Maritime Accident News

Woman claims she was a prisoner for 12 years on Scientology cruise ship

A woman born into a Scientology family alleges she was held against her will for 12 years on the church’s cruise ship.

Velasko Paris told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Lateline” program that she was sometimes forced to work hard labor in the engine room of the Church of Scientology flagship vessel Freewinds.

Paris said leader David Miscavage forced her on the ship when she was 18 to remove her from her family and prevent her mother from pulling her out of the organization. Her mother had quit the church after her father committed suicide. He blamed the church for coercing him out of his personally earned million dollar worth.

Paris said she was forced to sign a “billion year” employment contract and could never leave the vessel without an escort. Escaping was impossible because they allegedly took her passport and because of the ship’s limited sailing schedule to small islands.

The organization said in a prepared statement that her claims are false. It declined network requests to make officials available for the report.

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