Church of Scientology Prevents Sale of Critic's Book in the UK
stop-scientology
LONDON — 15/11/08 — British bookstores, and the British arm of the
online retail site Amazon, have been forced to pull the sale of a new
book critical of the Church of Scientology "for legal reasons",
according to an email sent by Amazon to customers who have ordered the
book. A new exposé by former Irish Scientologist, John Duignan, titled
“The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of
Scientology” (ISBN# 1903582849) has recently been released in Ireland,
and garnered much press coverage there and in the UK, including The Sun
[1] and The Irish Mail on Sunday[2].
Duignan, who joined Scientology in 1985 and quit in 2006, writes of
his experience in Scientology’s elite Sea Organization, and details
the conditioning that made him prepared to kill on behalf of the cult
that famously claims actor Tom Cruise as one of its members. During
Duignan's 21 years in Scientology, he was subjected to harsh
indoctrination tactics, paid less than $50 a week for 40 hours of
work, and witnessed the 'Rehabilitation Project Force', the
Scientology organisation's network of forced-labour detention centres.
[3]
The Scientology organisation has a lengthy track record of litigation
and censorship. Earlier this year, the Scientology organisation
threatened to sue online magazine Gawker for posting an embarrassing
video of Tom Cruise extolling the virtues of Scientology.[4] In 2006,
Tom Cruise prevented the airing of a rerun of the “South Park”
episode, “Trapped In The Closet,” which poked fun at the actor and
Scientology.[5] Journalist Paulette Cooper was subject to a similar
campaign of intimidation. Cooper wrote a critical book, "The Scandal
of Scientology", in 1971. Cooper proceeded to face harassment by the
Scientology organisation, and was even framed for bomb threats by the
organisation itself, through a campaign Scientology called “Operation
Freakout."[6]
Duignan is reported to be "furious and dismayed" at Scientology's
attempts to censor his work, but "not at all surprised given the
Church's record on freedom of expression".
While “The Complex” remains unpublished in the UK, it may be bought
from the bookstore Eason in Ireland.[7]
The book's publisher in Ireland, Merlin Publishing, can be contacted
through their website[8] or by phone (3531-4535866)
###
References:
1. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/real_life/article1881317.ece
2. http://forums.whyweprotest.net/602259-post1/
3. http://www.orato.com/current-events/2008/01/29/scientology-039-s-fanatical-military
4. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/business/media/28cruise.html
5. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/19/south_park_axed/
6. http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2007/06/writer-i-was-stalked-by-scientologists.php
7. http://www.eason.ie/look/9781903582848/Complex/John-Duignan
8. http://www.merlinwolfhound.com
For more information on Anonymous, Chanology, and the Church of
Scientology please visit these websites:
http://www.whyweprotest.net
http://www.endthecult.com
http://www.exscientologykids.com