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HAMBURG SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE COURT FINDS THAT CITY GOVERNMENT VIOLATED RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

The Hamburg Senior Administrative Court has ruled that Hamburg city officials violated a Scientologist’s constitutional right to religious freedom in urging that companies take discriminatory actions against members of the Church of Scientology.

The lawsuit, in progress since 1997, concerned a member of the Church of Scientology from Bavaria who was asked by a company in northern Germany, with whom she was about to enter into a contract, to sign a document stating that she has not taken courses based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology. This “filter” had been distributed by the city of Hamburg throughout both the public and private sector.

The Scientologist refused to sign the document and filed suit against the city. The Hamburg Senior Administrative Court has now decided in her favor. The court held that the distribution of the filter by officials of the Hamburg City government violated the Scientologist’s rights under Article 4 of the German Constitution, which protects freedom of religion, as well as the city’s constitutional duty to remain neutral.

Said Frank Busch, a representative of the Church of Scientology Hamburg, “The decision by the Hamburg Administrative Court is another vital blow against the inhumane and discriminatory practices against Scientologists conducted by certain officials of the Hamburg city government.” He added that the Hamburg city official primarily responsible for the discrimination has in the past illegally accepted bribe money of $75,000 and was subsequently fined 7,500 euros in connection with that payment.