December 3, 2001
SCIENTOLOGY WINS 17-YEAR-OLD CASE IN SPAIN
Total Victory as Court Declares Charges Groundless
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In a historic decision, a Spanish court has dismissed all charges against all defendants in a case involving Scientologists that dates back to 1984. The Madrid Provincial Court announced the acquittals today two months after the close of a seven-month trial that began more than seventeen years after the case was opened.
The court stated in its ruling, “Neither the defendants individually, nor collectively, nor through the Church of Scientology, nor through Narconon [drug rehabilitation program]... have committed any type of illicit act, and therefore they are acquitted of all charges brought by the public prosecutor.”
“This is a complete victory for the Church of Scientology and Scientologists in Spain, and a vindication of our religious ministry and social betterment programs,” said Luis Gonzalez, spokesperson for the Church of Scientology. “After exhaustive scrutiny, the court has declared the prosecutor’s case to be entirely groundless.” He said the victory will also free up resources to increase the Church’s religious ministry and drug education campaigns.
Scientologists, who are themselves 100% drug-free, donate their time every week to drug prevention efforts throughout the country. Mr. Gonzalez described the ruling as “a giant step for Spain as a European democracy, acknowledging that religious plurality is a vital part of today’s society.
“The Spanish Court refused to be led into a modern-day inquisition but looked at the facts and came to the only possible conclusion. Today’s ruling will have major, positive influence for the Church throughout Europe.”
More than 100 witnesses testified during the trial. Their testimony, including that by many of the prosecutor’s own witnesses, showed that the entire case was an effort to manipulate the police and judiciary.
Since the case began in 1984, the Church has achieved full tax exemption as a religious and charitable organization in the United States, religious recognition in countries including Canada, Sweden and South Africa, dismissal of a long-standing case in Italy and religious recognition by that country’s Supreme Court, and scores of other positive rulings by judicial and administrative bodies throughout the world.
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