Why a Court Banned the Church of Scientology in Moscow

 

A Russian court on Monday banned the activities of the Moscow branch of the Church of Scientology, in the latest round in a long-running battle between the Russian authorities and the US-based organisation.

 

The Russian news agencies reported that during the inspection, the Russian Ministry of Justice found out that the word 'scientology' had been registered as a trade mark owned by the US Religious Technology Center.

The court backed the Russian Justice Ministry's claim that the organization's activity did not comply with the federal law on freedom of religion.

The Church was founded by American science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950s, and has been the subject of controversy around the world.
 

Scientology, which reportedly has eight million members worldwide, is considered to be a religion in some countries.

According to Scientology doctrine, the e-meter device used by the Church of Scientology purports to measure, among other things, the number of "body thetans" present in an individual, which are the souls of aliens brought to planet Earth 75 million years ago.

The church has however slammed the court decision and pledged to appeal to Russia's supreme court.

The church's Moscow branch said in a statement, that: "When decisions like this are handed down, actually everyone loses, and this decision affects not only the Church of Scientology of Moscow. This decision is a sign of disease in the justice system."

 

Scientology is often accused by critics of being a cult and a commercial enterprise. Dubbed as one of the most controversial "new religions" of the 20th century, it teaches that people are immortal beings who have forgotten their true nature. The group, which has many celebrities, such as Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and John Travolta, among its members, has its central headquarters in Los Angeles and claims to have millions of followers around the world.