[Terinalo]

One thing is the article is in English so everything has to be translated and many things cannot be translated exactly.

The article said that it was a sect and not a religion. "France regards Scientology as a sect, not a religion." Note that when it comes to law, God is in the details. Mirriam-Webster defines sect as "1 a : a dissenting or schismatic religious body; especially : one regarded as extreme or heretical b : a religious denomination." So are they saying that it is a sect(a) or sect(b)?

Also the article was saying that it is a business, the words it used was "Unlike the US, France has always refused to recognise Scientology as a religion, arguing that it is a purely commercial operation." Isn't that a business? Drug companies in America are fined for millions of dollars and one for over a billion dollars but they are not shut down.

So they are saying that it is not a religion but a religious body(a) or a religious denomination(b) that is also a business? Or the article got something wrong.

The Muslim countries would have no trouble shutting them down, but France is a democracy.