"Deprogramming" Smashed in NY Court

The Krsna consciousness movement has defeated a highly publicized challenge to the authority and value of its spiritual teachings. On March 17, New York State Supreme Court Justice John J. Leahy threw out indictments charging two leaders of the Society's New York chapter with attempted extortion and illegal imprisonment of members through "brainwashing."

Last October, Queens District Attorney Michael Schwed had raised many eyebrows-and spurred scholars, lawyers, Hindus, devotees, and many others to protest-when he jailed Trai dasa and Adi-Kesava Swami on the "brainwashing" and extortion charges. At that time Schwed had spoken of the Krsna consciousness movement as a "frightening group that uses mind control to create an army of zombies, or robots, who could undermine the government and law enforcement."

But the District Attorney fled the courtroom in embarrassment on March 17 when Justice Leahy handed down his decision. "The entire and basic issue before this court," said the judge, "is whether or not the two alleged victims in this case [Merylee Kreshower and Edward Shapiro] and the defendants will be allowed to practice the religion of their choice-and this must be answered with a resounding affirmative.

"The Hare Krsna religion is a bona fide religion, with roots in India that go back thousands of years. It behooved Merylee Kreshower and Edward Shapiro to follow the tenets of that faith, and their inalienable right to do so will not be trammeled upon… The presentment and indictment by the grand jury was in direct and blatant violation of the defendants' constitutional rights.

"It appears to the court that the people rest their case on an erroneous minor premise to arrive at a fallacious conclusion. The record is completely devoid of one specific allegation of a misrepresentation or an act of deception on the part of any defendant."

Justice Leahy stressed that his decision was a "dire caveat to prosecutional agencies throughout the length and breadth of the land." Citing the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion, he said:

"The freedom to practice a religion is not to be abridged because the religion is unconventional in its beliefs and practices or because it is approved or disapproved by the mainstream of society or more conventional religions. Without this proliferation and freedom to follow the dictates of one's own conscience in one's search for and approach to God, the freedom of religion will be a meaningless right as provided for in the Constitution.

"Any attempt, be it circuitous, direct, well-intentioned or not, presents a clear and present danger to this most fundamental, basic and eternally needed right of all American citizens-freedom of religion."

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has commented in this connection that "by false propaganda you cannot suppress the truth." Certainly those interested in God consciousness may have to tolerate criticism, or even persecution, for that is the way of history. But we are sure that in due course of time all sincere, intelligent persons will appreciate Srila Prabhupada's great benediction to humanity: devotional service to the Lord, Sri Krsna.