EAST GRINSTEAD, ENGLAND

GRANDEUR RISES TO MAJESTY AS THE IAS GALA WEEKEND CELEBRATES A LANDMARK YEAR OF GLOBAL IMPACT

OCTOBER 31, 2025

The International Association of Scientologists (IAS) assembles in East Grinstead, Southern England, celebrating 12 months of unshakable unity, unwavering purpose and uplifting the spirit of humanity.

As autumn leaves turn and the evening air sharpens, footsteps quicken along lantern-lit paths—yet it is more than the seasonal whispers that stir the air. From the thunder of drums, the call of Highland bagpipes and the echo of hoofs, a grand chorus proclaims one undeniable truth: the annual IAS Anniversary Weekend has arrived.

Mr. David Miscavige, ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, takes the stage in the Grand Marquee before the energized crowd that awaits the beginning of an unforgettable evening.

Elegance and splendor frame the celebration as members of the IAS converge from six continents upon Saint Hill, the historic West Sussex home of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. Gliding along the red carpet, the crowd enters the Grand Marquee with joyful anticipation, flags from around the globe soaring high, hearts alight as all eyes turn toward the stage.

“Welcome to the night we summon the spirit of the IAS­­—a spirit born of perfect unity and pervading the very air we breathe,” began Mr. David Miscavige, ecclesiastical leader of the Church of Scientology. “Tonight, that spirit of the IAS is ever-present, ever-embracive and alive forevermore.”

The IAS was born in 1984 at a moment when a courageous few gathered at Saint Hill, pledging to unite with unbreakable commitment for the sake of all people from all lands and thus achieve the Aims of Scientology. At that moment, Scientology had a tenuous presence in just 39 nations. Today that number has nearly quintupled, with IAS members now hailing from 191 nations—dedicated to propelling all of humanity, providing compassion and help wherever it is most needed, anywhere on Earth.

The illustrious night brought that purpose to life—a story told in chapters of accomplishment. It began with milestones from the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) and its lifesaving fight against mental health abuse:

  • In the United Kingdom, where the death of a 20-year-old man in a mental health facility drives his mother to seek answers and accountability. Teaming up with CCHR, she helps expose extensive abuse across county psychiatric facilities. Together, their actions ultimately compel the first-ever public inquiry into psychiatry in the UK with full legal powers to deliver justice for the victims and their families.
  • In France, CCHR’s relentless documentation of abuse in psychiatric hospitals reveals horrific isolation and restraint—winning judgments against more than 150 institutions. CCHR then takes the issue straight to European Parliament, prompting an official call for independent oversight of psychiatry and elimination of coercive practices.
  • In Hungary, CCHR’s veteran Budapest office achieves a remarkable victory in the case of a man who had been drugged and unjustly held by psychiatrists for 17 days. Though lower courts rule there is no path for compensation, CCHR persists, rising up the ladder of justice, until they reach the nation’s President. Today national law guarantees reparation for victims unlawfully detained.

    • Mr. Miscavige next previewed Prescription for Violence, a devastating new CCHR documentary revealing the link between skyrocketing psychotropic prescriptions and their deadly aftermath in mass shootings. The explosive film premieres December 9—International Anti-Corruption Day—on Scientology Network.

    The night escalated as Mr. Miscavige unveiled powerful stories of IAS-sponsored humanitarian initiatives that are changing lives across the globe: Foundation for a Drug-Free World, the largest nongovernmental drug education program on Earth; United for Human Rights, championing the fact that all men, women and children are protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and advocating its implementation by governments the world over; and The Way to Happiness, L. Ron Hubbard’s nonreligious moral code, comprising 21 precepts as a common sense guide to better living.

    Each campaign lent its own voice to a symphony of planetary goodwill, a testament to the far-reaching impact of the IAS and its humanitarian endeavors through the past 12 months:

  • Drug-Free World, forming an international front against drug abuse, delivering millions of copies of The Truth About Drugs. The booklets were passed hand to hand at global crossroads and mega sporting events like the FIFA Club World Cup and the Super Bowl. In all, the Foundation spread the Truth About Drugs at 2,700 events across 150 nations.
  • Drug-Free World, yet again, partnering with the Guatemalan government, instituting top-down implementation of the program. Training of 1,900 personnel in the nation’s entire drug prevention network culminated in a televised graduation at the Presidential Palace. Across all 22 provinces, the campaign has reached 145,000 people—driving a 48 percent drop in drug use nationwide.
  • United for Human Rights, introducing rights in Australia to one of the most persecuted and displaced populations on Earth—the Hazara people, formerly of Afghanistan. Among them, an orphaned refugee discovered the campaign materials and launched a movement across 47 Australian cities, towns and communities. Altogether, he brought awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to some 200,000 people, spurring a 30 percent drop in discrimination.
  • The Way to Happiness, permeating the largest prison in the Southern Philippines, where the Moral and Spiritual Director introduces the book as a nonreligious approach to reform. The 21 precepts restored dignity and hope to nearly 4,000 inmates—driving a 67 percent drop in prisoner violations, culminating in a partnership to circulate the program throughout the entire prison system.

