Paris, France - A French association dedicated to helping the victims of sects warned that a visit by Tom Cruise to the southern city of Marseille Friday would promote the US star's Church of Scientology, which is considered a dangerous cult in Europe.
"These visits organised by elected officials who know nothing of the phenomenon of sects... serve as advertisements for the Scientology organisation he belongs to," the UNADFI association said in a statement Thursday.
Cruise was to arrive in Marseille to meet the city's mayor, Jean-Claude Gaudin, and publicise his latest movie, "War of the Worlds", which is to open in theatres around the world this month.