Guide Note

Following a ten-year investigation, Belgian prosecutor Jean-Claude Van Espen recommended that the U.S- based Church of Scientology be tried for fraud and extortion as a criminal organization.

Fast Facts

1. Epsen made his recommendation in September of 2007
2. Epsen recommended that 12 unnamed people be brought up on charges
3. An administrative court will decide whether charges will be pursued
4. The Church of Scientology is not recognized as an official religious group in Belgium
5. Belgian police received several complaints from former Scientologists who claimed they were intimidated and extorted
6. The Church of Scientology has been active in Belgium since the 1970s

In 1997, a Belgian parliamentary report concluded that the Church of Scientology was a sect and began investigations into their finances and practices.

"For the last 10 years, the prosecutor has been using the media, trying to damage the reputation of the Church of Scientology and not being able to put a case in court. As a consequence, this created a climate of intolerance and discrimination."—Statement from Scientology's European office ¹