Netherlands – February 18, 2025 – The Netherlands Committee for Human Rights Foundation (NCRM), in collaboration with the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), successfully hosted the traveling exhibition “Psychiatry: An Industry of Death” at the Zuiderkerk in Amsterdam. This powerful event, held from February 15 to 17, shed light on historical and contemporary human rights violations within psychiatry. The exhibition, driven by the dedicated efforts of Scientologists and human rights activists, provided an eye-opening experience to hundreds of visitors.

The three-day exhibition took place in the heart of Amsterdam, a striking contrast to a concurrent European Congress of Neurology and Neuropsychiatry, which was held in a secluded industrial area outside the city. This strategic placement of the exhibit ensured maximum public visibility and accessibility, reflecting the transparency and public engagement that CCHR stands for.

An Eye-Opening Journey Through Psychiatry’s History

Visitors to the exhibit were guided through interactive displays, multimedia presentations, and historical accounts that detailed psychiatry’s troubled past, from early psychiatric institutions and eugenics programs to modern-day concerns like over-medication and involuntary commitment. The powerful visuals and testimonies resonated with the hundreds of visitors who attended, ensuring that critical discussions on psychiatric practices remained in the public domain.

The Zuiderkerk, a historic site that once served as a cemetery, added a symbolic weight to the event. The entrance porch, marked by a skull and crossbones, served as a stark reminder of the suffering endured by victims of psychiatric abuse. Volunteers ensured that CCHR’s message was visible throughout—from a balloon arch in CCHR colors to informational boards and flyers distributed on-site.

Exposing Psychiatric Practices and Their Consequences

The exhibition coincided with the psychiatric congress, whose program included sessions on brain stimulation techniques, including electroshock, electromagnetic induction, and deep brain stimulation via implanted electrodes. NCRM volunteers emphasized that while some neurotechnological treatments may help patients with nerve damage, psychiatry’s historical focus on biochemical imbalances and brain interventions has led to an alarming rise in psychiatric drug prescriptions, now affecting nearly 3 million people in the Netherlands.

A key issue highlighted was the sharp increase in ADHD diagnoses and the use of Ritalin, which quadrupled after a 2005 treatment guideline heavily influenced by psychiatrists with pharmaceutical industry ties. Today, nearly 4% of Dutch youth are medicated for ADHD, despite experts pointing to social and environmental factors—such as school pressure, poverty, and screen exposure—as major contributors to behavioral difficulties.

Stories of Strength and Survival

A particularly moving moment came when a survivor of psychiatric institutionalization, bravely shared her experience. She recounted how she was forcibly taken from her home, denied access to her children, and placed under psychiatric incarceration, where every attempt to assert her rights was met with further drugging and control. She revealed that the only way to escape was to pretend to comply—a sentiment echoed by another visitor who had faced similar struggles.

The official opening of the exhibition featured another powerful testimony from an expert by experience, who described her forced admission and the emotional toll it took on her. Her account deeply moved the audience, many of whom admitted they were previously unaware of the extent of such abuses in psychiatry.

Electroshock Therapy and the Call for Reform

A crucial topic in the exhibition was electroshock therapy (ECT), which is still performed on 1,000 patients annually in the Netherlands. Despite mounting evidence of its permanent memory loss risks and lack of proven efficacy, psychiatric institutions continue its use. A controversial study on ECT in 2020 led to the following conclusion: “Given the high risk of permanent memory loss and the small mortality risk, this longstanding failure to determine whether or not ECT works means that its use should be immediately suspended until a series of well-designed, randomized, placebo-controlled studies have investigated whether there really are any significant benefits against which the proven significant risks can be weighed“. Apparently, “criticism is not or hardly getting through to the psychiatric caste” says Ivan Arjona from Scientology Europe, who has been involved since years at the UN denouncing the heavy violations of human rights. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture even stated that forced psychiatric interventions could amount to torture when imposed without true informed consent.

