UK’s CPS Will NOT Press Charges Against Teen Boy Who Called Scientology A Cult
The Guardian UK announced that the Crown Prosecution Service has decided not to go forward in its case against a 15-year old British teen who used the word “cult” during a May 10th global protest against the Church of Scientolog, staged by the internet activist group Anonymous.
The Anonymous boy, who goes by the moniker “ENG” or Epic Nose Guy, had displayed a sign which stated “Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult” was requested by the local London police to remove his sign during the protest. “ENG” refused, citing free speech and what he considered an accurate statement on his sign. Shortly after, his sign was removed and he was issued a summons. Here’s more details from the Guardian article:
The unnamed 16-year-old was handed a court summons by City of London police for refusing to put down a placard saying “Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult” during a peaceful protest outside the church’s headquarters near St Paul’s Cathedral earlier this month.
Police had “strongly advised” him to stop displaying the sign but he refused, citing a high court judgment from 1984 in which the organisation was described as a cult.
The summons was issued under the Public Order Act on the grounds that the sign incited religious hatred.
A file was passed to the CPS, which today told City of London police it would not be pursuing the boy through the courts.
A spokeswoman for the force said: “The CPS review of the case includes advice on what action or behaviour at a demonstration might be considered to be ‘threatening, abusive or insulting’.
“The force’s policing of future demonstrations will reflect this advice.”
This comes as welcome, but not unexpected, surprise to those opposing Scientology’s organized corporate structure. The Church has been operating around the world for over half a century, but with many defections occurring in rapid succession in the last few months as Anonymous has stepped up it’s efforts to educate the public to the dangers, abuses and illegal activities perpetrated by Scientology.
The pseudo-religion of Scientology has used its “religious” status as a cloak and shield to keep critics and investigators from looking too closely at their fascist activities. Some European Union countries have taken more severe steps to prevent the group from “spreading” throughout their country, and in places like Germany, France and Belgium, the Church of Scientology is under serious attack, with several pending lawsuits and criminal investigations currently working there way through the respective legal and legislative systems.
Only in the United States, UK and Australia is the Church of Scientology treated with kid gloves and given special dispensation. The United States has even gone so far as to give the Church of Scientology and its adherents special tax exemptions no other recognized religion gets. All this, despite hundreds of eyewitness accounts of abusive, cult-like behavior perpetrated by the Church of Scientology against its own members. The Guardian report also gave details about the close relationship between the London Police and the Church of Scientology:
Two years ago, the City of London police attracted criticism when it emerged more than 20 officers, ranging from constable to chief superintendent, had accepted gifts worth thousands of pounds from the Church of Scientology.
The City of London chief superintendent, Kevin Hurley, praised Scientology for “raising the spiritual wealth of society” during the opening of its headquarters in 2006.
Last year, a video praising Scientology emerged featuring Ken Stewart, another of the City of London’s chief superintendents, although he is not a member of the group.
The group was founded by the science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard in 1952 and espouses the idea that humans are descended from an exiled race of aliens called Thetans.
The church continues to attract controversy over claims that it separates members from their families and indoctrinates followers.
This is typical of local law enforcement and government in heavily Scientology populated areas. In the coastal Florida town of Clearwater, the mecca of Scientology where their Flag Land Base is, critics of the Church have complained for years about the preferential treatment Scientology has gotten during any kind of dispute or disagreement within the community. There was even a recent petition by local businesses to ban future demonstrations by Anonymous in Clearwater, citing lost revenue during the protests as the cause. Upon further investigation, it was discovered the petition was made up almost entirely of Scientology-owned businesses.
Anonymous is planning its next global protest for June 14th, themed “Sea Arrgh,” which is a play on words for the Church’s most devout sect, the Sea Organization. The Sea Org, or SO, is where members sign billion-year contracts and are put in forced labor camps if they deviate from doctrine or try to leave. The Sea Org is also where the most abusive practices take place within the Church, including forced abortions, beatings, disconnection from family, and sparse unhealthy dietary restrictions, not to mention, grueling child labor violations and unfair wage practices.
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Glory to the bravery of ENG, and Glory to Marcabia! This is a sure win in the fight against the Lulz-Killers. They will soon know what it means to try and silence Anonymous. We do not forget, and we are ready with our >9000 “$CIENTOLOGY IS A DANGEROUS CULT” signs. Expect us.
Comment by Anon — May 23, 2008 @ 9:47 am
Thanks Dawn for standing by this story. Your readers may be interested to know that Epic Nose Guy has an Epic Mom:
“The teenager’s mother said the decision was “a victory for free speech”.
“We’re all incredibly proud of him. We advised him to take the placard down when we realised what was happening but he said ‘No, it’s my opinion and I have a right to express it’,” she said.”
and as someone else said on enturbulation.org:
“ATTENTION OSA: ^^^THIS is how GREAT parents raise their children: Teach them about independent thought and action, and then support them all the way!!!”
AND it IS a CULT for crying out loud. I hope EVERY protest sign on June 14 has CULT on it.
Comment by anotheranon — May 23, 2008 @ 9:59 am
I love this kid, how brave in the face of the cult. He deserves a medal.
Comment by Rachel — May 23, 2008 @ 10:56 am
EPIC WIN is all I have to say. Epic for Anonymous, and most Epic for Free Speech. This story has put a smile on my face this morning and it has yet to fade.
Comment by AnonyMAX — May 23, 2008 @ 12:38 pm
Scientology is a:
cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult cult
wahoo, taste the truth OSA
Comment by terryeo — May 23, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
Oh Yeah!
I’ll keep it short this time….
DAWN+TRUTH=FREEDOM
http://community.myfoxboston.com/blogs/category/POLITICAL I could use some action
Heading:
Attention: Parent’s, Taxpayers, American citizens
Sorry Dawn don’t mean to poach. lol
Comment by DM Longcat — May 23, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
Sorry OSA
Expect Us Worldwide 06-14-08
Comment by DM Longcat — May 23, 2008 @ 1:28 pm
Sea Arrgh - I love it! Now there’s a demonstration that should be lots of fun.
I’m really glad this case wasn’t prosecuted.
As for the police taking money from Co$, this practice (which is apparently going on worldwide) needs to be heavily investigated. Since police services are to benefit the entire city (wherever they are), they have a responsibility to that entire community — not just those who “donate” to their causes. Most cities have laws prohibiting gifts over a certain amount from any source. Entities offering more than the set amount should come under scrutiny. If a gang or a drug lord donated the kind of money to the police that Co$ does, don’t you think that would raise more eyebrows? Don’t you think that would cause people to speculate that the police were looking the other way while crimes were committed? Yep.
Every citizen in every city with a center needs to ask for a full accounting of funds the center has donated to the police force. We have the right to know.
Comment by Joanie — May 23, 2008 @ 6:20 pm
Dawn.
Epic Nose Guy.
Rah.
Comment by LaNon — May 24, 2008 @ 1:00 am
Praise Xenu!
Comment by Ron Brown — May 24, 2008 @ 10:56 pm
[...] recently, the UK courts struck down an attempt by the corruptible local law enforcement to keep protesters from using the word [...]
Pingback by GlossLip » Anonymous Continues To Inspire And Deliver: June 15, Global Protest Against Church Of Scientology — May 25, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
They never intended to prosecute. They got what they needed (his personal details). Be safe, ENG and all those others the CoS has namefagged.
Comment by Anon, Anon, My Boyfriend's Back! — May 27, 2008 @ 11:03 am