ROBERT MINTON (continued)

In 1995, Minton turned his attention from Nigeria to a new target: The Church of Scientology. Out of nowhere he appeared on an internet newsgroup offering a $360,000 bounty to anyone who could cause the Church's religious tax-exempt status to be revoked. When this attempt failed, Minton redoubled his efforts offering monetary support and rewards to anyone willing to file civil suits against the Church. Minton sponsored a contest encouraging anti-religious extremists to write hate literature. He paid out $80,000 dollars in "prizes" and then used these rantings to promote his hate campaign on the internet.

Minton is a regular contributor to internet hate sites, newsgroups and chat channels encouraging extremists to participate in demonstrations against Scientology across the U.S. and in Europe - demonstrations which have at times turned violent. Parishioners are harassed as they arrive at their Churches, their car license plates are photographed, and pictures of their children have been posted on the internet. 

Scientology business persons are attacked on extremist newsgroups and their addresses posted to encourage boycotting of their businesses, demonstrations in front of their buildings, and threats and hate mail sent to them via email. 

Threats of violence are often made by Minton and others against parishioners and Church staff members.

Private schools operated by Scientologists are also targeted for attacks. Extremists picketed a school while children were present, using picket signs and a video camera as tools of intimidation. The locations and schedules of these schools are often posted and demonstrations threatened.

It is no coincidence that since Robert Minton's arrival on the anti-religious scene, violent acts against the Church of Scientology and its parishioners have escalated. Minton is personally responsible for several of these attacks.