Fugitive From Scientology?
Friday May 11, 2007
Or, a strange story just got a whole lot stranger. Keith Henson is a vocal critic of The Church of Scientology, which is not exactly a rare hobby these days. Unlike most religious critics, however, Keith is suffering for publicizing his views. Seven years ago, he made some joking remarks on the internet about "Tom Cruise missiles," prompting church members to report him for 'threatening remarks.' Henson was arrested, and tried for interfering with a religion for his remarks and anti-Scientology picketing. Astonishingly, he was convicted, and sentenced to six months in California prison, a fairly harsh sentence for toting picket signs.*
Rather than serve what appears to be a pretty unjust sentence, Keith fled to Canbada, seeking political asylum. When that failed, he returned to the US, where his sentence had been upped to a year. Tuesday, while driving in Prescott, Arizona, he was re-arrested (some say illegally) on a California warrant. He is now fighting extradition to California.
*Also ironic given the church's penchant for picketing.
Comments
I find it very hard to believe that this is all there is to the story. There have been tons of Ex-Scientologists who have been very outspoken and who have said all kinds of things that were more damning than a joke.
It might play a role that Henson is an explosives expert and most likely capable of actually blowing up Scientology facilities (as he was “jokingly” saying).
He joked ab out a “Tom Cruise missile,” which obviousdly does not exist. bthe context is clearly a joking one, and anything he is “capable” of doing is irrelevant.