VOLUME 3 |NUMBER 2 |2012 29
REPORT FROM Germany and
Austria
Friedrich Griess
The main extremism problem in
Germany is caused by extreme
Islamists, generally called Salafists
here. Of particular concern are Pierre
Vogel, a German who converted to
Islam, and Mohamed Mahmoud, alias
Abu Usama al-Gharib, an Austrian
with Egyptian background, preaching
jihad and demanding that Germany
become an “Islamic republic.” After
the association Invitation to Paradise
was dissolved, they founded new
associations. They distribute the
Quran. They provoke reactions from
citizens, but also from the extreme
right.
Several press reports criticize
Scientology for extreme fundraising,
while another news article says that
the Scientology-backed Citizens’
Commission for Human Rights
criticizes psychiatry for “torturing”
clients with Malaria therapy. Other
news articles deal with Scientology’s
free online courses brochures that
Scientology sends to schools in
Nordrhein-Westfalen a video about
the Office of Special Affaires
anonymous fights against
Scientology and, of course, the
divorce between Tom Cruise and
Katie Holmes.
Several news stories concern the
Jehovah’s Witnesses’ (JW’s) attempts
to gain official recognition in
Germany. In Baden-Württemberg
the JW await a decision of the Federal
Constitutional Court. The JW also
have sued Rheinland-Pfalz for
recognition, while Bremen does not
want to recognize the JW. Other
newspapers covered a JW Congress
in Frankfurt with 17,000
participants—one tenth of their
followers in Germany.
The movie David Wants to Fly,
which is critical of Transcendental
Meditation, was shown again
February 15, 2012, on Bavarian TV.
The Reichsbürgerbewegung (Reich
citizens’ movement) is an extreme
right-wing political cult, which denies
the legality of the German Federal
Republic. The group is monitored
by the Service for Protection of the
Constitution.
Two news stories cover violence
against children and racism related to
the Twelve Tribes.
The team of Grigori Grabovoi
continues to offer lectures in Austria,
France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Press accounts in Austria have
criticized Scientology for extreme
fundraising techniques and
advertising in schools have
described how Anonymous hacked
emails from Scientology Austria
between 2010 and 2011 and have
reported on a live chat with
ex-Scientologist Wilfried Handl,
who has been a member of the
organization for 28 years.
The World Harmony Run and a music
group that propagates the music of
Sri Chinmoy plan to pass through
Austria from September 27th to
October 8th.
Two news stories discuss two
spiritual healers who were
condemned for fraud.
According to the Security Report
and the Report of the Office for
Protection of the Constitution,
there was some activity of extremist
motivated Islamism, but the situation
is under control.
The International Religious Freedom
Report for 2011 critically mentions
the Society Against Sect and Cult
Dangers (GSK) and calls it “a
controversial quasi-NGO that actively
works against sects and cults.”
REPORT FROM Italy
Dr. Cristina Caparesi and
Dr. Raffaella Di Marzio
News from the Courts
Arkeon’s trial. The first step in the
trial against the association Arkeon
finished in July 2012. Eleven people
were facing charges for several crimes
and, among them, three received an
absolute discharge for not having
committed any crime. Arkeon’s
founder, Vito Carlo Moccia, and
seven masters with him have been
discharged from the following crimes:
private violence and “procured state
of inability for psychological abuse”
(meaning an acquired state of
disability resulting from psychological
abuse) because these crimes did not
happen, and slander because slander
was not a crime. With regard to the
charge of fraud, the court declared
that it could not proceed against the
defendants because a complaint
action hadn’t been filed against them.
Vito Moccia was discharged from the
crime of mistreating of [a] minor
because the crime did not happen,
and of slander against the
psychologist Lorita Tinelli of Cesap
and other Arkeon ex-members, again
because slander could not be
considered a crime. The founder and
seven masters have been condemned
for conspiracy for abuse of the
psychological profession. The
different penalties inflicted ranged
from 2 years and 8 months to 1 year
and 6 months of prison (Sentence
N.6445 06/NGNR N. 2492/Op RGT
Bari -July 16th, 2012). The sentence
is published at the following URL:
http://veritasuarkeon.org/wp-
content/uploads/2012/07/
DISPOSITIVO.pdf
Scientology’s Blitz in Turin (Turin,
January 2012). When the
investigation against Scientology
Correspondents’Reports
REPORT FROM Germany and
Austria
Friedrich Griess
The main extremism problem in
Germany is caused by extreme
Islamists, generally called Salafists
here. Of particular concern are Pierre
Vogel, a German who converted to
Islam, and Mohamed Mahmoud, alias
Abu Usama al-Gharib, an Austrian
with Egyptian background, preaching
jihad and demanding that Germany
become an “Islamic republic.” After
the association Invitation to Paradise
was dissolved, they founded new
associations. They distribute the
Quran. They provoke reactions from
citizens, but also from the extreme
right.
