Free speech

We love to see Tom Cruise on the silver screen and we know he is very actively involved in scientology. Is it relevant? It became relevant to me because we have heard time and time again that scientology isn't just a 'religion'. It seems to have many telltale elements of a sect or a cult separating members from their families and indoctrinating them. When on May 10 in London a group of people protested against the Church of Scientology outside the church's £23m headquarters near St Paul's cathedral, they were banned by police from describing Scientology as a cult by police because it was "abusive and insulting". A teenager now facing court said: "I brought a sign to the May 10th protest that said: 'Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult.' When I was told to put down the sign, I quoted a 1984 high court ruling from Mr Justice Latey, in which he described the Church of Scientology as a "cult" which was "corrupt, sinister and dangerous". In other cities of Britain, protesters using the same statements never have been stopped from doing so. What is the status of free speech in the UK? Liberty director, Shami Chakrabarti states: "After criminalising the use of the word 'cult', perhaps the next step is to ban the words 'war' and 'tax' from peaceful demonstrations?"
We need to defend free speech and freedom of thought, one doesn't go without the other.