Scientology critic Keith Henson back in jail

People familiar with the Church of Scientology know that the cult has a lengthy history of unethical behavior. This includes targeting critics of the alleged religion with hate and harassment activities.

One of Scientology’s favorite harassment methods is abuse of the legal system. Hubbard — who encouraged and condoned unethical behavior — wrote:

The purpose of the suit is to harass and discourage rather than to win. The law can be used very easily to harass, and enough harassment on somebody who is simply on the thin edge anyway, well knowing that he is not authorized, will generally be sufficient to cause his professional decease. If possible, of course, ruin him utterly.
- Source: L. Ron Hubbard, A Manual on the Dissemination of Material, 1955 (See: The Purpose of a Lawsuit is to Harass)

In some countries, that approach does not work. In the Netherlands, for example, Scientology suffered defeat in its campaign of harassment against its critics through the court system.

In the USA the cult has more success. For one thing, the country is burdened with a deeply flawed justice system that frequently results in wrongful convictions. For another, the cartoon in which a lawyer asks his client, “Tell me, Mr. Johson. How much justice can you afford?” is funny only because people recognize the truth on which it is based.

It also helps that the US government as various times has come to the aid and support of Scientology — for instance when countries like France and Germany determined to keep tabs on the cult.

While Scientology eagerly discriminates against its critics — to the point of having followers ‘disconnect‘ from their own families – the cultists cry ‘religious discrimination’ whenever someone who knows the movement’s history speaks out against the organization.

Outspoken Scientology critic Keith Henson has long been a prime target for the cult – members of which for some strange reason have referred to themselves as the ‘most ethical people on earth.’ (Then again, they also believe in space aliens and all other B.S. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard — an accomplished liar — came up with).

On April 26, 2001, Keith Henson was convicted of interfering with a religion — a misdemeanor under California law — for picketing outside Scientology’s heavily armed, razor wire-enforced base, outside Hemet California. He split for Canada, becoming the world’s first “Scientology fugitive,” and he’s back in the U.S. dealing with a variety of court cases related to Scientology.

Henson was just thrown back in jail. As best as I can make out from the limited information currently available, Henson and his lawyers were scheduled for a hearing at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, May 8th. They were apparently unaware that warrants had recently been signed by the Governors of California and Arizona, and after the hearing, Henson was handed over to the Yavapai County Sheriff Department for incarceration until a hearing on Wednesday May 9th at 9 a.m. (A note received this afternoon — May 9th — from Henson’s wife, Arel Lucas, says that he will remain in the lockup at least until Monday, May 13th. She invites people to write to him at: Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Howard Keith Henson, 255 E. Gurley St. Prescott, AZ 86301. She also reminds you that the prison authorities read the letters before passing them on.)[...more...]

Note: Due to high traffic from Slashdot, it may temporarily be difficult to reach the above site.

For up-to-date news and historical information about Keith Henson, see OperatingThetan.com.

For consumer protection information regarding Scientology, see Apologetics Index.

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