Operation Clambake presents:
FBI

The H-Files

FBI files on L Ron Hubbard


FROM THE FILES OF THE FBI 323

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE
Published with The New York Times and the Washington Post
PARIS, MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1980

Court in France Recognizes Cult, Acquits Ex-Head

PARIS, March [?] (Reuters)--The Paris Court of Appeal has recognized the U.S.-based Church of Scientology as a religion and cleared a former leader of the movement's French branch of fraud.

Georges Andreu, former head of the cult in France, and three other leaders including the American founder, Ron Hubbard, had received fines and suspended prison sentences a year ago after the movement was accused of enticing people to join by making fraudulent promises. Mr. Andreu was the only one of the four to appeal.

The appeals court acquitted him on Friday because of what judges called his evident good faith. The court's president indicated that the three others, who were sentenced in their absence, might be acquitted if they appealed.

"Scientology seemed to correspond to a definition of religion in that it embraces both a faith and a community," the court said. The sect claims to have 5 million members around the world, including [illegible words] France.

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