Amsterdam broadcaster not welcome at Scientology church opening after critical report
The new church of Scientology on Wibaustraat in Amsterdam informed local broadcaster AT5 that it was not welcome at the Scientology church following a report about local residents feeling intimidated by the church. The AT5 story appeared last week, which Scientology criticized as being "super over exaggerated," according to the broadcaster.
On Friday the broadcaster published an article in which Amsterdam residents said that they had concerns about the church's presences, which moved to a new space in the Dutch capital on Saturday. Residents complained about the quantity of security guards around the church.
"It is all a mystery with men in black around the building", one resident said.
According to the broadcaster, AT5 sent repeated requests to attend the church opening or visit the church, but they were denied. "As you undoubtedly saw, AT5 wrote a super-over exaggerated piece on the website prior to our opening, for this reason we do not see you coming on Monday", a spokesperson for the Scientology Church said in an email to the broadcaster.
On Sunday, the church did send their own photos of the event to AT5. "Should you put up a better piece based on this, we can always see if we can do an interview and tour", the attached note read, according to AT5.
