ICSA 30
Report From Germany and
Austria
Friedrich Griess
Germany
Twelve Tribes
The battle between the courts and
the Twelve Tribes parents whose
children have been taken away by the
police becomes harder. Mothers who
had beaten their children received
suspended sentences. The parents
compare the courts with the Nazis,
but the courts insist on their decision,
which the parents appeal. Robert
Pleyer managed to leave the cult
with his four children, while his wife,
unable to live in the “world,” returned
to the cult. Pleyer’s dramatic story has
been published in a book, Der Satan
schläft nie (Satan Never Sleeps), which
he lectured about in a conference at
Regenstauf (Bavaria) on June 12, 2015.
Custody cases also continue. Some
youngsters who had been taken from
their parents have been returned to
them.
Scientology
In Stuttgart, Scientology is planning its
largest center in Germany. Although all
political parties are against the center,
there are few means to prevent it.
The Church of Scientology boasts that
Dr. h.c. Mohammed Herzog, a member
of the German-speaking Muslim
association in Berlin, is a fervent
defender of religious freedom and
publicly lectures about it, based on the
book by L. Ron Hubbard, The Way to
Happiness.
Islamic State
More and more young women are
traveling to Syria and Iraq to become
married to Jihadist warriors.
Justice for Jeremiah
The cooperation of British and German
courts resulted in identifying two
members of the LaRouche movement
suspected to be indirectly responsible
for the death of Jeremiah Duggan.
Investigations continue. A related press
conference was held in Berlin on June
30, 2015.
Aeon Verlag &Studio
The media enterprise Aeon Verlag &
Studio, which has existed since 1992 in
Hanau (Hessen), is known for its high-
quality professional work, but also for
its cultic background. The organization
was founded by some Methodist
pastors who had been excluded from
their church because they based their
pastoral care on dream interpretation.
Their ideology, also published in
books, is based on the idea that the
evil in the world, especially in children,
has to be mercilessly eliminated.
The leader’s wife claims to receive
directives directly from God that must
be strictly followed. The enterprise’s
approximately 20 employees have to
work up to 16 hours daily. Children
are said to be beaten and abused.
The death of a 4-year-old boy in the
1980s will be investigated again.
Recently the organization attracted the
attention of the authorities because of
the members’ cultic behavior, which
resulted in a raid of the owner’s house.
Interestingly, one member had been
working as a judge. Former members
have gone public and participated
in a TV production, Im Bannkreis der
Erwählten (In the Magic Circle of the
Elected).
Austria
Scientology
The Citizens Commission on Human
Rights (CCHR), a front organization of
Scientology, which is being observed
by the Office for the Protection of the
Constitution, in March 2015 used the
renowned Viennese Palais Palffy for its
notorious antipsychiatry exposition.
The opening lecture was held by the
retired president of the Viennese court
for labor and social affaires, Karlheinz
Demel. Picketers were warning,
“Beware Scientology.”
Moonies
The Unification Church has been
recognized in Austria as a “religious
confessional community” because the
organization has reached the required
number of adherents. No privileges are
granted with this recognition.
Report From Italy
Raffaella Di Marzio
Follow-up on Archeon’s Case
The first phase of the trial against the
association Arkeon ended in July 2012.
The founder and seven masters were
charged with conspiracy for abuse
of the psychological profession. The
different penalties imposed went from
2 years and 8 months to 1 year and 6
months in prison.
The defendants have now appealed,
seeking to be cleared of this alleged
criminal offense, as has occurred with
all the other charges brought against
them, for which they were found not
guilty. The appeals process began May
28, 2015, and a second hearing was
held on June 25, 2015.
Information on the Media
On February 28, 2015, Raffaella Di
Marzio participated in the national
broadcast Uomini e Profeti on National
Radio Channel RAI Radio3, which
included discussion of the topic
“‘Sette’ o culti alternativi? Uno sguardo
nel bisogno di credere” (“‘Cults’ or
Alternative Religious Groups? Looking
Inside the Need to Believe”).
