A Challenge to Scientology: Show Respect for Human Rights

On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . The Declaration (minus its preamble) is reproduced below, interspersed with information about Scientology's disregard, per policy and past actions, for the human rights they claim to embrace.

In the summer of 1998, a contingent of Scientologists rallied through Europe to commemorate the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to counter the German government's critical stance on Scientology.

It is my feeling that the German government's criticism of Scientology reflects Germany's willingness to confront the truth about Scientology - its history of blatant disregard for the law and for the rights of the world's citizens. Scientology policy denies the human rights of both Scientologists and non-Scientologists, and Scientologists who have carried out those policies have caused untold harm to individuals all over the world.

I applaud Scientology and individual Scientologists for helping to draw attention to the tenets of this most important of human documents, and I urge them to actually embrace these principles immediately.

Actions speak louder than words.

 


In this document, text from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is in blue , quotes from Scientology policy are in red , and my own comments are in green .


THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

proclaims

THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.


Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Scientology literature states a belief that all people are basically good, not unlike stating that all are endowed with conscience. However, Scientology also believes that all people are at the mercy of their "reactive mind", which acts unreasoningly, so Scientology does not wholly embrace this article.

In Science of Survival , Hubbard describes people who place lower on the "Tone Scale" he invented, and says that the lower-ranking individuals do not have reason. He states:

The reasonable man quite ordinarily overlooks the fact that people from 2.0 down have no traffic with reason and cannot be reasoned with as one would reason with a 3.0.

Scientology policy states that some of us are more irrational and prone to evil acts than others. According to this excerpt from The Scientology Handbook at Scientology's web site:

There are certain characteristics and mental attitudes which cause about 20 percent of a race to oppose violently any betterment activity or group. ... if society were to recognize this personality type as a sick being as they now isolate people with smallpox, both social and economic recoveries could occur.

Here we can see that Scientology recommends quarantining 20 % of the world population. The same page says,

But the bulk of such people exhibit no outward signs of insanity. They appear quite rational. They can be very convincing.

As we see here, Scientology believes that this 20 % only appear rational.


Article 2.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

According to Scientology policy ( HCOPL 1 March 1965 HCO Ethics ):

A truly Suppressive Person or group has no rights of any kind and actions taken against them are not punishable.

While Scientology policy does not, to my knowledge, deny rights to individuals based on distinctions such as race, colour, or sex, it clearly DOES deny rights based on an equally frightening distinction: criticism of, disagreement with, or departure from Scientology. In other words, it denies those rights based on opinion, in direct conflict with Article 2.

Scientology's Fair Game policy specifically states that "Suppressive Persons" may be injured or destroyed. Scientologists have been applying this policy for decades, resulting in harassment, assault , and ruthlessly destructive litigation against critics.

As you read the remaining rights enumerated in this document, keep in mind that Scientology policy states that many people have, and deserve, NO rights at all.


Article 3.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

In Science of Survival , a key Scientology text, Hubbard wrote:

The reasonable man quite ordinarily overlooks the fact that people from 2.0 down have no traffic with reason and cannot be reasoned with as one would reason with a 3.0. There are only two answers for the handling of people from 2.0 down on the tone scale, neither one of which has anything to do with reasoning with them or listening to their justification of their acts. The first is to raise them on the tone scale by un-enturbulating some of their theta by any one of the three valid processes. The other is to dispose of them quietly and without sorrow.

Thus, individuals who fall below 2.0 on Hubbard's "Tone Scale" may be eliminated - destroyed - killed. Without sorrow. This is diametrically opposed to Article 3's insistence on the right to life.

Scientology also denies Scientologists the right of liberty. Two Scientology policies , the "Introspection Rundown" and the "RPF" (Rehabilitation Projects Force), call for individuals to be confined, and application of those policies has resulted in several cases of false imprisonment and at least one death .

And, again, Scientology's Fair Game policy conflicts with Article 3, stating instead that "Suppressive Persons" may be injured or destroyed.


Article 4.

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

According to a political dictionary's definition of "servitude", "It can also mean compulsory service or labor, such as a prisoner may undergo as punishment. " Scientology policy requires unpaid labor from Scientologists, both under the RPF and as part of "amends" projects for "lower ethics conditions" (which can include having a slow work week).

Although I don't believe Scientology policy endorses slavery, the many requirements for compulsory labor in Scientology are clearly at odds with Article 4.


Article 5.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Many former Scientologists describe horrifically cruel and degrading treatment meted out to them by Scientology executives (the one that turns my stomach is the peanut race ), but I am not aware of any Scientology policies calling for torture per se. However, the RPF is clearly designed, per policy, to be degrading. Scientologists assigned to the RPF must wear a dirty rag on their arms and are not allowed to speak to others.

