Church of Scientology International Human Rights Office: France


	M.R., a teacher in Paris, lost her job after a government-supported hate campaign.

Teacher Loses Her Job

M.R. used to be a teacher at a primary school in the 17th District of Paris - until she lost her job because of her religion. She became the victim of an unprecedented hate campaign. She received support from virtually no one outside her Church. In fact, the representative of the Teacher’s Union, who ought to have defended her rights, instead tried to ruin her career.

When the rumors about her first started in October 2001, M.R. asked to meet with the School Director. He told her that he was fully satisfied with her professionalism and her work as a teacher.

But doing a good and conscientious job was not enough - not in today’s France. On November 20, 2001, matters worsened. A flier attacking M.R.’s reputation was distributed at the entrance to her school. Then, a few days later, the head of a local hate group organized a meeting about her in a local caf. He could not avoid admitting that she had done nothing wrong, but he nonetheless urged people to write to the School Inspector to complain about her.

The campaign spread to the media, with an ugly article in the newspaper France Soir entitled “The Teacher Who Is Frightening.” Then a demonstration was held against the teacher and members of her church by a hate group that boasts about the support it enjoys from the French Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Employment, the Paris School District, the Paris prefecture and the “Interministerial Mission to Fight Against Sects.”

As a result of the hate campaign, M.R. was transferred to another school. This in a country which claims to be a haven for human rights and which has just passed legislation forbidding discrimination in the workplace.

Young Girl Can’t Be a Scout

A young girl was denied membership of the Girl Scouts because of her parent’s religion.

The child had spent a weekend with the scouts and wanted to become one herself. The parents had purchased her scout uniform and necessary materials and the girl had even registered with the troop. Then, in December 1998, a call came in to the girl’s mother from Mr. Jacques Lubzinski, a scout official. He told her that her daughter could not be enrolled with the Girl Scouts of France because of the parents’ religion, a decision agreed to by his regional supervisor. That was the end of the little girl’s dream to become a scout.

Ministry of Education Denigrates the Bible

Governmental intolerance of minority faiths has even been introduced into French schools. A text on civic education given to schoolchildren by the Ministry of Education contains contributions from, among others, Alain Vivien, in his former post of president of the anti-religion group, CCMM. Among the most telling images in the book is a cartoon depicting a grinning priest brutally beating a tearful child with a Bible. Another priest standing by is explaining to a parent that the education of children is best applied through application of the Bible. This is an attack on the essence of religion.

One mother unexpectedly discovered that her 13-year-old daughter’s sports class had been cancelled and replaced by a mandatory conference on “cults.” Her daughter was extremely upset by the bigotry and prejudice spread at this conference, conducted with the support of the Ministry of National Education and the Interministerial Mission to Fight Against Sects.

Nuclear Engineer’s Career Dead-ended

P.D. was a French nuclear engineer employed by the government. He had trained for several years to become the Managing Director of one of the nuclear sites of EDF-GDF at Gravelines. In December 1998, he was anonymously “denounced” because of his religion. In spite of the quality of his work and impeccable record of professionalism, he was refused his promised promotion and transferred instead to a dead end position. As a result, he was forced to leave France to look for suitable employment in England. Another career wrecked by religious intolerance.

France’s Eurovision Song Contest Selectee Boycotted

In 1999, a talented young singer who belongs to a minority movement was selected out of more than 700 candidates to represent France in the internationally renowned Eurovision song contest. When her membership of the movement became known, she experienced a succession of harassing incidents before, during and after the competition. As a result, her producers cancelled 16 TV shows where she planned to perform as well as a contract for two albums over three years, including tours in Canada and Japan.

Rosicrucian Forfeited Parental Rights

Marc, a member of a Rosicrucian movement, forfeited his parental rights and can now only see his children once every two weeks, between 10am and 6pm. This followed a divorce and four-year judicial procedure, during which his membership of the Rosicrucians was used to prejudice the court and local officials against him. An investigator came to his home to question him, but after he spoke to the militant anti-religious group ADFI, never spoke to Marc again and instead quoted his ex-wife’s mother as stating that his children walked about with repetitive head motions as if conditioned by frenzied music. Marc’s mother-in-law, however, denied ever making such a statement, saying, “The investigator had me say things I never said.”