30 ICSA TODAYTODAY
Correspondents
,
Reports
Report From Germany and
Austria
Friedrich Griess
Germany
Twelve Tribes
The battle between the courts and
the Twelve Tribes parents whose
children have been taken away by the
police becomes harder. Mothers who
had beaten their children received
suspended sentences. The parents
compare the courts with the Nazis,
but the courts insist on their decision,
which the parents appeal. Robert
Pleyer managed to leave the cult
with his four children, while his wife,
unable to live in the “world,” returned
to the cult. Pleyer’s dramatic story has
been published in a book, Der Satan
schläft nie (Satan Never Sleeps), which
he lectured about in a conference at
Regenstauf (Bavaria) on June 12, 2015.
Custody cases also continue. Some
youngsters who had been taken from
their parents have been returned to
them.
Scientology
In Stuttgart, Scientology is planning its
largest center in Germany. Although all
political parties are against the center,
there are few means to prevent it.
The Church of Scientology boasts that
Dr. h.c. Mohammed Herzog, a member
of the German-speaking Muslim
association in Berlin, is a fervent
defender of religious freedom and
publicly lectures about it, based on the
book by L. Ron Hubbard, The Way to
Happiness.
Islamic State
More and more young women are
traveling to Syria and Iraq to become
married to Jihadist warriors.
Justice for Jeremiah
The cooperation of British and German
courts resulted in identifying two
members of the LaRouche movement
suspected to be indirectly responsible
for the death of Jeremiah Duggan.
Investigations continue. A related press
conference was held in Berlin on June
30, 2015.
Aeon Verlag &Studio
The media enterprise Aeon Verlag &
Studio, which has existed since 1992 in
Hanau (Hessen), is known for its high-
quality professional work, but also for
its cultic background. The organization
was founded by some Methodist
pastors who had been excluded from
their church because they based their
pastoral care on dream interpretation.
Their ideology, also published in
books, is based on the idea that the
evil in the world, especially in children,
has to be mercilessly eliminated.
The leader’s wife claims to receive
directives directly from God that must
be strictly followed. The enterprise’s
approximately 20 employees have to
work up to 16 hours daily. Children
are said to be beaten and abused.
The death of a 4-year-old boy in the
1980s will be investigated again.
Recently the organization attracted the
attention of the authorities because of
the members’ cultic behavior, which
resulted in a raid of the owner’s house.
Interestingly, one member had been
working as a judge. Former members
have gone public and participated
in a TV production, Im Bannkreis der
Erwählten (In the Magic Circle of the
Elected).
Austria
Scientology
The Citizens Commission on Human
Rights (CCHR), a front organization of
Scientology, which is being observed
by the Office for the Protection of the
Constitution, in March 2015 used the
renowned Viennese Palais Palffy for its
notorious antipsychiatry exposition.
The opening lecture was held by the
retired president of the Viennese court
for labor and social affaires, Karlheinz
Demel. Picketers were warning,
“Beware Scientology.”
Moonies
The Unification Church has been
recognized in Austria as a “religious
confessional community” because the
organization has reached the required
number of adherents. No privileges are
granted with this recognition.
Report From Italy
Raffaella Di Marzio
Follow-up on Archeon’s Case
The first phase of the trial against the
association Arkeon ended in July 2012.
The founder and seven masters were
charged with conspiracy for abuse
of the psychological profession. The
different penalties imposed went from
2 years and 8 months to 1 year and 6
months in prison.
The defendants have now appealed,
seeking to be cleared of this alleged
criminal offense, as has occurred with
all the other charges brought against
them, for which they were found not
guilty. The appeals process began May
28, 2015, and a second hearing was
held on June 25, 2015.
Information on the Media
On February 28, 2015, Raffaella Di
Marzio participated in the national
broadcast Uomini e Profeti on National
Radio Channel RAI Radio3, which
included discussion of the topic
“‘Sette’ o culti alternativi? Uno sguardo
nel bisogno di credere” (“‘Cults’ or
Alternative Religious Groups? Looking
Inside the Need to Believe”).
30 ICSA TODAYTODAY
Correspondents
,
Reports
