11:50AM GMT 08 Jan 2013
51 CommentsBritish publishers Transworld have cancelled their publication of a new book on Scientology, after taking legal advice. Lawrence Wright's highly anticipated book, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief, is based on his 2011 New Yorker article ‘The Apostate’, for which he interviewed the screenwriter and director Paul Haggis about his decision to resign from the organisation.
Wright is no stranger to investigating secretive organisations. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for his book The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11.
Going Clear examines the Church’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard, the church’s finances and its relationships with celebrities such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. It will be published by US publishers Knopf for American audiences on January 17th with a reported print run of 150,000 copies.
The decision not to publish in this country has prompted questions, particularly as Transworld had previously agreed to it. It seems likely that the threat of libel action in the UK may have contributed to the decision.
Graham Atkins, a partner at Atkins Thomson Solicitors in London who specialise in defamation cases, commented on the decision: “It is more difficult for individual claimants to successfully sue for defamation in the US and therefore it may be that the UK publishers are concerned about prominent Scientologists threatening or commencing libel proceedings in the UK.”
Transworld’s publicity director, Patsy Irwin stated: “Our legal advice was that some of the content was not robust enough for the UK market and an appropriately edited version would not fit with our schedule. The decision not to publish was taken internally.”
In an interview with the New York Times, Wright revealed that he had already received numerous letters from lawyers representing the Church of Scientology and celebrities belonging to it who are unhappy with the content of the book.
In a statement, the international spokesperson for the Church of Scientology, Karin Pouw, said that “The author and publisher refused to provide the Church with a copy of the book and showed little interest in receiving input from the Church during both the writing and the so-called 'fact-checking'.
“Having seen how inaccurate his New Yorker article was, the Church asked numerous times for a reasonable opportunity to assist in helping making his book factual. More than 15 requests were ignored, many not answered at all. From the limited excerpts we have seen, the book contains numerous falsehoods and we think it wise that they chose not to publish it in the UK.”
British libel laws have been long been subject to fierce criticism from writers and free speech advocates around the world. They are considered by some to be overly punitive, particularly as the burden of proof falls on the defendant.
Mike Harris, Head of Advocacy at Index on Censorship said: "Our libel laws remain some of the most archaic in the Western world with cases in the High Court in London costing 100 times the European average. With high costs and an uncertain public interest defence, the publisher may simply have decided to back away rather than risk losing a libel case."
He added: "The government is currently piloting legislation through Parliament to reform the law, but unfortunately it isn't strong enough. Even under these reforms, the chill on public interest publication will remain."
Publication of a book on Scientology is cancelled in the UK after legal threats
Lawrence Wright's book 'Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief' was yanked by its UK publisher Transworld but will still be released in America.
'Going Clear' will still be released in the US.
Not since “The Satanic Verses” has a book caused so much controversy within organized religion.
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But then again, “Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief,” is no ordinary book.
In fact, author Lawrence Wright’s less-than-complimentary look at Scientology has proved so controversial that the book’s UK publisher, Transworld, has cancelled its publication in the face of legal threats.
(American publisher Knopf still plans to publish the “Going Clear” January 17, with a reported print run of 150,000 copies.)
The book explores the history of Scientology, through stories about its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, as well as celebrity Scientologists like Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Among other details, it claims that the church has “virtually imprisoned some of its members, threatening blackmail if they try to leave, and that its current leader, David Miscavige, has physically abused some of his underlings,” according to a recent piece on the book in The New York Times.
The book is based on a 2011 New Yorker article, “The Apostate,” which Wright wrote after interviewing screenwriter and director Paul Haggis, who resigned from the organization.
“The famously litigious Church of Scientology,” as well as celebrities belonging to the church sent “innumerable threatening letters” to Wright and his publishers, according to the Times.
It was, apparently, enough to persuade Transworld to back away from publishing the book in the UK, where it is easier to sue for libel than in the US.
