Progress has been made in the fight against Scientology on the part of Anonymous as well as anyone who values free speech. This success owes much to the outrage generated from a media blitz over a move by the City Of London police, who cited a 15-year old boy for holding an anti-Scientology sign that contained the word “cult.” The teenager will not be prosecuted:

The Crown Prosecution Service ruled the word was neither “abusive or insulting” to the church and no further action would be taken against the boy.

The summons was issued under the Public Order Act on the grounds that the sign incited religious hatred.

A file was passed to the CPS, which today told City of London police it would not be pursuing the boy through the courts.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “The CPS review of the case includes advice on what action or behaviour at a demonstration might be considered to be threatening, abusive or insulting.

“The force’s policing of future demonstrations will reflect this advice.”

A CPS spokesman said: “In consultation with the City of London police, we were asked whether the sign, which read ‘Scientology is not a religion it is a dangerous cult’, was abusive or insulting.

“Our advice is that it is not abusive or insulting and there is no offensiveness, as opposed to criticism, neither in the idea expressed nor in the mode of expression. No action will be taken against the individual.”

The teenager’s mother said the decision was “a victory for free speech”.

“We’re all incredibly proud of him. We advised him to take the placard down when we realised what was happening but he said ‘No, it’s my opinion and I have a right to express it’.” she said.

This victory sets an incredible precedent that will, no doubt, be drawn upon in future court decisions. It will be interesting to see how this decision affects the City Of London police, particularly those officers who, as Flea notes, have, in years’ past, accepted bribes gifts from the COS.

So, free speech wins this battle. Now for the rest of the war — to free the enslaved & reunite those who have been separated from their families by this cult. Some of their stories can be found here.