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Lyon, France: Legal confrontation between two anti-cult activists

http://www.leprogres.fr/rhone/2012/06/20/tribunal-clochemerle-dans-la-lutte-anti-sectes

Both fight for a noble cause: anti-cult activism. They target more
specifically Scientology, both being former members of that movement.
But for many years these two old comrades are caught in a personal
conflict that brought them yesterday before the 6th Criminal Court.

On one side Roger Gonnet, 71 years old, one of the founding officers
of Scientology in Lyon, who later became one of its most fierce
opponents during the '90s. On the other side 60 years old Jean-Luc
Barbier. This Swiss citizen sued Scientology in his country after
having been n its mist for 10 years. Both meet in 1997 and widely
collaborated for their cause. Until 2009 when the breaking-off
ocurred.

Barbier considers that Gonnet goes too far and that his methods are
aggressive. Gonnet believes that Barbier is incompetent and accuses
him of wanting to make money on the advice he gave him. The
confrontation takes place on Internet discussion forums through a back
and forth of scathing repartees. But at this game, Roger Gonnet lacks
prudence. He calls his adversary a psychopath, a swindler or even a
pedo-pornographer. These grave and public attacks can be counted by
dozens.

Worn-out, Jean-Luc Barbier files a complaint for insults and
defamation. "A digital lapidating" according to his lawyer Hervé
Banbanaste, who insisted on its irreversibility: "Impossible to remove
those insults from Google where they will remain as indelible stains.
For Barbier, it is the equivalent of a life sentence on Internet."

Roger Gonnet acknowledges the insults, but sticks by them: his
opponent is detrimental to the anti-cult fight. The district attorney
calls for a 1000 euros fine. Barbier requests 25'000 euros for
damages. The judge's decision will be known by September 18.

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