World Literacy Crusade

World Literacy Crusade (WLC) was a non-profit organisation formed in 1992 by the Rev. Alfreddie Johnson to fight illiteracy, and supported by the Church of Scientology.[1][2] The group uses "study technologies" and "drug rehabilitation technologies" developed by L. Ron Hubbard, the Church's founder.[3][4] It has been characterized as a "Scientology front group",[5][6] and has been promoted by celebrity Scientologists such as Isaac Hayes and Anne Archer.[1]

The LA Times reported in 2008 that about 100 protestors gathered outside of the World Literacy Crusade offices after being sold fake low cost housing vouchers for as much as $1500. Officials at WLC admitted to selling the free vouchers, but stated they did not know they were fake.[7] The Compton, Californian offices of the WLC housed a drug detox program using “dry heat sweat therapy”.[8] In 2015 the executive director of WLC, Hanan Islam, Ronnie Steven Islam (AKA Rizza Islam) and her adult children were arrested for Medi-Cal fraud and insurance fraud for billing for this detox program.[9][10][11]

Notes
  1. Lewis, James R. (2009). Scientology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 9. ISBN 9780199715954. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  2. Lewis, James R. (2012). Hammer, Olav; Rothstein, Mikael (eds.). The Cambridge Companion to New Religious Movements. Cambridge University Press. p. 137. ISBN 9781107493551. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  3. Mallia, Joseph (1998-03-02). "Church keys programs to recruit blacks". Inside the Church of Scientology. Boston Herald. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  4. MacLaughlin, Jim; Gully, Andrew (1998-03-19). "Church of Scientology probes Herald reporter - Investigation follows pattern of harassment". Boston Herald. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  5. Breitbart, Andrew; Ebner, Mark (2004). Hollywood, interrupted : insanity chic in Babylon - the case against celebrity. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. p. 128. ISBN 9780471450511. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  6. Smith, Ronald D. (2013). Strategic planning for public relations (4th ed.). New York: Routledge. p. 209. ISBN 9781136172489. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  7. "Renters in search of affordable housing get scammed". LA Times Blogs - L.A. NOW. 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  8. "As rehab operators fight to reopen clinics, criminal pasts come to light | The Center for Investigative Reporting". cironline.org. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  9. Socialcult (2016-04-11). "Scientology's Disappearing Front Groups: Applied Scholastics". Scientology - The Social Cult. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  10. "Hanan Islam et al, charge documents". Scribd. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  11. "Rizza Islam". Anti-Defamation League. Retrieved February 18, 2023.

References



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