Mona Vasquez
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Mona Vasquez, Cover of her book, Satan Created the Cult: Memoirs of an Escapee |
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| Born: | 1960 France  |
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| Occupation: | French author, cult expert |
| Children: | 1 |
| Website: | Mona Vasquez homepage |
Mona Vasquez was a scientologist in the 1980s and active in Scientology's headquarters in Europe, in Copenhagen. She went on a hunger strike in August 1989 at Scientology's offices in Paris when she wanted to quit the program, in order to get her money back. She did receive almost 60,000 Euro back from Scientology.
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[edit] Experiences with Scientology
[edit] Initial introduction
At 20 years old, Mona Vasquez was initially introduced to Scientology by reading some of her friend's books :
The first time where I was challenged by the sect, it was by a friend. I was at the end of my second year in Art school in Toulouse. I read all kinds of books and the first contact was done thus, in 1982. I saw nothing suspicious and the brainwashing started. In 1989, I landed and I reacted[1].
[edit] Turned into a robot
Mona Vasquez was interviewed in a Los Angeles Times, 2000 article on the potential Dissolution of Scientology Church in France
Some former Scientologists agree. "I was turned into a robot," said Mona Vasquez, a 40-year-old Frenchwoman who spent seven years in the organization. "They made me leave my studies, my boyfriend, my family."
"All directives, everything we did, was ordered by missionaries from the United States," said Vasquez, the former member. "Every Thursday, we collected the money from all over Europe and sent it to the United States. Copenhagen [site of Scientology's European headquarters] obeyed; everything they did was decided by the Americans[2]."
[edit] Wishes to leave
I ended up realizing that the system did not work. In particular I was being asked to make loans in banks, which led me in prison to Paris! I was a toy between their hands and I did not realize this. They worked much on the feelings of guilt. Anything that happens to us is our own fault. When I found myself, hands shackled, across from an examining magistrate, that was the electric shock which opened my eyes. And I said: what is happening to me, it is not my fault, but their fault. I understood that it is them which had put to me in this situation[3].
[edit] Voyage au Pays des Nouveaux Gourous
On May 24, 2004, Mona Vasquez appeared as an commentator on the Pieces a Conviction France 3 investigative journalism program. The TV documentary in question focused on Landmark Education's actions in Paris, France.
Mona Vasquez states :
Yes, I was also stupefied, I should say, but not in the same way as her [ Landmark Education volunteer]. First I'd like to correct one point: I didn't "enter" Scientology. Someone lent me a book. It didn't contain the word "Scientology." A friend lent me a very interesting book, So there wasn't any question of me getting into a movement -
- But you spent 7 years there -
- 7 years I didn't see go by. But it's important to point out that the follower doesn't realize he's in a cult. If he did, he'd run the other way. Once he's put under, bamboozled, hypnotized, you're in a sort of haze, and you don't realize it. The follower is the last to realize it. The family takes action, but not the follower. To answer you, I was glued to the video clips. I was a little uncomfortable because I heard all the terminology from Scientology. There was a whiteboard at the beginning with exactly the same words that Hubbard would use, the founder of Scientology. I worked in Denmark at the parent organization of Europe. So I was at the heart of Scientology. So I know the terminology very well, and all of it's the same. On the other hand, I think they may have diversified. If I may, I think that cults are very quick. As soon as they sense they are being labeled by the press, or in government reports, they rush to diversify, to take another angle[4].
[edit] Publications
- Satan Created the Cult: Memoirs of an escapee , La Secte: El Satan crea la secte: Memoires d'une rescapee, Mona Vasquez, March 2006
[edit] References
- ^ Echo Magazine, interview with Mona Vasquez, October 2004, "Scientology, a true control"
- ^ Report Urges Dissolution of Scientology Church in France, Los Angeles Times, John-Thor Dahlburg, Times Staff Writer, February 29, 2000
- ^ Echo Magazine, interview with Mona Vasquez, October 2004, "Scientology, a true control"
- ^ Mona Vasquez, May 24, 2004, Pieces a Conviction, France 3, Voyage Au Pays Des Nouveaux Gourous.
[edit] External links
- Echo Magazine, interview with Mona Vasquez, October 2004, "Scientology, a true control"
- Report Urges Dissolution of Scientology Church in France, Los Angeles Times, John-Thor Dahlburg, Times Staff Writer, February 29, 2000
