Prosecutor asks for dissolution of Belgian Scientology Church

The federal prosecutor has demanded that the Church of Scientology in Belgium be dissolved, and given the maximum fine, report various Belgian media. The Church, with headquarters in Mechelen, and 11 of its employees are charged with fraud, illegal medical practice and formation a criminal organisation.

The Belgian government wants the controversial church to be shut down as a criminal organisation, after 19 years of research led to indications that Scientology in Belgium is a commercial enterprise that extorts its members for money, according to the public prosecutor.

Even if Scientology is sentenced after a long court process, it will not necessarily mean the end of the Church in Belgium, as a non-profit organisation can simply set up again under a new name.