Many people also consider the frequent and mandatory "sec checks" (security checks) to be degrading, as they contain questions of a highly personal nature (such as questions about one's sexual history).

Finally, a common Scientology practice, " bullbaiting ," involves having racial and sexual epithets and other derogatory comments yelled at the participant, who is required to endure it without any reaction whatsoever.


Article 6.

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

I am not aware of any Scientology policy that contradicts this article, unless you include the previously noted policy (HCOPL 1 March 1965 HCO Ethics):

A truly Suppressive Person or group has no rights of any kind and actions taken against them are not punishable.


Article 7.

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Once again, Scientology's Fair Game policy places it in conflict with this Universal Declaration:

May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed.

As seen here, Scientology policy states that some people (those who are subject to this Fair Game policy) are NOT entitled to equal protection of the law.

Another Scientology policy states that those who are "upstat" - who have been doing well, or making a lot of money - should never be punished, while those who are "downstat" should be investigated. This policy may have been a factor in a decision by Scientology management that a Scientologist who had molested two young girls, Tony Strawn, should NOT be turned over to the authorities, because he was "upstat". The following quote is from HCOPL 1 September 1965, "Ethics Protection":

In short a staff member can get away with murder so long as his statistic is up and can't sneeze without a chop if it's down. ... When people do start reporting a staff member with a high statistic, what you investigate is the person who turned in the report.


Article 8.

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Scientology policy conflicts with Article 8 in two ways. First, Scientology requires Scientologists to waive their rights to pursue justice through the civil courts; instead, Scientologists are required to pursue justice (such as it is) through Scientology's internal justice system.

Second, in order to receive Scientology training or services, Scientologists are required to waive their right to sue Scientology itself. Although this waiver is probably not enforceable, many of those who sign it believe that it is, and are thereby prevented from seeking justice through the competent national tribunals.


Article 9.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Many of those who have suffered Scientology's RPF program testify that their assignment to it was clearly arbitrary and involved detention under the watch of (sometimes armed) guards.


Article 10.

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Scientology policy conflicts with Article 10 in two ways. First, it requires Scientologists to waive their rights to pursue justice through the civil courts; instead, Scientologists are required to pursue justice (such as it is) through Scientology's internal justice system.

Second, in order to receive Scientology training or services, Scientologists are required to waive their right to sue Scientology itself. Although this waiver is probably not enforceable, many of those who sign it believe that it is, and are thereby prevented from seeking justice through the competent national tribunals.

Within Scientology, those accused of crimes are subject to a Scientology "Committee of Evidence," which lacks safeguards ensuring that it is independent or impartial. In addition, these procedings are not public, which further conflicts with Article 10.


Article 11.

(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.

Although I have heard that Scientology committees of evidence do not have any such presumption of innocence, I cannot find any policies referring to it at the moment, and in the spirit of this article, I will presume that Scientology is innocent of conflict with this provision until I see evidence to the contrary.

(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

I am not aware of any Scientology policies which contradict this section of this article, either.


Article 12.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Scientology does especially badly with Article 12.

Scientology "sec checks" (security checks), which are mandatory and frequent, constitute an extreme invasion of privacy. Scientologists are required to reveal their thoughts and opinions, their past sexual experiences, and any crimes or embarassing acts in their past.

Scientology policy grossly interferes with the family life of its "Sea Org" staff members, separating children from parents and forbidding ordinary communication and discipline, as shown in policy statement CMO ED 411:

The following are some Consultant Advices which are for the Cadet Org and which are to be known and followed by all staff:

  1. No order to a child or about a child must be permitted to go off lines. Parents must pass any order not to the child but through the CO Cadets who may alter or cut it if off pgm." (Consultant)
  2. Any discipline goes through the Cadet Org HAS and MAA. Any Comm Ev is committee’d only by children.

Even more egregious are Scientology policies for RPF members, who are forbidden from even talking about certain things with their families and are not allowed to enjoy the ordinary luxuries of life (such as music or games) during the infrequent visits they are allowed with family members, as seen in FLAG ORDER 3434RB:

PERSONAL RESTRICTIONS AND PENALTIES

6. ... Some contact with a spouse or child is permitted during the RPFer's meal time or securing time once daily if the RPFer is upstat. All the above is providing no discussion of case or condition occurs and providing there is NO enturbulation whatsoever from or between either. In the case of a pre-school child contact is allowed more than-once daily during mealtimes and the schedule is to be worked out with the RPF MAA.

