“Scientology Fugitive” Arrested
By RU SiriusFebruary 4th, 2007
On Friday, Arizona police arrested a 64-year-old man — a fugitive since 2001 in a bizarre war that mixes free speech, copyright law, and the Church of Scientology.
Keith Henson’s journey began seven years ago while innocuously watching another critic mock the group on an internet newsgroup. In a gonzo discussion about procuring a “Tom Cruise missile,” they’d joked about working with “Secret Agent 99, wearing a stunning black leather biker outfit.” Other posters joined in the internet discussion, asking whether Tom Cruise missiles are affected by wind.”No way,” Keith joked. “Modern weapons are accurate to a matter of a few tens of yards.”
The police were informed of his “threatening” posts, and Henson was arrested.
The police tipsters were the Scientologists themselves, who had already been the targets of an annoying picketing campaign by Henson over the death of a woman near their complex. Besides Henson’s inability to acquire long-range missiles, his wife notes bitterly that it would be impossible for any church members in the complex to feel threatened by the internet posts, since they aren’t even allowed to access the internet. Scientology officials have also claimed Henson followed their employees home — though Henson counters that “the same people who claimed to have been ‘terrorized’ by the picketers offered to take them to lunch on June 25, 2000, evidently to distract them from the death scene being cleaned up.”
Though Henson was found innocent of long-range missile terrorism, for his activities he was convicted of interfering with a church — a California hate crime for which he received a six-month misdemeanor prison sentence. But Henson said he feared his life would be in danger from Scientologists if he were imprisoned - and he fled to Canada in 2001.
He was already bankrupt from an earlier ruling that he’d infringed on Scientology copyrights. But Henson continued picketing Scientologists in Toronto, and they apparently retaliated by informing Canadian police of his presence. (Henson believes the Scientologists told police he was a terrorist and bomb maker.) L.A. Weekly reported two unmarked vans pulled up and “a handful of emergency-services task-force officers — Canada’s version of a police SWAT team — spilled out, wearing body armor and carrying submachine guns.” Describing the event, the EFF reported Henson was “arrested in a shopping mall parking lot, by a heavily armed paramilitary unit.”
EFF Executive Director Shari Steele argued that Free speech was at stake in his case: “This trial seems intended to punish Mr. Henson for his opposition to a powerful organization using the barest thread of legal justification to do so.”
His wife added in an interview with a Canadian newsweekly that “It’s horrifying to me and to his friends how they’ve managed to twist his words.”
Henson was ultimately released from a Canadian jail after filing an application for political asylum — reportedly the first ever accepted for review by the Canadian government, and for the next three years he lived as an expatriate in Canada, awaiting their decision.
When asked to describe life in Canada, he replied “colder.” As the years rolled by, Henson explained his picketing strategy evolved out of a desire to have a real impact. In a 2005 interview he argued that heavy-handed legal tactics intimidated police from acting against the organization, and “Starving Scientology of new members is perhaps the best we can do.”
But when Canadian officials reached a decision in 2005, Henson was suddenly filled with concern. The hearing could result in his deportation back to the prison where he feared for his life. He reportedly said, “I’m not going to be shoved across the border into the hands of Scientologists,” Henson slipped out of Canada, returning to fugitive status, and joked that he was hiding in the Mortmain Mountains — the treachorous range in Lemony Snicket books.
For 17 months he lived on the lam. Yesterday, in the small town of Prescott, Arizona — the law finally caught up with him. Henson had been driving his wife’s car, and when stopped by police, was soon informed of the outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody, and faces extradition back to the California prison he’s feared for the last six years. Saturday morning Henson’s wife, identifying herself as a “soon to be widow,” issued a plea asking the public for legal help, publicity — “anything but the usual Scientology private eyes who have harassed her for years.”
Henson has a long history of activity within tech culture. He was one of the founders and leaders of the L5 Space Colony movement in the 1970s. (California’s new Attorney General, Jerry Brown, was also in the L5 orbit when he was Governor of that state.) He was a close associate of K. Eric Drexler while Drexler was conceiving nanotechnology. He has also been active in the digital encryption movement, and has been associated with the Transhumanist movement — particularly Extropy Institute.
Former Extropy Institute members and other well wishers have already created a legal defense fund. There is also now a “Free Keith Henson” blog where people can keep track of new developments. Henson has many friends and late Friday night one supporter even called the jail, according to a
Usenet post, and spoke to a prison staffer.
“I asked if he’d tell Keith that Tory sent her love. And I asked him to please watch after Keith.”
See also:
California Cults
Adopt an African Hottie’s Clitoris
Crooks of the World Hurt Free Speech
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Ivan Jimenez Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Keith Henson is obviously psychotic, being irrationally afraid of the group he was attacking. The only thing Keith Henson has to be afraid is his own psychotic mind. Terrorist treats are serious and if the court found him guilty there had to be a powerful reason behind it. He could have been the next Timothy McVeigh. Good thing he was stooped.