NCRM volunteers pressed the Dutch Association for Psychiatry for a response, but the association defended its adherence to existing laws and regulations rather than reconsidering its stance. This highlights the persistent institutional resistance to reform, despite growing global advocacy from the WHO and UN for a shift away from the biomedical model of mental health.

The Role of Media in Amplifying the Message

The exhibition’s impact was further strengthened by media coverage, which played a key role in bringing awareness to the broader public. Reports appeared in “De Andere Krant”, an alternative Dutch newspaper with 12,000 prints, as well as in Amsterdam Daily, ensuring that the issues raised reached a wider audience. Additionally, the open letter addressed to the psychiatry congress organizers had tangible effects. In response to CCHR’s advocacy, the congress removed two key sessions on brain stimulation techniques and pharmacological treatments—a significant victory in the fight against coercive psychiatric interventions.

CCHR volunteer Ogé further emphasized the importance of implementing WHO and UN guidelines that promote ethical mental health practices, highlighting CCHR’s ongoing role in shaping policies that safeguard human rights.

A Continuing Fight for Mental Health Rights

Since its founding in 1969 by members of the Church of Scientology, inspired by the work of L. Ron Hubbard, and psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz, CCHR has remained a leading voice in exposing psychiatric abuses and advocating for reforms. Through public exhibitions, legal actions, and lobbying efforts, CCHR continues to challenge the pharmaceutical industry’s influence, prevent coercive treatments, and defend the rights of individuals affected by psychiatry.

The success of the Amsterdam exhibit is a testament to the unwavering dedication of Scientologists and CCHR activists in bringing truth and accountability to the field of mental health. As the battle for human rights in psychiatry continues, CCHR’s work stands as a beacon of hope and justice for individuals and families affected by psychiatric abuses.

The Growing Drug Problem in Brussels

Brussels is facing a deepening crisis related to drug trafficking, consumption, and associated violence. With €1.2 billion spent on illegal drugs in Belgium in 2023 (according to the National Bank of Belgium, consumption levels are nearly double previous estimates. Wastewater analyses have placed Brussels among the highest-ranking cities in Europe for cocaine use as reported by the Brussels Times, with an increasing epidemic of crack cocaine affecting marginalized populations.

The situation has become more dangerous and visible, with incidents such as shootings in metro stations involving assault rifles, reinforcing public fears and concerns about law enforcement’s ability to handle the crisis. Despite federal efforts to strengthen police forces and unify Brussels’ fragmented security zones, the regional response has been perceived as inadequate and reactive, leaving both citizens and policymakers frustrated.

Law Enforcement’s Struggles and the Need for Reform

The Regional Security Council (RSC) recently met to discuss the escalation of drug-related violence, but the outcome left much to be desired. Rather than announcing decisive new strategies, the Brussels leadership merely extended the hotspot strategy, a plan implemented after a similar wave of shootings in 2024. This plan involves increased police presence, targeted legal actions, identity checks, and neighborhood improvement projects.

However, this approach has shown limited success. Anderlecht’s mayor, Fabrice Cumps, admitted that police harassment of drug dealers serves little more than a symbolic purpose. Meanwhile, Brussels’ Minister-President Rudi Vervoort’s comment that residents will “just have to live with it” reflects an alarming lack of urgency.

While law enforcement remains crucial in tackling organized crime, it is not enough on its own. The lack of coordination among the six separate police zones, along with political disagreements between francophone and Flemish nationalist parties, has further hindered effective policing and security policy in Brussels.

The Case for an Integrated Approach: Suppressing Supply While Reducing Demand

To address this crisis effectively, a dual approach is needed:

1. Enhanced Law Enforcement Measures to target the supply side of drug trafficking.
2. Long-Term Public Health and Prevention Strategies to reduce demand for drugs.

1. Strengthening Law Enforcement

The Belgian federal government has already proposed key reforms to law enforcement, including:

• Merging the six Brussels police zones into one to ensure a more unified and effective security policy.
• Implementing a zero-tolerance policy for drugs in and around metro stations and public areas.
• Expanding the “Very Irritating Police” (VIP) approach to disrupt drug markets by making targeted areas less attractive to dealers.
• Strengthening the Federal Canal Plan to combat organized crime hubs.

