Friday, May 21, 2010

'Dossiers on enemies' found in Italian Scientology raid

'Suppressive persons'

By John Leyden

Italian police reportedly unearthed hidden dossiers on 'enemies' during a raid on Church of Scientology offices in Turin.

The files, apparently discovered behind locked doors in a basement office, allegedly contained personal information on judges, police officers and journalists identified as hostile to the Church.

Details on former Church members who have turned against Scientology were also reportedly recovered from handwritten files and computer records seized following a nine-hour search of the premises. No arrests took place, UPI adds.

The bust was reportedly authorised by local magistrates over concerns the local chapter of Scientology was holding sensitive personal data (including information on health and sexual orientation) in violation of Italy's privacy laws, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Elsewhere the Church has denied claims in Australia that senior members covered up the alleged sexual abuse of an 11-year-old girl.

Former Scientologist Carmen Rainer told ABC's Lateline programme that church officials persuaded her and her mum to lie to the authorities about alleged sexual abuse by her stepfather, Robert Kerr. Church of Scientology officials deny this and say it was only through their involvement in the case that Kerr eventually turned himself in and admitted his crimes.

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