FRENCH GOVERNMENT WITNESS CONVICTED
FOR INCITATION TO MURDER

Roger Gonnet, the sole witness put on by the government prosecutor in a recent trial involving a Church of Scientology in Paris, was convicted today, February 26, by the Villefranche sur Saone (Rhones Alpes) court for uttering insults and incitations to murder against an American attorney who represents the Church of Scientology.

The conviction and an $850 fine came just four days after Gonnet gave his testimony for the government in a disrelated trial in Paris.

Rick Moxon, the American attorney who was the target of Gonnet’s threats, stated today, “I very much appreciate that the French justice system had the courage to convict Mr. Gonnet for his incitations to murder and his insults. In doing so, the court defends lawyers - whatever country they practice in - by forbidding a maniac from reviling a lawyer. Credit for this decision goes to the French justice system at a time of heavy anti-religious pressures exerted by MILS (Interministerial Mission to Fight against Cults).”

The public prosecutor’s closing remarks in the recent trial at which Gonnet testified prompted the Church to announce that it will ask a Council of Europe Rapporteur, who is currently investigating religious discrimination in France, to look into the abuse of the French justice system to target religious minorities. Said Leisa Goodman, Human Rights Director of the Church of Scientology International, “A so-called ’Interministerial Mission to Fight Against Sects (MILS)’, run by a fanatical government official, Alain Vivien, stage-manages show trials and hate campaigns from behind the scenes.”

Scientologists note that MILS only hears and uses as “specialists” of spiritual minorities apostates such as Roger Gonnet. “MILS shows its true colors by using the advice of individuals who are involved in crimes punished by the French law. It is an additional reason for our demand to dissolve Alain Vivien’s ’mission’”, stated Jean Dupuis, External Affairs Director of the Church of Scientology in France.

Scientology, a religion founded by author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, has helped millions to achieve greater stability, confidence and an understanding of themselves as spiritual beings. The Church has existed in France for 40 years and is continuing to expand in that country.