PROTESTERS who branded Scientology a "cult" were celebrating today after Edinburgh council bosses said they had "no objection" to the use of the word.
Earlier this month, a teenager taking part in a London protest held up a sign which read "Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult," and was handed a court summons by police for refusing to put it down.
The Crown Prosecution Service h
as since ruled the word was neither "abusive or insulting" to the church, which counts actor Tom Cruise as a follower, and no further action will be taken.
But to avoid similar problems in Scotland, protesters who regularly rally outside the Scientology centre on South Bridge contacted the city council.
A council official replied: "I understand that some of the signs you use may display the word 'cult' and there is no objection to this."
A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman also said the force had "no issue" with the use of word as part of a peaceful protest.
Jen Corlew, media director with human rights group Liberty, said today: "The leadership shown by the City of Edinburgh Council's decision to protect free speech is a positive step."
The youngster in London was told his sign breached the Public Order Act, which makes it an offence to display a "threatening, insulting or abusive" sign.
