The parents of Marion Chauchreau wanted her to travel to Denmark to enroll at the Copenhagen Scientology school, but a French judge has imposed a travel ban upon her. The French government has long been at odds with Scientology, treating it more as a business scam at best and a dangerous cult at worst - but certainly not an honest religion deserving of all the same protections and privileges as other religious groups.

The Copenhagen Post reports:

The French authorities have always considered Scientology to be an extremely dangerous sect that brainwashes it members. In 2001, the French government introduced legislation, the so-called 'About-Picard' law, which provides courts with the possibility of banning any sect whose leaders are convicted of a serious crime, such as the manipulation of minors.

French legal experts have warned that if the investigation concludes that Marion hasn't been manipulated by Scientology, it will be a severe blow to the French authorities' consistent hard-line opposition to the sect. However, if medical and mental evaluations find her to be brainwashed, the 'Marion affairre' could become the legal catalyst desired by authorities to implement a total ban on Scientology in France.

So, it seems as if the conflict between the French government and Scientology may be coming to an important crossroads. The French government has been strongly criticized by the United States for the treatment of Scientology, but it is uncertain how that will play out if experts decide that the young girl has been manipulated by Scientology.

Read More:

Scientology: Basics

Scientology: International Critiques

Scientology: Court Cases