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.
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