A court in Moscow has upheld a decision banning books from the Church of Scientology as “extremist literature,” Radio Free Europe reported.
Court representatives said it was proven that Scientology aimed to form isolated religious groups and “prepared to engage in extremist activities in a battle with the rest of the world.”
The church has faced controversy in recent years for its religious claims, methods of operation and several public relations disasters, including the 2009 departure of award-winning director Paul Haggis due to Scientology's involvement with the promotion of California's Proposition 8 gay marriage ban.
The initial Russian decision declaring the works of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard as extremist came down in June. The church is appealing the ruling.
As of now, Hubbard’s work is officially on Russia’s banned materials list.
