Can France ban the Church of Scientology?

Bess writes: France sounds on track, as Charles Bremner reports for a full-scale ban on the burka, but can it go a step further in the religious tension stakes and actually ban a Church? According to The Christian Science Monitor two French prosecutors last week called for the Church of Scientology, which has 45,000 members in the country, to be dissolved.
The church’s legal team argue that this demonstrates a narrow-minded France where Scientology is being used as the “scapegoat” for a campaign against freedom of religion.  Roger Gonnet, a former church official who testified in the case which involves fraud and mental damage suits filed against the church, said: “French courts don't rule about religion in law, but no association [church] should be allowed to get away with illicit activity and fraud, or cover it up with private settlements.
"This is a church built on lies, and France is taking it seriously."
  Eric Roux, the acting president of a Scientology branch in Paris said in an email that the trial revealed “nothing new” and that “instead, the religion of Scientology was attacked in a very general way, like an Inquisition for 45,000 of us.” He added: “Still, we believe that after 50 years of Scientology in France, the French Constitution will protect us." 
Recently an intergovermental group called for 173 unorthodox sects in France to be listed. This, says the human rights lawyer  Valerie Billamboz would "set a precedent... and allow a larger witch-hunt."

The final decision regarding the Scientology case won't occur 'til late October. In the meantime, as far as religion and the French principle of Laïcité go, the fun is clearly only just beginning…