Scientology Runs Afoul of Russians

A regional court near Moscow has decided that books and brochures by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard constitute extremist material, and have now been officially banned from circulation in Russia for inciting hatred. The appeals case came in the wake of nearly two dozen Scientology essays by Hubbard which were removed from the nationwide ban list back in April

From The Moscow Times, "Scientology Literature Declared Extremist":

The Shchyolkovo town court, at the request of local prosecutors, ruled that Hubbard's book "What Is Scientology?" and "several other" brochures "call for extremist activities" and include "humiliating characteristics" of people depending on their social status, the statement said.

Hubbard's essays are "aimed at forming an isolated social group" whose main task is to "fight the rest of the world," it said.

The works should now be placed on the Justice Ministry's federal list of extremist materials and banned from distribution in Russia.

Inciting hatred can be punished by up to five years in prison.