In the suburbs of Paris, in Saint-Denis, some native individuals are involved because the Church of Scientology is making plans to open its new French headquarters.
This development of greater than 7,000 sq. metres comprises an auditorium, school rooms, or even saunas… All this proper subsequent to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games major structures.
“We are right next to the Stade de France,” says Philippe Caro, a resident. “Now you have the new Olympic swimming pool here. We are in the heart of the future Olympic facilities.”
A neighbour from the site was one of the 30,000 signatories of a petition against the purchase of the building for 33 million Euros in 2017.
The municipality has since tried to stop the work**.** But an appeal court ruled in favour of the Church of Scientology last December.
‘A risk’ for the inhabitants
“It leaves the city within the grip of an organisation similar to this one, with huge sources in comparison to a the town like Saint-Denis,” explains Philippe Caro.
“This poses a threat, a chance for the population and the neighbourhood in the case of sectarian presence.”
‘Misuse of power’ for the organisation
Several parliamentary reports have defined the organisation as a sectarian movement. The European spokesperson of the Church of Scientology rejects this designation.
“There are other people from the city corridor and the prefecture who’ve attempted to forestall the paintings from being performed in ways in which had been unsuitable,” explains Eric Roux, the vice president of the European Office of the Church of Scientology.
“I feel the most efficient reaction is the only given by way of the Court of Appeal, which mentioned that this was once a misuse of energy. Misuse of energy by way of a consultant of the State or an elected legitimate is severe. Some individuals are racist, who’re illiberal, sadly, that is the truth these days and we need to take care of it. But when the regulation says what is correct, it says what is correct.”
The Church of Scientology is prone to inaugurate the brand new headquarters ahead of the 2024 Paris Games. The courts have given town till the tip of March to think again the request for authorisation for the paintings.
It has a number of 1000’s of fans in France, the place it operates legally below the standing of an affiliation.
