Keith Henson, an outspoken anti-Scientology activist, was arrested last night and is currently being held at the Prescott Detention Center in Arizona. His wife, Arel Lucas, says he was taken into custody on a 6-year old bench warrant issued by a Riverside County judge.
Henson's troubles began in 2001 when he was convicted of "interfering with a religion", a misdemeanor under California law, for picketing outside Scientology's facility in Hemet, CA. He eventually fled to Canada after receiving a number of death threats. He was deported in 2005 after his asylum bid was rejected.
Lucas strongly suspects that the Church of Scientology is involved in Henson's current incarceration and fears for both his life and her own. The death threats have been constant since 2001. Scientology's power and reach has become considerable in recent years, leading to accusations that it is not so much a cult as it is an organized crime outfit that disguises itself as a religious organization.
In addition to his anti-Scientology activism, Henson is a pioneer in the transhumanist and cryonics movements. After receiving word of Henson's incarceration, the transhumanist community quickly mobilized. The Prescott Detention Center has been inundated with calls from concerned supporters. Various media outlets have been alerted (including BoingBoing), and a number of Websites have already been set up to raise awareness in support od Henson's cause (including Free Keith Henson). The Extropy Institute has set up fund to help Henson with mounting costs.
Learn more about Keith Henson and his plight here, here, and here.
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16 comments:
Keith Henson YTMND:
http://criticofscientologyarrested.ytmnd.com
Wow, what a shame that in the United States you can use the right of religious protection to further extortion through "copyright infringement" lawsuits and imprisonment via false witness. So, where is that religion where I can smoke marijuana? Does that not exist because the tenets of Scientology are more appropriate within the context of the laws of these lands?
May the druids of Arizona protect you, Keith Henson... and may the hedges overgrow the walls of your persecutors, as their tax-exempt status is totally-revoked, and their "good works" become known to all.
This is a damned joke and a travestry of the American judicial system. What the hell is 'interfering with a religion'? As another commenter stated, does that mean that the government of California is guilty of the crime as well because they prohibit Rastafaris from smoking pot?
Further proof that Scientology is nothing more than a dangerous cult run by megalomaniacs and psychopaths.
FSM speed to you, may His Noodly Apendage protect you against these tyrants.
I don't even understand how they conned the IRS into giving them exempt taxes in the first place. I mean I'm not religious and don't mind what other people practice, but just one look at what this place screams CULT. Just another reason why I boycott ole tommyboy.
It isn't so much the fight with Copyright, as I do understand there are some legal issues there...
(Just look at the continuing legal battle between the LDS Church and the Lighthouse Ministries)
But I am concerned about the whole freedom of speech thing...
When an organization can quell the dissenting voice of any individual, you have a problem. The LDS Church gathers detractors around the time of their semi-annual conference like flies on crap, but they don't prevent them from using public property to protest (just not on private property).
None are arrested and none are charged with any type of crime (unless they commit assault or something - it is rare, but that does sometimes happen).
We don't want to believe that this kind of discrimination could happen within the united states, but it can...
Welcome to America, land of the Litigious, land of the Everlasting Court interferance in normal, daily life...
It will soon be illegal to belong to any religion for fear of offending someone (or to not belong to a religion for the same reason)...
As another person has pointed out, the Government has interfered with religion on many levels...
Some religions sacrifice animals (illegal in the US)
Some religions use drugs (American Indians, etc) - also illegal in the US...
Some religions practice poligamy (also illegal in the US)
Why haven't they been charged with this hate crime? And why haven't they been hit with CONSPIRACY to COMMIT that specific Hate Crime? You could ALMOST hit them with RICO for this... (oh, but wait, it is the Government...never mind...they have protected themselves from this by passing laws that say they can legally do it...or do it without fear of it being illegal)
The thing to do is for all supporters of Keith Henson to become ordained ministers. The process is simple: Google "Universal Life Church". In a few minutes, and at no cost, you can become an officially ordained minister. Next, sign up a congregation - your friends and family. Then join with other LiberHensonite churches and have a pro bono lawyer sue the California penal system for interfering with your religion, which is, by God, represented by dozens of congregations led by ordained ministers. "Interfering with your religion" by incarcerating its prophet, of course. When fighting irrationality, using reason only fuels the flame. Don't forget that. Let's allow creative irrationality its chance to flourish - but still and all, don't neglect to contribute to Keith's defense fund!
Hmmm. An alleged religion infringing on free speech and civil liberties. Thank God we founded a country where that couldn't happen. any more. And that couldn't've been possible unless we'd moved away from the spirit of the Salem witchhunts and the Spanish Inquisition.
If you guys want any help in helping Keith get released, tell me. I have a liberal political blog that gets 11,000-18,000+ hits a day and I can reach a lot of people. I've always hated Scientologists ever since one of my employees took me in the one near the Charles River in Boston. I love knocking those fucking pricks around.
Scientology is a con - always has been and always will be.
For those that don't know the history, it was started by scifi author L. Ron Hubbard as an intellectual exercise to prove that you could get the unwashed masses to believe in anything.
It then took on a life of its' own, perpetuated by greedy people / organized crime.
This has been PROVEN - but you can't get a scientologist to believe it - even when L Ron himself told them that it was all a con they didn't believe it !!
Who's next??
Kieth, your frozen stupid!
Getting less then you deserve.
flik
..... I wonder how US is where it is today even when it cant clean its own backyard of these dangerous cults?
Look inwards dude.... it need not be China or Iraq that u have to worry about... as long as abominations like Scientology exist & flourish.
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