    • Mr. Miscavige then lauded the unwavering resilience of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, whose ubiquitous presence brings help wherever it is needed:

  • Delivering immediate relief at catastrophic sites, whether devastating floods in Spain, relentless downpours in Kenya, a 7.1 earthquake in Nepal, a double cyclone in Madagascar, an offshore quake in Ecuador—even torrential rains and tragic flash floods in Texas.
  • The largest VM force ever on American soil, some 2,500 Volunteer Ministers responding to historic wildfires in Los Angeles. Flames raged for days from the Pacific shoreline to the mountains, scorching an area twice the size of Paris and causing widespread evacuations. VMs helped nearly 10,000 Angelenos in a single day—more than 100,000 in total—providing logistics, sustenance and spiritual aid to first responders and answering the call for more than 70 emergency response agencies.
  • All told, from Italy’s Adriatic Coast to the Gauteng Province of South Africa, throughout the South Pacific and Australasia, across the Pacific to North America and the Atlantic to the UK and Europe, Scientology Volunteer Minister Cavalcades traveled nearly half a million miles, providing unequivocal help, while training a quarter-million individuals in the last year alone.

    • The night of epic tales powered on with the traditional celebration of IAS Freedom Medal Winners, recognizing three singular individuals, each exemplifying unrelenting advance toward achieving the Aims of Scientology.

  • Diane Stein, Clearwater, Florida: As President of CCHR Florida, Diane exposed that 30,000 children a year were being seized by psychiatrists in her state—without parental consent. Leading a grass-roots campaign, she rallied lawmakers to pass a historic Parents’ Bill of Rights, affirming parental authority over a child’s mental health. Building on those victories, Diane helped spark the nation’s first Parental Rights Office and ignited 39 state laws from Arizona to New Hampshire, protecting millions of children from psychiatric abuse.
  • Darren Tessitore, Boston, Massachusetts: He lost a friend in a drug-fueled accident. Years later, he made it his mission to use the Truth About Drugs as a solution to teen impaired driving. Darren introduced Drug-Free World materials through regional Drivers Ed programs, before partnering with National School Police and the Police Athletic and Activities League (PAL). In total, he distributed over 4 million booklets, ensuring 5.5 million students know the Truth About Drugs, ultimately decreasing the number of teens driving under the influence by 52 percent nationwide.
  • Nancy Cartwright, Los Angeles, California: She’s a legendary Emmy-winning voice actor—a voice that never stops disseminating for a brighter tomorrow. Nancy opened classroom doors, introducing Study Technology to 250,000 learners, making it “cool” for kids to read. An international spokesperson for The Way to Happiness, she helped reach 6 million individuals with the precepts, while reducing crime in her community to historic lows. Through it all, her voice never stops. As founder of the Know More About Drugs Alliance, she transformed her own artwork into a citywide crusade, with 300 billboards and bus shelters awakening millions of parents to the dangers of psychotropic drugs. Thanks to her advocacy and artistry, Nancy’s humanitarianism has ultimately touched 86 million lives worldwide.

    • Finally, to cap the adventure of an epic night, Mr. Miscavige previewed a new message that will be broadcast to the world. It invites the curious to discover what he described as a fourth dimension of Scientology—the very secret the world has always wondered about.

    Before the evening drew to a close, Mr. Miscavige sent the audience into the autumn evening with a reminder of the purpose behind the IAS and its initiative to create a better world amidst a troubled world. “We are, indeed, in our age of extraordinary things.

    “But if there’s a lesson to be learned from history,” he added, “it’s the one that reads: Extraordinary times demand extraordinary deeds—and sometimes you have to take a chance.”

    Following Friday’s joyous celebration, Saturday featured IAS Global Salvage Seminar, laying out campaigns for an expansive 12 months. The thousands present learned this year’s action plan to continue driving IAS-sponsored humanitarian programs around the world.

    By Saturday evening, the Grand Marquee had stunningly transformed into an elegant ballroom for the annual IAS Patrons Ball. During the majestic black-tie dinner, Mr. Miscavige honored members who have elevated their support, advancing global initiatives across six continents. Uplifting the night in song, the evening featured Grammy Award–winner Mark Isham and an ensemble of performers.

    The weekend’s magnificent finale came Sunday evening with the 25th Annual Saint Hill Charity Concert, attended by 1,500 local residents and dignitaries. Carrying on a tradition of generosity established by L. Ron Hubbard during his years at Saint Hill, the concert included a presentation to five local charities, enabling each to strengthen and expand their work serving the community.

    Formed in 1984, the IAS is the official membership organization of Scientology. It is open to all Scientologists from every nation and now counts members from no less than 191 lands. The purpose of the IAS is to unite, advance, support and protect the Scientology religion and Scientologists in all parts of the world so as to achieve the Aims of Scientology as originated by L. Ron Hubbard: “A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where Man is free to rise to greater heights.”