Church of Scientology Reply to the German Government’s Defense of its Discrimination
For further information contact:
Leisa Goodman
(323) 960-3500
e-mail: humanrightsofficer@scientology.org
Church of Scientology Reply to the German Government’s Defense of its Discrimination
o Italy
The courts of Italy have handed down more than a dozen positive decisions recognizing Scientology’s religiosity in rulings such as the following.
These rulings culminated in full religious recognition of Scientology by the Italian Supreme Court in October 1997.
The Court criticized a lower court for failing to take into account the terms of the 1949 “Treaty on Friendship, Commerce and Seafaring” between the United States and Italy, under which “the Church of Scientology, having been recognized in the U.S. as a religious denomination, should have been recognized in Italy and thus admitted to practice there its worship and to proselytise.” The U.S. has a similar treaty with Germany.
o Sweden
In 1985, the Church was recognized by the “Intercommunal Tax Tribunal” in Sweden, which stated that “any hesitation can hardly prevail whether the [Scientology] congregation’s purpose is a religious, or thereby comparable cultural purpose. The congregation may thereby be considered forwarding a purpose of public benefit, in the right interpretation of the law. It is also clear that the congregation is exclusively forwarding its purpose.”
o France
The courts of France have recognized the religious nature of Scientology, including the Paris Appeals Court in 1980, 1981 and 1982. In addition to the Lyon Court of Appeal ruling already mentioned, in 1994 the Nanterre Civil Court found that Scientology is a religious community.
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For further information contact:
Leisa Goodman
(323) 960-3500
e-mail: humanrightsofficer@scientology.org