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The Aumist “holy city” of Mandarom, near Castellane
David.Monniaux/Open access
The European court ordered the French exchequer to pay 3,636,437 euros to two groups set up by the Aumism cult, founded by Gilbert Bourdin in 1969 and based at the “holy city” of Mandarom in the French Alps.
The two groups collected money for the construction of temples at Mandarom, which was already host to a 22-metre statue of Buddha Maitreya, and a 21-metre statue of “Cosmic Christ” wielding a sword and shield.
A 33-metre statue of Bourdin was built in 1990 but pulled down in 2000 after its construction was deemed to have been illegal.
The court also ordered the payment of 387,722 euros to the Evangelical Missionary Church of Eric Salaûn.
Categories: Court Ruling, Europe, France