Wax-Q Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Questions:
1. When a Catholic complains to police about someone harassing them, do you automatically blame the entire Catholic church?
2. Why did Henson run away when staying and fighting it in court would have called attention to his cause?
It’s really sad he wasted so much of his life on the run, because I think he actually had a good chance of beating the charges. Paranoia about Scientology is the problem here, not Scientology.
I hope this all ends swiftly and happily for everyone involved, and hopefully he can go home free.
RU Sirius Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Keith Henson’s wife, Arel Lucas, reports that Keith is asking supporters to call the Governor of California…
“When I just talked to him, Keith requested phone calls made to both governors.
To the Governor of California: why did you sign a “governor’s
warrant” for Keith’s extradition? This is not generally done except
in felony cases. What is the charge of obstruction of justice, and
how was it urged?
I would add, what on earth would make you spend money needed for
public health and safety issues on dragging back to California a
64-year-old engineer who has never done anyone any harm and who has
been living peacefully both in Canada, where he sought formal asylum
from death threats connected with an unduly harsh sentence, and in the
United States since he returned from Canada?
The Governor of Arizona has to sign his extradition warrant as well.
Please try to dissuade her from doing so. It is probably better for
Keith if he does his time here. In the meantime we will be working to
try to straighten out the mess in California.
Thank you for your support. Please pass this on.”
SchwimmelPuckel Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Hosé Himirez sez: “Keith Henson is obviously psychotic, being irrationally afraid of the group he was attacking. The only thing Keith Henson has to be afraid is his own psychotic mind. Terrorist treats are serious and if the court found him guilty there had to be a powerful reason behind it. He could have been the next Timothy McVeigh. Good thing he was stooped.”
Sure! - Terrorist threats are serious. But take note that the court DISMISSED the charge of threats. Mr. Henson was convicted for ‘intefering with a religion’, and at that it was not mentioned that the ‘religion’ was $cientology.
Lets hear what $cientologys inventor has to say re. terrorist threats:
L. Ron Hubbard Says:
“the law can be used very easily to harass … The purpose of the suit is to harass and discourage, rather than to win - if possible, of course, ruin [the target] utterly”
Looks like that’s what’s being done to Mr. Henson doesn’t it?
If it is, then that’s done in contempt of the intire justice system! - But what the heck, $cientology is in contempt of humanity, so what’s new?
Read more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_(Scientology)
http://www.xenu.net/
Os Wilkes Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
“Ivan Jimenez Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Keith Henson is obviously psychotic, being irrationally afraid of the group he was attacking. The only thing Keith Henson has to be afraid is his own psychotic mind. Terrorist treats are serious and if the court found him guilty there had to be a powerful reason behind it. He could have been the next Timothy McVeigh. Good thing he was stooped.”
Dear Ivan Jimenez,
Where did you get your degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice?
People who are interested in the truth about Henson will read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Henson
We can all decide for ourselves whether or not Henson or his character assassin Ivan Jimenez should be “stooped”.
Love,
Os
Paul Horner Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
YTMND on Keith Henson:
http://criticofscientologyarrested.ytmnd.com
Digg!
http://www.digg.com/offbeat_news/Critic_of_Scientology_Arrested
Information on Keith Henson:
http://www.operatingthetan.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Henson
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2006/4/17/194059/296
http://www.scientology-lies.com/mywritings/hensonsentencing.html
http://freekeithhenson.blogspot.com
Ron Sharp Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Too bad for “Ivan Jimenez” that Keith Henson was never convicted of terrorism, and there’s absolutely nothing irrational about being afraid of actions by the Church of Scientology. Look up Paulette Cooper and “Operation Freakout” for a look at just part of their standard playbook against critics.
JeraldR Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Ivan,
being irrationally afraid? Have you seen the damage this cult has done not only to my country, the USA. But around the world. The very fact that this cult will try to destory anyone who is brave enough to speak out against them should scare all of us to death.
scientology speaks of Human Rights all the time. But those rights seem only to apply to members of scientology. The right to protest is one of the most basic and importent rights in this country. No american should be arested for peace ful protest.
scientology will pay for this huge mistake. I will make sure every blog, every web site and every person I know hears of this. And I am not alone. Am I too interfering with a regilion? No, I am stopping a deadly cult.
American’s don’t like it when our basic rights are abused. And I bet you are going to learn this real fast.
EVERYONE,
Make your voices heard over this outrage. Make phone calls, write e-mails, donate to any defence fund set up.
Contact everyone you can think of. Send scientology a loud and clear message.
We will not let you strip our rights away.
We will not let you steal the souls of our loved ones.
We will not let you hurt those who can’t help themselfs.
We outnumber you a million to one and you have crossed the line. Not only will our freedom loving foot step on you, but we will also enjoy the crunching sound.
