Alex Barnes-Ross revealed the scheduled opening for the delayed Paris Ideal Org as 6 April.
The big question is whether Dear Leader Miscavige will be in attendance.
My prediction is that he will not. He fears the French government and that they might seize the opportunity to arrest him. Remember what happened to Heber Jentzsch when he went to Spain and ended up in prison? Miscavige did not attend the Moscow ideal org opening either (though scientology tried to pretend he did by starting their story about the opening with a sleazily worded “Mr. Miscavige declared blah blah blah” implying he was there) — another government that has been decidedly unfriendly to scientology.
The French have traditionally not been friendly towards scientology: they tried and convicted L. Ron Hubbard in absentia for fraud. They raided the Freewinds when it was was anchored in the harbor at St. Bart’s and Miscavige hid in a cabin. They prosecuted the head of scientology in France (Alain Frank Rosenberg).
I reached out to Alex for his thoughts:
My money is on Miscavige NOT showing up to yank his ribbon in Paris, despite this being one of the most important cities in the world. I would also bet the “dignitaries” they manage to get to attend speak at this event will be unknown people with made up titles representing minority groups they have somehow managed to convince are aligned with them. They will bring in people from all orgs across Europe and still the crowd will be small. It’s the first European ideal org opening since Stuttgart in 2018.
Looking forward to seeing what happens on April 6th.
You know him. But Russian prisons are SCARY! (just seen again with the accused terrorists that were horribly tortured).
French prisons are a vacation. And if they would lock him up for a few days, he could play the big martyr afterwards?
Don´t know how much risk there would be in France, but opening Paris Org so close to the Olympics sounds like something I would want to do if I were a little cult leader.
To: Mike Rinder’s Blog.
From: Office of Special Affairs Church of Scientology.
Re: Possible arrest of COB.
It is my duty to inform you that the arrest and detention of Our Beloved COB is something that simply will not happen. Aside from the fact that Our Beloved COB will not allow such an event to occur via his extraordinary use of Command Intention as well as
Positive Postulation, Our Beloved COB is loved by everyone (with the exception of you SPs) and the thought of incarcerating such a theta individual would never occur to the world leaders he plans to meet with. It is the wish of Our Beloved COB that you do your utmost to contain this entheta you have been spreading and wish Our Beloved COB blessings as he spreads tech throughout the MEST universe.
ML,
Midshipman Shanaynay Muhammad Nation of Islam/Sea Org on behalf of David Miscavige COB RTC.
To: Shanaynay Muhammad Jailbait talking for dwarfenfuhrer scotch swilling moneybags……ahhh, skip it!
From: Alcoboy
Re: best wishes for your not so beloved CON.
World leaders love him? Ha ha ha ha ha! Lemme tell you something, sister! The US isn’t the only country looking to get their hands on his money grubbing, human rights abusing, sorry carcass! I hope he does go to Paris to yank the ribbon and the French authorities do haul him off! I wanna see how your precious Scientology Network covers that juicy journalistic tidbit!
No love at all,
Alcoboy
Mike, why WAS Heber in Spain when he was arrested?
-Japan of Green Gables
Doing an IAS fundraiser
Thanks for replying! Hope you’re doing well.
I’d hand over a couple bucks for a Go-Fund-Me for Miscavige’s public flight to Paris.
One way ticket, I presume.
Does Sonia Backès speak English? I assume perhaps not, but I’ve always thought she was someone who could have an interesting part to play in exposing Scientology both as someone who grew up in it, and as someone knowledgeable who not only went into politics but was actually a minister in the French government until very recently. To some degree given the French government already has no time or patience for Scientology and it’s shenanigans her position is perhaps slightly less powerful than if, say, AOC or whoever was in the same sort of situation and was able to be an intelligent informative voice within US politics about exactly what Scientology is and how it operates, but I bet the Fair Game podcast episode with Sonia would have been a fascinating one, both covering her history, and how she’s used her role and position to ensure that everyone who needs to know exactly what a malignant force Scientology is, is fully in the picture.
As an aside, I keep saying I’ll do a mini tour of my nearest orgs, Clermont Ferrand and Angers, just to see if there’s any sign of life, and will happily get a few pics in case you have any interest Mike, and will see if I can pop along and say hi to Alex on the 6th, although frankly if I don’t get to be in the same place as the vast blonde bouffant and craggy old face of the captain himself i may just stay at home and watch The War Is Over yet again…
I would be surprised if DM would show up and be in the public eye. From reading alot about DM he is a coward especially as of recent years with being seen or heard from. I don’t believe he would go to any Org that would be opening no matter how important the org is claimed to be.
-Suzie
Ah, one final note. To enter France without any trouble, DM could do as Norman Starkey’s brother did – I think his name is Owen, who knows what became of him too.
He had to hold an event in Paris but to avoid landing directly in France due to the risk of being stopped by police, he first went to Switzerland. Then, scnists drove him safely to Paris passing through Basel by car.
Especially in Basel, the chances of being caught and asked for documents are lower as it’s a busy hub connecting France, Switzerland, and Germany.
Vive la France!
The first business card of scn consists of all the things repeatedly said by hubbard against governments and their agencies, against institutions in general, doctors, psychologists, etc., giving the idea that scn should infiltrate them and eventually replace them. It’s obvious that such a group is seen as a potential risk and is closely monitored. Over time, all the nonsense done with money, suicides, fraud lawsuits, and much more are added. This becomes confirmation of being a risky group. And who would want them?
Now, what do you call that? While you were working on this article I was formulating a fictitious news item literally this very minute:
OT prediction, Deja Vu or what?
David Miscavige, 63, chairman of the Scientology network, was imprisoned in Paris April 6 during a raid amidst Scientology’s inauguration of a new center in Saint-Denis. The Investigating Magistrate had 51 church members jailed but released 44 after questioning later in the day. The remaining 7, including Miscavige, of Los Angeles, were ordered held without bail pending an investigation into tax evasion, organized fraud and fiscal charges.
At a news conference after the arrests a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice stated that the only god of Scientology is money, and he compared the cult which operates under the cloak of a church to a pyramid scheme in which members pay increasing sums of money.
Back in 1978, a Paris court sentenced the founder of Scientology, Lafayette Ron Hubbard, to four years and a 35,000-franc fine for fraud. Hubbard did not turn up for the trial and never served his sentence. Nor did he ever appeal the conviction. He died in the United States in 1986.
The Investigating Judge who remains unnamed is being protected by an armed escort and has received threats of harm since jailing Miscavige.
The French system of justice operates differently from American courts. The Magistrate’s function is similar to that of a prosecutor, and the Scientology case now is in a phase “more or less” similar to an American grand jury – but with the added element of prison for those who officials fear might flee.
Now there’s a news story that I can’t wait to see!