“Our legal advice was that some of the content was not robust enough for the UK market and an appropriately edited version would not fit with our schedule. The decision not to publish was taken internally,” Transworld’s publicity director, Patsy Irwin, said in a statement, according to the UK’s Telegraph.
The Church of Scientology says it attempted many times to reach out to Wright and his publisher.
“The author and publisher refused to provide the Church with a copy of the book and showed little interest in receiving input from the Church during both the writing and the so-called 'fact-checking,’” church spokesperson Karin Pouw said in a statement. “Having seen how inaccurate his New Yorker article was, the Church asked numerous times for a reasonable opportunity to assist in helping making his book factual. More than 15 requests were ignored, many not answered at all. From the limited excerpts we have seen, the book contains numerous falsehoods and we think it wise that they chose not to publish it in the UK.”
We take no sides in the controversy over Scientology, but we are appalled at Transworld’s decision not to publish “Going Clear.” Literature is not, and has never been, about playing it safe. From the beginning of time, books have made bold claims. For a publisher in the 21st century to be bullied out of publishing this book is a shame.
Ultimately, the decision not to publish “Going Clear” in the UK says more about that country’s libel laws than about the book itself. Considered overly punitive and archaic, British libel laws have long been the subject of censure by writers and free speech advocates.
“Our libel laws remain some of the most archaic in the Western world with cases in the High Court in London costing 100 times the European average,” Mike Harris, head of Advocacy at Index on Censorship, told the Telegraph. “The government is currently piloting legislation through Parliament to reform the law, but unfortunately it isn't strong enough. Even under these reforms, the chill on public interest publication will remain.”
Husna Haq is a Monitor correspondent.
Tom Cruise gets a superstar's welcome as he lands in Tokyo for premiere of Jack Reacher
By CHLOE THOMAS
|
When it comes to his millions of adoring fans, Tom Cruise is famous for having the common touch.
And it seems his latest visit to Japan proved no exception.
The 50-year-old actor was given a hero's welcome when he arrived in Tokyo ahead of the premiere of his latest action film Jack Reacher later this week.
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Fan club: Hollywood star Tom Cruise has his picture taken with fans on arrival at Haneda Airport in Tokyo
The common touch: Tom Cruise greets his army of Japanese fans as he arrives at Tokyo airport
Tom signs autorgraphs for hordes of fans at Tokyo's Haneda airport
VIDEO Tom Cruise spends a generous amount of time with esxcited fans
Moments after touching down at Haneda airport, the actor was greeted by an army of mostly female admirers who turned out to catch a glimpse of their Hollywood idol in the flesh.
Tom modelled his trademark laid-back style in a white T-shirt teamed with jeans and an open-neck shirt.
And never one to shy away from the crowd, the actor happily posed for pictures and signed autographs for his followers who had taken the time come to see the star in person.
Ready to see the sights: Tom gets some tips from a fan
Tom Cruise in his latest tough guy role as Jack Reacher based on the multimillion pound book franchise by Lee Child
And no doubt his Japanese fan base are eagerly awaiting the release of his latest film which sees the actor at his action-packed best.
In the film, Cruise takes on the title role of Jack Reacher, a former military policeman with the US Army.
Based on the books by the British author Lee Child, the film marks the beginning of what is set to be a multimillion-pound film franchise.
Having been released in Britain and the US at the end of last year, the film has already grossed more than £120million at the box office worldwide.
The film also stars the former Bond actress Rosamund Pike and the veteran American actor Robert Duvall.
With any luck the warm response will mark the beginning of a happier year for the star.
In July last year the actor split from his third wife, the actress Katie Holmes.
The couple are said to have disagreed over Mr Cruise's commitment to the faith of the Church of Scientology.
They currently share the custody of their six year old daughter Suri.
Sayonara: The actor looked his usual cool and relaxed self as he touched down in Tokyo ahead of the Jack Reacher premiere
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2259071/Tom-Cruise-gets-superstars-welcome-lands-Tokyo-premiere-Jack-Reacher.html#ixzz2HS9rpYga
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