Rod Keller keeps a close watch on Scientology’s front groups, and the ways in which the church tries to “safe point” politicians and organizations. He explains how, as the LRH Birthday event draws nearer, the church is really going all out with its ‘religious freedom’ initiatives.
Scientology is expanding its efforts to stop criticism, investigation, and government prosecution, particularly in Russia and Hungary. On March 15 Scientology is hosting a side-event to the month-long 37th meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. Forty-seven member-states are elected to the council to address human rights issues, including freedom of association and assembly, freedom of expression, women’s rights, LGBT rights, the rights of racial and ethnic minorities and most importantly for Scientology, freedom of belief and religion. The event is entitled “Deterioration of Religious Freedom in Eastern Europe.”
The Scientology event is being held in the Palais des Nations, the UN building originally built to house the League of Nations in a location near the iconic Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room used for the main council meetings.
The invited participants are Thierry Valle, Director of Coordination des Associations & Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience, Lea Perekrests, Deputy Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers International, human rights attorney Patricia Duval of Soteria International, Allesandro Amicarelli, the chairman of the European Federation for Freedom of Belief and Ivan Arjona Pelado, a member of Scientology’s secret police, the Office of Special Affairs (OSA).
OSA has three faces. They handle legal affairs, investigation and attacks on critics of Scientology, and public relations. All contact between Scientology and the outside world is either done or coordinated by OSA. Pelado is taking action at the nexus of worldwide human rights organizations to combat raids and prosecution of Scientology in Russia and Hungary for allegedly violating privacy laws and financial irregularities. He has protested with Scientologists from around the world at several demonstrations in Budapest to protest raids and prosecution for privacy violations. “The SPs have started a war against Scientologists in Hungary” is the call that went out to members in Copenhagen. The poster recalls the 1985 protests in Portland against a $39 million court judgment in the Titchbourne fraud case.
In addition to attacking those appearing on Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, Scientology’s series of Twitter accounts known as the STAND League have publicized the demonstrations, in unison as usual since the accounts are mostly automated.
To promote Scientology as a defender of human rights instead of a violator, the Scientologyreligion.org blog has been transformed from a site about their claims of the religious nature of Scientology into a blog on religious freedom around the world, with particular attention to highlighting religious freedom in Russia in stories unrelated to Scientology.
There are similar efforts on human rights on Scientology’s Instagram, Pinterest, Russian-language VK and other social media accounts. Expect the program to continue to expand with the expected announcement of Scientology TV at the L. Ron Hubbard birthday event this month.
As the prosecutions in Russia and Hungary progress, expect the PR pressure from OSA to increase, following the policies of Hubbard, who wrote, “Attackers are simply an anti-Scientology propaganda agency so far as we are concerned. They have proven they want no facts and will only lie no matter what they discover. So BANISH all ideas that any fair hearing is intended and start our attack with their first breath. Never wait. Never talk about us – only them. Use their blood, sex, crime to get headlines. Don’t use us.” (HCO Policy Letter of 15 Feb 1966).
— Rod Keller
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Scientology wants 10,000 to show up for LRH Birthday in Los Angeles
Just to emphasize what Rod is saying in today’s main story, here’s a message that was sent out to Scientologists in LA about how important it is they show up for the premiere of Scientology TV…
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Make your plans now!
Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,043 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 1,646 days
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 189 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,252 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,026 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 2,800 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,146 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,640 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 1,680 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,392 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 918 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,007 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,147 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,467 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,442 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 798 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,100 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,206 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,609 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,481 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,063 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,568 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 1,812 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 12,921 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 4, 2018 at 07:00
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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