20. May not have with them in the RPF ANY drugs or alcoholic beverages, radios, TV, taped music, musical instruments, chess games or any such entertainment or luxury, or consume such when on authorized visits to spouse or child.

Scientology policy mandates interference with incoming personal mail addressed to staff members and both incoming and outgoing mail for members of the RPF, as specified in HCO PL of Oct 7, 1970:

MAIL LINE

The mail opener opens all mail, whether personal or otherwise and no matter how marked on the cover, which is addressed to the organization or its personnel --- excepting only mail for students and/or preclears, and packages. Example: Any letter addressed personally to a staff member and received at the HASI, even though marked personal, would be opened.

According to former Scientologist Robert Vaughn Young , his incoming and outgoing mail was read, per policy, while he was on the RPF.

Finally, although I have not found a policy mandating the defamation of people who criticize Scientology, it happens regularly enough to be noted. Many public critics of Scientology have found themselves publicly defamed. I personally was libelled in a Scientology flier.


Article 13.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

As previously noted, two Scientology policies , the "Introspection Rundown" and the "RPF" (Rehabilitation Projects Force), mandate false imprisonment .


Article 14.

(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

I am not aware of any Scientology policies that conflict with Article 14.


Article 15.

(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

I am not aware of any Scientology policies that conflict with Article 15.


Article 16.

(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

I am not aware of any Scientology policies that conflict with these sections of Article 16, although Scientology policy prohibits certain employees from having children and at least three people have reported several cases of coerced abortions.

(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Although Scientology pays lip service to this principle, in practice Scientology splits up families by placing Sea Org members' children in the Cadet Org, and by requiring Scientologists in many cases to disconnect from family members who are critical of Scientology.


Article 17.

(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Once again, Scientology's Fair Game policy places it in conflict with this Universal Declaration:

May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed.


Article 18.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

  Scientology policy conflicts with Article 18. As we see in "Introduction to Scientology Ethics", Scientology considers the following to be "Suppressive Acts" (the most serious wrongdoing in Scientology, worse than "High Crimes"):

  • Continued membership in a divergent group;
  • Organizing a splinter group to use Scientology data or any part of it to distract people from standard Scientology;
  • Organizing splinter groups to diverge from Scientology practices, still calling it Scientology or calling it something else;
  • Calling meetings of staffs or field auditors or the public to deliver Scientology into the hands of unauthorized persons or (persons) who will suppress it or alter it or who have no reputation for following standard lines and procedures;

Scientology defines itself (in some locations, but not others) as a religion, but by policy, the organization denies the fundamental rites of Scientology to those who wish to practice or follow Scientology outside the official organization. Scientology has attempted to deny others the right to practice Scientology through trade secret litigation; however, that attempt has largely failed, as the "trade secrets" have become public knowledge.


Article 19.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Again, Scientology policy conflicts with Article 19. As we see in "Introduction to Scientology Ethics", Scientology considers the following types of expression to be "Suppressive Acts" (the most serious wrongdoing in Scientology, worse than "High Crimes"):

  • Public disavowal of Scientology or Scientologists in good standing with Scientology organizations;
  • Public statements against Scientology or Scientologists but not to Committees of Evidence duly convened;
  • Proposing, advising or voting for legislation or ordinances, rules or laws directed toward the suppression of Scientology;
  • Testifying hostilely before state or public inquiries into Scientology to suppress it;
  • Reporting or threatening to report Scientology or Scientologists to civil authorities in an effort to suppress Scientology or Scientologists from practicing or receiving standard Scientology;
  • Writing anti-Scientology letters to the press or giving anti-Scientology or anti-Scientologist evidence to the press;
  • Testifying as a hostile witness against Scientology in public;

In addition, Scientology's mandatory "sec checks" (security checks) delve into the individual's private thoughts while the individual is connected to a primitive lie-detector device. Among the questions:

Have you ever had unkind thoughts about L. Ron Hubbard?


Article 20.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

Scientology policy conflicts with Article 20. As we see in "Introduction to Scientology Ethics", Scientology considers the following types of peaceful assembly and association to be "Suppressive Acts" (the most serious wrongdoing in Scientology, worse than "High Crimes"):

  • Continued membership in a divergent group;
  • Continued adherence to a person or group pronounced a Suppressive Person or Group by HCO;
  • Being at the hire of anti-Scientology groups or persons;
  • Organizing a splinter group to use Scientology data or any part of it to distract people from standard Scientology;
  • Organizing splinter groups to diverge from Scientology practices, still calling it Scientology or calling it something else;
  • Calling meetings of staffs or field auditors or the public to deliver Scientology into the hands of unauthorized persons or (persons) who will suppress it or alter it or who have no reputation for following standard lines and procedures;

(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

I am not aware of any Scientology policy that conflicts with this section of Article 20. 