Several press reports criticize
Scientology for extreme fundraising,
while another news article says that
the Scientology-backed Citizens’
Commission for Human Rights
criticizes psychiatry for “torturing”
clients with Malaria therapy. Other
news articles deal with Scientology’s
free online courses brochures that
Scientology sends to schools in
Nordrhein-Westfalen a video about
the Office of Special Affaires
anonymous fights against
Scientology and, of course, the
divorce between Tom Cruise and
Katie Holmes.
Several news stories concern the
Jehovah’s Witnesses’ (JW’s) attempts
to gain official recognition in
Germany. In Baden-Württemberg
the JW await a decision of the Federal
Constitutional Court. The JW also
have sued Rheinland-Pfalz for
recognition, while Bremen does not
want to recognize the JW. Other
newspapers covered a JW Congress
in Frankfurt with 17,000
participants—one tenth of their
followers in Germany.
The movie David Wants to Fly,
which is critical of Transcendental
Meditation, was shown again
February 15, 2012, on Bavarian TV.
The Reichsbürgerbewegung (Reich
citizens’ movement) is an extreme
right-wing political cult, which denies
the legality of the German Federal
Republic. The group is monitored
by the Service for Protection of the
Constitution.
Two news stories cover violence
against children and racism related to
the Twelve Tribes.
The team of Grigori Grabovoi
continues to offer lectures in Austria,
France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Press accounts in Austria have
criticized Scientology for extreme
fundraising techniques and
advertising in schools have
described how Anonymous hacked
emails from Scientology Austria
between 2010 and 2011 and have
reported on a live chat with
ex-Scientologist Wilfried Handl,
who has been a member of the
organization for 28 years.
The World Harmony Run and a music
group that propagates the music of
Sri Chinmoy plan to pass through
Austria from September 27th to
October 8th.
Two news stories discuss two
spiritual healers who were
condemned for fraud.
According to the Security Report
and the Report of the Office for
Protection of the Constitution,
there was some activity of extremist
motivated Islamism, but the situation
is under control.
The International Religious Freedom
Report for 2011 critically mentions
the Society Against Sect and Cult
Dangers (GSK) and calls it “a
controversial quasi-NGO that actively
works against sects and cults.”
REPORT FROM Italy
Dr. Cristina Caparesi and
Dr. Raffaella Di Marzio
News from the Courts
Arkeon’s trial. The first step in the
trial against the association Arkeon
finished in July 2012. Eleven people
were facing charges for several crimes
and, among them, three received an
absolute discharge for not having
committed any crime. Arkeon’s
founder, Vito Carlo Moccia, and
seven masters with him have been
discharged from the following crimes:
private violence and “procured state
of inability for psychological abuse”
(meaning an acquired state of
disability resulting from psychological
abuse) because these crimes did not
happen, and slander because slander
was not a crime. With regard to the
charge of fraud, the court declared
that it could not proceed against the
defendants because a complaint
action hadn’t been filed against them.
Vito Moccia was discharged from the
crime of mistreating of [a] minor
because the crime did not happen,
and of slander against the
psychologist Lorita Tinelli of Cesap
and other Arkeon ex-members, again
because slander could not be
considered a crime. The founder and
seven masters have been condemned
for conspiracy for abuse of the
psychological profession. The
different penalties inflicted ranged
from 2 years and 8 months to 1 year
and 6 months of prison (Sentence
N.6445 06/NGNR N. 2492/Op RGT
Bari -July 16th, 2012). The sentence
is published at the following URL:
http://veritasuarkeon.org/wp-
content/uploads/2012/07/
DISPOSITIVO.pdf
Scientology’s Blitz in Turin (Turin,
January 2012). When the
investigation against Scientology
Correspondents’Reports
