Russian court bans Scientology literature, classifying it as ‘extremist’ - Polidicks

[quote]Russian court bans Scientology literature as ‘extremist’ By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, June 30, 3:11 PM MOSCOW — A court in a Moscow suburb has banned works by the founder of the Church of Scientology, officials said Thursday. The Shchyolkovo court ruled that “What is Scientology?” and other books by L. Ron Hubbard “contain calls for extremist activities,” the Prosecutor General’s office said in a statement. It said that once the court decision comes into force, scientology books will be put on the federal list of extremist materials banned for release throughout Russia. The court made the ruling following a request by local prosecutors. A court in the Siberian city of Surgut had earlier made a similar decision, but then overturned it. Scientology officials said they would protest the decision. “There have been many legal violations, the case is unfounded and the trial was hasty,” the group’s attorney Sergei Korzikov told The Associated Press. “We could not defend our legal interests.” The group’s spokesman in Russia, Yuri Maximov, said that Russia is home to “tens of thousands” of Scientology devotees. Russian media have claimed that some powerful businessmen and officials are among Scientology adepts. Russia’s dominant Orthodox Church has denounced Scientology as a “totalitarian sect,” and in 2007, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Moscow city authorities infringed on the group’s rights by repeatedly refusing to register it. Hubbard, a science fiction writer, founded the Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology in 1954. It teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems. The group claims 10 million members around the world, including film stars Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Belgium, Germany and other European countries have been criticized by the U.S. State Department for labeling Scientology as a cult or sect and enacting laws to restrict its operations and monitor its activities. Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. [/quote] [url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russian-court-bans-scientology-literature-as-extremist/2011/06/30/AGJvVvrH_story.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter]Source[/url] About time a country stopped recognizing this as a legitimate religion.

Fucking finally.

Good, since this "religon" is just a hoax for cash.

Thread music [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U06jlgpMtQs[/media] [editline]30th June 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Keyblockor;30802272]Good, since this "religon" is just a hoax for cash.[/QUOTE] motherfucker, you broke my automerge. :argh:

Russia knows how to be strict.

While I agree with the actions taken in this particular incident, I'm afraid what else might be considered 'extremist'. Hopefully it's just things like this.

And nothing of value was lost.

Scientology can go fuck itself.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuJlZ_f1594&playnext=1&list=PL0781DB6BBE05BD9DC[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdCBeMlLTSQ&feature=channel_video_title[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FCfO741sr4&feature=relmfu[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY_MLq7mwac&feature=related[/media] I'm glad about this decision!

I smell a wee little Cruise crying.

Good. The scientologists are fucking nuts anyway.

Banning it is a bit far, but it sure as hell shouldn't get tax breaks or anything like it does in the US.

[QUOTE=Strongbad;30802277]Thread music [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/"]View YouTUBE video[/URL] [URL]http://youtube.com/watch?v=U06jlgpMtQs[/URL] [editline]30th June 2011[/editline] motherfucker, you broke my automerge. :argh:[/QUOTE] :love:

If this happened to athiests you people would be going nuts.

Scientology, because religion isn't far-fetched enough.

[QUOTE=Biotoxsin;30802390]While I agree with the actions taken in this particular incident, I'm afraid what else might be considered 'extremist'. Hopefully it's just things like this.[/QUOTE] Most likely it wouldn't cause a chain reaction on religons, I do believe this was thoroughly researched as most of the scientology cult [B]actually has rules saying killing someone who isn't a scientologist is right, this is taken from the "bible" itself.[/B]

[QUOTE=Judas;30802529]If this happened to athiests you people would be going nuts.[/QUOTE] Except atheism isn't a religion.

So is it just not recognized as a religion or is literature about it completely banned? Because the latter is a little extreme itself and not really the right thing to do even if I agree that scientology is a hoax.

[QUOTE=Strongbad;30802277]Thread music [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U06jlgpMtQs[/media] [/QUOTE] No , [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsIx-ESDza4[/media]

Banning books is never good. This is essentially suggesting that people are so stupid, they need the government to tell them that a certain book is bad. While this is probably true, I think other actions should be taken.

[QUOTE=Electrocuter;30802575]Except atheism isn't a religion.[/QUOTE] Did he say it was a religion? :allears:

[QUOTE=Strongbad;30802654]Did he say it was a religion? :allears:[/QUOTE] So what the hell did he mean? Banning atheist literature? Banning literature that isn't religious???

Well, this should be interesting over the next few weeks.

Good, another piece of nonsense gotten rid of.

[QUOTE=Rofl my Waff;30802643]Banning books is never good. This is essentially suggesting that people are so stupid, they need the government to tell them that a certain book is bad. While this is probably true, I think other actions should be taken.[/QUOTE] So con artists should be left unpunished, by your logic?

[QUOTE=Rofl my Waff;30802686]So what the hell did he mean? Banning atheist literature? Banning literature that isn't religious???[/QUOTE] Banning the literature of a system of beliefs. You're being foolish here. Can we discuss the banning of scientologist books? Can we compare that to banning of Christian books? Muslim? Hindu? Buddhist? Atheist? [b][i]NO![/i][/b] That's not a religion. It's all in the same general category. You're just being stupid to criticize him just because it's not a religion.

[QUOTE=Kendra;30803379]So con artists should be left unpunished, by your logic?[/QUOTE] Punish the establishments for actually conning people I guess??? I personally don't see how it's anyone's fault but their own if they buy into something.

[QUOTE=Judas;30802529]If this happened to athiests you people would be going nuts.[/QUOTE] Atheists don't have religious literature, Broseph Stalin.

[QUOTE=Omali;30803454]Atheists don't have religious literature, Broseph Stalin.[/QUOTE] Russian court bans Richard Dawkin's [i]The God Delusion[/i], classifying it as 'extremist' Wouldn't that piss you off just a bit

[QUOTE=Elecbullet;30803493]Russian court bans Richard Dawkin's [i]The God Delusion[/i], classifying it as 'extremist' Wouldn't that piss you off just a bit[/QUOTE] Censored press is better than state press.