Couple with Church of Scientologists freed in Egypt

AFP | 3/27/02

[kattracks]

CAIRO, March 27 (AFP) - An Egyptian court released on Wednesday two members of the Church of Scientology, a Palestinian woman and her Arab Israeli husband, court sources said.

The court freed Mahmud Massarwa, 28, and his 26-year-old wife, Wafaa Ahmed, who were arrested in December on charges of trying to damage the principles of Islam and Christianity by the spread of a new religious doctrine.

The court ruled that "condemning people for (adopting) new ideas is a violation of human rights."

The couple were also accused of "exploiting this new doctrine to propagate ideas contrary to religion with the goal of provoking riots."

The Church of Scientology based in the United States denounced the detention of its two members in Egypt as a violation of human rights and called on Egypt to release them.

[mv1]

on charges of trying to damage the principles of Islam and Christianity

[Petronski]

Judge Haqim Abdul Travolta had no comment.

And Xenu was well pleased....

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

Islam being threatened by Scientology? Here's a case where our enemy's enemy is NOT our friend. They're both evil organizations. (OK, RADICAL Islam is evil, though if one reads the Koran literally, there's some evil stuff in there).

[ValenB4]

Get real. While Scientologists have weird beliefs, take advantage of people, and employ forms of behavioral conditioning upon would-be converts, they are not a threat to society and are certainly not evil. A sense of persective is in order.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

You're entitled to your opinion, of course. I've read six or seven books about Scientology and its history. I don't say evil lightly. They bought the Cult Awareness Network when they declared bankruptcy. A cult operating a cult awareness network. If that can't be considered evil, then I'm not sure how you define evil. That's like having a rape crisis hotline staffed by convicted rapists. Evil doesn't have to mean murderously so. Evil takes many forms.

[samtheman]

I don't know what you mean by evil. They certainly aren't dangerous, except to the schmucks who fall for their wooden-headed ideas. I do not look for scientologists piloting airplanes into tall buildings anytime in the near or distant future.

Now, back to the real war: Islam is a peaceful religion!

[xm177e2]

They certainly aren't dangerous

No, the CoS is more interested in turning a profit than they are in upsetting the current order. They are not dangerous like the terrorists, but I would say the methods of the CoS are "evil," the way they psychologically manipulate and coerce people into giving up their life savings. And what religion gives a commission to the person who convinces a new member to make a donation to the church?

[Buckeroo]

I don't think Egyptians, overall, like those Mark VIII E-Meters. They are wayyyyyy toooo high tech.

[strela]

While Scientologists have weird beliefs, take advantage of people, and employ forms of behavioral conditioning upon would-be converts, they are not a threat to society and are certainly not evil.

Tell it to Lisa McPherson.

Scientology kills.

[ValenB4]

That's terrible. I don't mean to downplay whatever evil acts they've done, and if you know that person, I send my condolences.

In a religions course in college our class was told by the professor about a graduate who had infiltrated their group in the summer as a voluntary project. He actually made it to the NYC headquarters. He posed as a runaway in Atlantic City by sleeping in bus terminals for a few nights before being successfully picked up. He then went about writing a term paper on his experiences. He copied documents pertaining to their tactics, such as denying people food to break down their willpower. Those who donated more money were higher up on the interdimensional spatial realms hierarchy of enlightenment. When the next semester started, and when he was no longer with them, a group of Scientologists was looking for him on campus periodically for a few weeks. They were eventually told to stay away by the school. Creeps.

[samtheman]

I'm certainly no fan of scientology. I do believe they are sick weirdos, many of whom have committed crimes in the name of their group. I was just trying to make a point about terrorism, which I think is a threat at on a different order of magnitude. But I agree with everything you say about the Co$.

[Bump in the night]

They bought the Cult Awareness Network when they declared bankruptcy.

Good for them! The Cult Awareness Network was a truely evil organization. They didn't just go against "cults". They kidnapped, tortured, and brainwashed Christians too! They were a disgusting organization run by anti-religious psychopaths!

A cult operating a cult awareness network.

Better than a bunch of anti-religious Nazi psychos running the place. LOL

[Bump in the night]

ALL

He copied documents pertaining to their tactics, such as denying people food to break down their willpower. Those who donated more money were higher up on the interdimensional spatial realms hierarchy of enlightenment.

Roflmao!!! I hate to tell you this... but you've been fed a line of complete B.S.... and you fell for it. I've been involved in many religions, Scientology being one. I've done a couple of their courses and even gotten a little bit of their auditing. I'm sorry... but the stuff I read here on FR about Scientology is the funniest bunch of BS I've ever heard. I have never in my life seen anything get so twisted around and lied about.

Being FReepers... you guys really ought to know better. We know that just because someone posted something on the internet, that doesn't mean that it's true. We know that just because we see it in the paper or on the evening news, also does not mean it's true.

I can find a gazillion articles on the net "proving" how corrupt and horrible Christianity or any other religion is. But I'm a little smarter than that. I don't believe it. I only believe what I KNOW is true, because I have experienced it and looked at it for myself.

I don't think someone has earned the right to bitch about something that they have never really even looked into for themselves. I know a person that go on and on about how horrible Jews are... yet... they know absolutely nothing about Judaism except what they've read on the net. It's truly sad! This person is so filled with hate and lies it's not even funny. However... thanks to that moron... I learned a lesson and check things out for myself now.