Scientologists engaged in a campaign to distribute booklets promoting their ‘Truth About Drugs’ front group outside the Allianz Rugby stadium in Twickenham, photos reveal.
Volunteers for the Foundation for a Drug Free World, which came under fire last year for falsely claiming endorsements from various Police forces around the globe, were spotted outside the iconic stadium on Sunday 23rd November handing out booklets produced by the Church of Scientology.
The Metropolitan Police previously demanded the organisation remove their logo from their website after it was revealed the group were falsely suggesting their materials were being used by the force.
At last month’s gathering of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) in East Grinstead, Sussex the Scientology claimed Drug Free World was “the largest nongovernmental drug education program in the world” with their website claiming the group has “brought the Truth About Drugs to 2,700 events in nearly 400 cities and towns in the past year, from community street fairs to mega sporting events like the FIFA Club World Cup.”
The Foundation for a Drug Free World is not a registered charity in the United Kingdom and operates under Scientology’s Office of Special Affairs, the PR division of the controversial church. The ‘Truth About Drugs’ booklets distributed by the group are produced internally by Scientology’s publishing arm and contain several medical and scientific claims about the effect of drugs on the human body.
A poster promoting the distribution campaign includes a statement that says ‘United for a Cleared UK’, a reference to Scientology’s goal of clearing the population of their reactive minds, a psuedo-scientific part of the subconscious mind L. Ron Hubbard claimed is responsible for trauma, negative emotions and stress. The statement suggests the campaign may have been a covert recruitment campaign for the Church of Scientology under the guise of informing the public about the dangers of drugs.
The poster also featured the contact information for Stephan, the Director of Special Affairs at the Church of Scientology London responsible for public relations (redacted).
A similar campaign was organised during the 2024 Paris Olympics, during which a double decker bus was driven around the city with a large banner and dozens of volunteers handed out flyers outside key sporting venues. In response, the French government issued a warning stating:
“Scientology representatives propose in particular to convert people on the occasion of a free personality test, the distribution of tracts or brochures, free “introductory” conferences, courses and study of “dianetics”, the learning and personal development methodology created by Ron Hubbard or any other “cultural” or “humanitarian” events.”
“Scientology practices present risks of mental destabilisation, exorbitant financial demands, and disruption to family life.”
“Several representatives or organisations of Scientology have been the subject of judicial convictions in France: in 1997, conviction of the former president of Scientology in Lyon for involuntary manslaughter, following the suicide of a follower, and fraud; in 1999, conviction of five Scientologists for fraud by the criminal court of Marseille; and in October 2013, confirmation by the Court of Cassation of the conviction of two of the main French structures of Scientology (the ‘Spiritual Association Church of Scientology – Celebrity Center’ and its bookstore), for organised fraud , aggravated receiving stolen goods , extortion, to fines totalling €600,000, of four of its directors to suspended prison sentences and fines for the same acts, and finally of two other managers to fines for illegal practice of pharmacy.”
French newspaper Le Parisien reported that booklets had been distributed containing “factual information on the dangers of drugs, [enabling] everyone to make an informed decision about drug use”… without mentioning any explicit link with Scientology.”
Photos posted on social media show a number of volunteers handing out the same booklets outside Twickenham stadium during the England v Argentina match on 23rd November.
The Rugby Football Union has been approached for comment.