These measures are necessary but need to be executed effectively, with improved coordination between regional and federal authorities. Additionally, police officers should receive specialized training to deal with drug-related crimes and addiction-related offenses in a way that combines security with education. There are many examples worldwide where police officers have been giving drug prevention information lectures, which helps give the youth the information from authoritative sources they trust..

2. Investing in Prevention: Reducing Demand for Drugs

While robust law enforcement may disrupt drug networks in the short term (and it should be done), it does not address why people use drugs in the first place. The current focus on crack cocaine and middle-class cocaine use as well as the “normalized” use of marijuana, cannabis, and the likes, suggests deep societal issues—ranging from economic hardship to social isolation and life struggles coming from lack of tools and strategies to deal with day to day problems.

To reduce drug demand, the government could use the following strategies:

• Strengthen School and Community-Based Prevention Programs: Targeted education in schools, community centers, and workplaces can delay or prevent drug experimentation among youth.
• Erradicate Harm Reduction Strategies: Supervised consumption rooms, while intended to reduce harm, often lead to unintended consequences. These facilities can normalize drug use, attract criminal activity, and become hotspots for dealers preying on vulnerable individuals. Rather than offering a pathway to rehabilitation, they risk perpetuating addiction by providing a space for continued substance use without addressing the underlying causes. Redirecting resources towards comprehensive rehabilitation programs and education initiatives would provide a more sustainable solution to breaking the cycle of addiction.
• Expand Public Awareness Campaigns: Programs like “The Truth About Drugs” led in Belgium by Julie Delvaux, and other educational initiatives should receive increased support. These campaigns inform young people and at-risk populations about the dangers of drug use, using real-life testimonies and factual information.

Overcoming Political and Structural Barriers

A major obstacle to implementing these solutions is the political deadlock in Brussels. Disagreements between francophone and Flemish nationalist parties have left Brussels without a regional government, preventing crucial reforms from being enacted. Additionally, funding constraints and bureaucratic inefficiencies slow down progress.

To break through these barriers, the following steps should be prioritized:

• Fast-tracking police zone unification to eliminate coordination issues.
• Establishing a Brussels-wide Drug Policy Task Force that includes experts from law enforcement, education, health, and social services to ensure a comprehensive response.
• Lobbying for increased EU support for drug education campaigns and law enforcement cooperation, especially given Belgium’s role as a hub for drug trafficking into Europe.

A Call to Action: Beyond Short-Term Measures

The current situation in Brussels is unsustainable. While police crackdowns may bring temporary relief, they do not solve the deeper societal problems driving drug abuse and violence. A comprehensive supply-and-demand approach—combining strong law enforcement with effective prevention, education, and drug rehab efforts (not substitution drugs)—is essential for long-term success.

The time for half-measures is over. Brussels must act decisively to ensure that future generations do not grow up in a city where drug-related violence is just “something they have to live with.”

Over 16,000 students have been expelled from schools in Greece for using mobile phones in class, after a ban on the devices was introduced, reports the Bulgarian National Radio correspondent in Greece.

Despite the children’s apparent resistance to the regulation, it will be strictly enforced, announced the Minister of Education Kyriakos Pierakakis. For the first offense, the student is removed from class for one day and his parents are informed, for the second offense, expulsion and transfer to another school follow.

Psychologists confirm that there is a direct connection between the use of mobile phones and the mental health of adolescents. Many students are dependent on their social contacts on the Internet, experts say.

On the other hand, teachers’ observations show that children concentrate and learn much more easily without their mobile phones.

Parents also fully support the decision of the Ministry of Education and even believe that the ban in schools somewhat helps children reduce their dependence on phones.

Illustrative Photo by Valerie: https://www.pexels.com/photo/rustic-blue-wooden-door-in-mediterranean-style-30308157/