Free Speech Attacked: Scientology Attempts To Stop Peaceful Protest

Amid allegations of human rights abuse and facing the second major protest in five weeks, the Church of Scientology is resorting to a familiar tactic: punitive lawsuits.

A prominent Scientologist, apparently acting on behalf of Church of Scientology, has filed for a restraining order against a nameless, faceless group of peaceful protesters.

Protests are planned in over 100 cities worldwide on March 15, at 11 a.m. local time. The protesters, who organize on a number of Internet sites, refer to themselves collectively as 'Anonymous'. Because of Church of Scientology’s history of defaming and harassing its critics, most protesters say they will wear masks, scarves and other props to protect their identities.

A Long History Of Nuisance Legal Claims

The aggressive legal stance by Church of Scientology is part of the "fair game" policy, described in a 1967 letter by church founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Quoted directly, the policy states that enemies "may be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline," or "tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed."

In practice, the policy results in personal and litigious harassment of critics or other enemies of the organization. ‘Fair game’ has been used against Emmy award-winning filmmaker Mark Bunker and BBC journalist John Sweeney, amongst many others.

In 1991, a TIME Magazine cover story called the Church of Scientology a “thriving cult of greed and power” and concluded “Scientology poses as a religion but really is a ruthless global scam.” After the article ran, TIME Magazine and its reporters were harassed, defamed and sued by the Church of Scientology.