France OKs Scientology Acquittals - 1999-07-01

France OKs Scientology Acquittals July 1, 1999, Associated Press

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PARIS (AP) _ France's highest court has upheld the acquittal of nine members of the Church of Scientology accused of corruption and theft, ruling it lacks the authority to decide whether Scientology is a religion.

In 1997, the nine church members were acquitted by an appeals court in the southeastern city of Lyon which ruled that they had been convicted without sufficient evidence.

Prosecutors had argued the church was a sect that defrauded people of their money. The defense had argued it was a legitimate religion with the right to ask members for money.

Wikipedia cite:

{{cite news | title = France OKs Scientology Acquittals | url = http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1999/France-OKs-Scientology-Acquittals/id-99ec2afe3a7d7410b492ac619d8eff9a | work = Associated Press | date = July 1, 1999 | accessdate = January 14, 2017 }}