Scientology battles with Twitter

Last year, a British local government councilor John Dixon, from Cardiff, Wales, was wandering the streets of London in search of a wedding ring when he happened upon a group of Scientologists. Surprised, he tweeted the following: “I didn’t know the Scientologists had a church on Tottenham Court Road. Just hurried past in case the stupid rubs off.”

A pretty harmless sentiment you might think, but unfortunately members of an organization that the French and German governments consider to be a cult complained to the public services ombudsman for Wales, claiming that Dixon’s statement “impinged on their right to religious freedom.” Councilor Dixon now faces a disciplinary hearing in spite of the fact that Scientology is not recognized as a religion by the British government.

This is a group which, in 1984, a high court judge described as “corrupt, sinister and dangerous”. He said “It is sinister because it indulges in infamous practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestioningly and to those outside who criticize or oppose it.”

The attempt to stifle criticism has provoked an outrage which has spread rapidly across the internet, with thousands of Twitter users, led by the likes of prominent Brits Evan Harris, Professor Brian Cox, Tim Minchin and David Mitchell, coming out in strong support of the beleaguered councilor. Mitchell summed up the feelings of many when he commented: “The Church of Scientology say calling them stupid impinged on the right to religious freedom. How? Are their convictions so feeble?” The naked truth has to be a resounding yes. Neither Tom Cruise or John Travolta would return MMAs calls for a comment.