Article 21.

(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.

(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Excepting for the moment that Scientology denies the right to practice Scientology to those who work for law enforcement agencies and those with family members working for law enforcement agencies (which seems to conflict with section 2 of this article), I am not aware of any Scientology policies that conflict with Article 21.


Article 22.

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

  I am not aware of any Scientology policies that conflict with Article 22.


Article 23.

(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

I am not aware of any Scientology policies that conflict with these two sections of Article 23.

(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

Scientology denies this right to its employees. In accordance with Scientology policy , Scientology offices routinely ignore minimum wage and other labor laws, as confirmed by multiple reports of ex-staffers who received a pittance in salary for overlong work weeks.

(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Scientology policy conflicts with this principle, as seen in HCOPL 29 Apr 65, Ethics: PETITION", which states:

No two persons or more may simultaneously petition on the same matter, and if so the petition must at once be refused by the person petitioned. Collective petition is a crime under Ethics ...


Article 24.

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

  Although I am not aware of any Scientology policy that conflicts with this principle, there are numerous policies that mandate loss of "libs" (liberty, or free time) and many stories of Scientology employees working inhumane work weeks, especially (but not only) on the RPF.


Article 25.

(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

Scientology denies this right to its employees. In accordance with Scientology policy , Scientology offices routinely ignore minimum wage and other labor laws, as confirmed by multiple reports of ex-staffers who received a pittance in salary for overlong work weeks. Furthermore, Scientology makes no provision for pensions for its workers, and several stories indicate that ill or aging Scientology employees are "off-loaded" and left to fend for themselves after a lifetime of service to Scientology.

(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

I am not aware of any Scientology policy conflicting with special care for mothers (indeed, Scientology policy is to keep silent around a pregnant woman who has been hurt, a policy that may be well-intentioned but which may increase risk to the mother and unborn child). However, it is Scientology policy that children are NOT special or different from adults; instead, they are "thetans" (souls) in small bodies. As a result, children are subjected to the RPF and the physically dangerous "Purification Rundown", and are often worked long, hard hours , just like their parents.


Article 26.

(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

  I am not aware of any Scientology policies that conflict with this principle.

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

To the extent that Scientologists and children pursue studies based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard, their education may result in a decrease in respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Several statements in Hubbard's writings show that he was no proponent of human rights. Study and application of Scientology ethics, as laid out in "Introduction to Scientology Ethics", would, in my opinion, tend to produce a reduced respect for human rights and freedoms.

(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

  I am not aware of any Scientology policies that conflict with this principle.


Article 27.

(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

  I am not aware of any Scientology policies that conflict with Article 27.


Article 28.

Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

As noted above, according to Scientology policy (HCOPL 1 March 1965 HCO Ethics):

A truly Suppressive Person or group has no rights of any kind and actions taken against them are not punishable.

Since approximately 2 1/2 percent of the population is suppressive (according to Scientology), Scientology would deny these rights and freedoms to several million people.


Article 29.

(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

  I am not aware of any Scientology policies that conflict with this principle.

(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

As noted throughout this document, Scientology seeks to curtail the rights and freedoms of both Scientologists and non-Scientologists, in contradiction of this principle.

(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

  I am not aware of any Scientology policies that conflict with this principle.


Article 30.

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

This makes it clear that none of these rights may be used to deny or destroy the rights of others. Thus, for example, Article 18's statement of the right to religious freedom does not grant any individual or religious group the right to deny the rights of others. Scientology has argued in court that its Fair Game policy is a central tenet of the Scientology religion and therefore deserves protection as an expression of religious practice. That assertion is in conflict with this article and this declaration.


Our human rights are by no means secure or guaranteed. We must all do our part to ensure that everyone enjoys these rights, everywhere in the world.

You can help protect human rights in your community, your country, and your own life. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Support Amnesty International . AI was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for its worldwide work for human rights. Two excellent ways to help are to contribute a donation or write a letter expressing support for a political prisoner.
  • Write your elected representatives . Let them know that human rights issues are important to you. Let them know about a human rights issue that needs their attention, such as a case from the AI page or Scientology's human rights abuses listed above.
  • Write to Scientology . Tell them, politely, that you appreciate their support for human rights, and urge them to address human rights violations within their own organization.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about human rights and for making the effort to protect them for all the world's citizens.


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This page was last updated on May 8, 1999.