Politicians in Denmark are due to debate Scientology in Parliament following a series of damning articles about working conditions in Berlingske, one of the country’s largest newspapers.
In the series, former Scientologist Cyril Chiquet told how he was recruited into Scientology’s Sea Organisation at the age of 16, signing a one billion year contract and worked 14 hour days, 7 days a week with fear of punishments and disconnection leaving him “afraid of being ostracised” if he spoke out.
According to Berlingske, Scientology have engaged in a significant property acquisition strategy in Denmark and now owns properties worth 424 Million Danish Krone (£48 million GBP / $63.5 million USD) in the country. It’s European continental headquarters are located in Copenhagen.
Kim Aas, a member of the Danish Parliament spoke to Berlingske and said “after all, what Scientology does is brainwashing […] they can create a fortune, among other things, by purchasing properties. But there is especially a human consequence in that it destroys families. It is completely unacceptable and not something we have to accept in Danish society.”
Mr. Aas is now due to raise Scientology’s working conditions at the next meeting of the Danish Parliament’s ‘Church Committee’. “I also want to contact the Ministry of the Church and hear what information there is in relation to warning signs and how the process has been handled around Scientology in recent years,” he says.
Just two months ago, concerns were raised about ‘Maria’, a 9 year old child who was forced to undergo Scientology’s notorious ‘Purification Rundown’ in Copenhagen. The program involves taking dangerously high doses of Niacin and extended sauna sessions, with several deaths occurring at Scientology ‘drug rehabilitation centres’ delivering the program in the US. Despite numerous reports being made to the Danish authorities, she was spotted by live streamers a few days later being taken into Scientology’s building.
Former Minister for Children Mai Mercado is also backing plans to review Scientology’s practices, telling the newspaper “I believe that there are some social authorities who should go out and end Scientology. Better today than tomorrow. It’s a sect that is strongly culture-bearing, and why should it still be happening when it has been happening for so many years?”
Scientology is not recognised as a religion in Denmark and as such, is subject to the same employment laws any other business must comply with. Mercado wants the authorities to step in to investigate Scientology’s working conditions, “this also applies if they are adults who work under slave-like conditions. We simply cannot accept that in a country like Denmark, where we have rights and where we are protected by legislation.”
In their response to the criticism in Berlingske, the newspaper reports “Scientology does not deny that there have been working hours from 9 am to 11 pm every day of the week. Just as the organization also does not relate to the fact that defector Cyril Chiquet was 16 when he signed a contract for the rest of his life and then worked to an extent that is in violation of Danish law.”
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