Scientology documentary may never be broadcast in UK due to outdated libel law

The damning exposé has been shelved due to legislation in Northern Ireland

The leader of the Church of Scientology David Miscavige (Getty Images)

A damning documentary about alleged abuse within the Church of Scientology has been shelved due to legislation that could leave it open to defamation action.

The HBO exposé Going Clear: Scientology And The Prison Of Belief was going to be aired in the UK by Sky Atlantic earlier this month to coincide with the US broadcast. But this was halted because of outdated libel law in Northern Ireland, according to The Observer.

Sky cannot differentiate signals between regions, which means that if the programme is broadcast it could end up being transmitted in Northern Ireland where it would fall foul of the law.

Unlike the rest of the UK, the country is not subject to 2013 Defamation Act, which requires a claimant to prove that the programme could cause serious harm to them. The publisher meanwhile has to prove that it is in the public interest.

Hollywood actor John Travolta has refused to watch the documentary (Getty Images)

The libel law reforms are being blocked in the Northern Ireland Assembly, which means there is uncertainty over if and when the documentary will be broadcast in the UK.

“At present, Sky’s transmission date for Going Clear has not been confirmed,” a spokesman told The Observer.

Going Clear is based on a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright. The film has been directed by Paul Gibney, who has previously looked at sex abuse in the Catholic Church, and focuses on eight former members of the Church of Scientology.

Crash screenwriter, Paul Haggis, is one of the high profile speakers to condemn Scientology and discuss the history of alleged abuse and the current leadership of the Church under David Miscavige.

This is not the first time libel laws have had a chilling effect, publishers Transworld decided not to publish Wright’s book in the UK and it appears to have happened again with the documentary.

In a statement the Church of Scientology said it “will be entitled to seek the protection of both UK and Irish libel laws in the event that any false or defamatory content in this film is broadcast within these jurisdictions.”

Prominent members of the Church of Scientology include, Tom Cruise and John Travolta, who have both defended the religion.

Travolta said that he refused to watch Going Clear, describing it as “decidedly negative”. He went on to say that the documentary focused on "people who were disgruntled with their experiences", in a recent interview with the Tampa Bay Times.

Going Clear has now been watched by 5.5 million people in the US.