False Rumors Ruin Health Center Network

A Celtic Orthodox priest belongs to what used to be a thriving network of 25 health centers. Then an article appeared in a national French magazine, claiming to cite documents from the French internal security agency, the Renseignement Generaux, connecting the movement with the notorious Order of the Solar Temple. The health centers filed a complaint against the magazine, and the documents were exposed as fabrications in court. The centers won a one million franc judgment. But the false accusations continue to haunt the network of health centers, with the result that practically all are financially ruined and no longer operate.

No Radio Messages for Evangelical Church

Governmental intolerance threatens France’s major churches. According to the president of the French Protestant Federation, representing 16 major churches and 5,000 associations including Reformed, Lutheran and Pentecostal churches, some Protestant churches in France are considering removing the word “evangelical” from their names for fear of official repercussions. An evangelical church in Lyon with 5,000 parishioners regularly organizes gospel events in the town square. Until a few years ago, they enjoyed the support of local authorities. But in recent times, local officials have become obstructive and have placed various barriers in their way, such as denying them electricity. After years of broadcasting their religious messages on local radio, and after a series of increasingly harassing restrictions placed on their right to broadcast, they were eventually refused access to the airwaves.


	M.L., a director of libraries, was demoted to a junior position because of her religion.

Librarian’s Career Ruined

M.L. worked as a librarian for twenty years. On June 5, 2000, she achieved a long sought after promotion, when the city of Levallois-Perret near Paris appointed her as its Director of Libraries.

She plunged into her new duties, but her enthusiasm was short-lived. Without warning, in October, she was demoted. As director, she had had her own office and a secretary. Suddenly, she had no office, no phone and no computer. Her workspace was tiny, squeezed between a column, the wall and some shelves.

She pleaded for an explanation but none was forthcoming. Not until June 2001 was she finally able to meet with the Deputy Director of Human Resources for the city, Mr. Gratzer.

Gratzer told her that the reason for her transfer was her membership of her church. He admitted that her performance of her duties had been exemplary. When asked why City Hall did not defend the manager of its libraries against religious intolerance, Gratzer said that the current political climate and the damaging influence of the media had antagonized public opinion against “sects,” a fact for which he could not be held responsible.

He adamantly refused to reconsider the City’s position. Only a changed media climate might permit her reinstatement, he said. And with that, he washed his hands of the affair and ended M.L.’s hopes of advancement.

Hate Campaign Leads to Terrorism

In September 2001, a terrorist who planted a bomb at the Church of Scientology’s premises in the town of Anger was convicted and sentenced. The terrorist had no first-hand experience of Scientology and received his information only from public sources such as government publications, the media and propaganda from militant anti-religious groups. The incident demonstrates the power of propaganda in creating hatred and violence.

Artist Denied Right to Exhibit

C.P. is an artist who specializes in paintings on canvas. She regularly exhibited her works in France and Belgium. She was invited by the Deputy Mayor of Culture for the 19th District in Paris to exhibit her works in the town hall in June 1999. However, on 29th April, 1999, the Deputy Mayor cancelled C.P.’s exhibition, solely because of the artist’s religion. In such a manner does religious discrimination lead to suppression of the arts.


	H. N., who was denied French citizenship because of his work at a drug rehabilitation center.

Denied Citizenship for Getting People Off Drugs

H.N., of Algerian parentage, was born and raised in France. But the French Ministry of Employment and Solidarity won’t permit him to become a French citizen because he worked for a drug rehabilitation group.

In August 1999, the Ministry rejected H.N.’s application for French nationality on the grounds that the Narconon drug rehabilitation group is associated with a “sect.” The Ministry reaffirmed this denial in March 2001. That Narconon is an international organization that has salvaged thousands of people from the hell of drug addiction made no difference.


	This little boy, seen with his mother, was refused access to kindergarten because of his parents’ religion

No Kindergarten for this Child

The younger son of a married couple, D.J. and V.J., was denied placement in a kindergarten because of the parents’ religion. In February 2001, the couple had sought to place their child in a parental crche called Les Pieds Tendres in Paris. But in May, the President of the Kindergarten, Ms. Damestoy, and another woman who identified herself only by her first name, paid the mother a visit. Ms. Damestoy asked about a “rumor” that she might be a Scientologist. The mother confirmed this “rumor”, whereupon Damestoy immediately told her that their little boy could not enter the crche. Religion was the sole reason. Children are the most innocent victims of religious intolerance.