If you want to be treated like a church, try acting like one.
Arnaldo Lerma Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
http://ocmb.lermanet.us/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=388
Sunday February 4, 2007
Citizens Against Corruption
dba Lermanet.com Exposing the CON
PRESS RELEASE REGARDING KEITH HENSON
Keith Henson was charged with terrorism and those charges were dropped.
That the keyword terrorist has been CONTRIVED to appear
in what appears to be data from the NCIC database, is more evidence
of tampering with official government computer resources by someone who has access on behalf of scientology.
There is a previous tenuous bit of evidence of tampering of NCIC database records, for the Warrant for the Arrest in Florida of Martin Eugene Ingram,
http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/latimes/ingram012781.htm
one of scientology’s dirty ex-cops they hired as a private investigator.
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/sp/PI.html
Eugene Ingram was a prior associate of mob crime boss attorney Elliot Abelson before Abelson saw value in becoming a scientologist.
When Keith went to Canada, the terrorist allegations were used to frame him in Canada and a SWAT team held Keith Henson and friend Greg Hagglund at gunpoint in a shopping center. This is how they attempt to file charges and associate anyone with him as a terrorist. The RFW hate pages and spammers to alt.religion.scientology make this clear to place Keiths name of far more importance as a terrorist compared to what?
Portraying Keith as a terrorist misdirects attention from the fact of convicted terrorist Artur Solomonyan who was convicted of transporting weapons and was traveling on a ‘religious workers visa’ in the name of scientology.
When writing to any of the law or political outlets, the mention that the distraction and placing of Keith on this level aims to lessen something that is far worse in the big picture of this cult.
LINK http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.scientology/browse_frm/thread/7903c696f63a881b/836bbe282b3069c3?&hl=en#836bbe282b3069c3
to original posting
“http://www.holysmoke.org/cos/scientology-weapons-smuggler.htm
Solomonyan entered the United States six years ago on a cultural exchange visa claiming he was a religious worker for the Church of Scientology, according to law enforcement officials, also speaking on condition of anonymity. ”
Archive here:
http://ocmb.lermanet.us/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=388
xenu Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
“Ivan Jimenez” is absolutely correct that there was a powerful reason for Henson’s conviction: namely Scientolology corruption and influence on the court. The CA attorney general should make a full investigation of the circumstances of the corruption and the Scientologist criminals responsible should be imprisoned for a very long time.
Sun-Tzu Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Hey HIVan, or Tom C., or John T., go back to your old life, you know, picking up newly arrived derelict boys on the Boulevard for clandestine “roughhousing”.
Then go plead forgiveness from your friggin’ E-Meter©.
Bill Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Scientology might be the instigator but his persecuter is the State-USA and Canada. I have never knowingly met a Scientologist and they do sound like scum but they didn’t do this on their own. Germany seems to persecute them quite a bit. They do seem to be a bit like the Norman Spinrad novel that was based on them. However the State is the one going after Mr Henson- not Scientology assasins.
transhumanism / transhumanismus Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
“Scientology Fugitive” Arrested…
RU Sirius (10 ZenMonkeys):
“Scientology Fugitive” Arrested
(»On Friday, Arizona police arrested a 64-year-old man — a fugitive since 2001 in a bizarre war that mixes free speech, copyright law, and the Church of Scientology.
Keith Henson’s jo…
Speaking Out Says:
February 4th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Our freedom of speech and self expression is at stake here. An author friend told me of a writer she knew who was researching terrorism and the Middle East on the net, for a fictional (sci-fi) book she was writing. A few weeks later there was a knock on the door, and the FBI barged into her apartment , ransacked it, AND took all the notes for her book! No one is safe from this kind of harassment. You are being watched and monitored at your place of employment; and your postings on the net are being watched as well. The fact that the Church Of Scientology has all this clout to go after people who disagree with them is very disturbing. Free Keith, indeed! Free us all!
roger gonnet Says:
February 5th, 2007 at 12:23 am
The person who isgns “jimenez” above is most probably the famous “Barbara Schwarz, a psychopath german girl who was the commanding officer of the cult in Germany till she dropped crazy.
Now she’s hidden somewhere in Salt Lake or else, and she’s insulting every critic of scientology, using a lot of different accounts, on order of another scientologist who’s working with the “office of special affairs” -OSA- , the bad coups’ system and spying “department 20″ of the cult.
James Randi Says:
February 5th, 2007 at 6:59 am
There is no such thing as “irrational fear” of Scientology. It is a vindictive, powerful, agency, that attacks proponents of rational thinking under the protection of religious shelters. It is greatly to be feared.
This Foundation has today sent a contribution to the Keith Henson Legal Fund, and we hope that others will, as well. Please go to www.extropy.org/membership.htm to do so…
James Randi
James Randi Educational Foundation
Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
www.randi.org
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