and Tom Cruise. | Scientology was founded in the United States in the 1954 by science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard. High profile supporters include the Hollywood stars John Travolta and Tom Cruise. |
| In Germany last year, it was declared unconstitutional. | In Germany last year, it was declared unconstitutional. |
| However, a Spanish court ruled that the Church of Scientology of Spain should be re-entered into the country's register of officially recognised religions. | However, a Spanish court ruled that the Church of Scientology of Spain should be re-entered into the country's register of officially recognised religions. |