Madrid, Spain, Dec 13, 2007 / 13:30 pm
Government officials in Germany announced they will seek to outlaw Scientology in the country, saying it is incompatible with the German constitution and calling it a “psycho-sect” seeking “the absolute repression of the individual.”
According to an article in the Spanish daily “La Razon”, Scientology is not even among the 35 most practiced faiths in Germany. The latest round of controversy surrounding the institution founded in 1953 by American writer L. Ron Hubbard has led to questions of whether or not Scientology is contrary to democracy.
The announcement came after a two-day conference of interior ministers of Germany's 16 states as well as federal Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble. Berlin Interior Minister Erhart Koerting, who presided over the two-day conference, told reporters that Scientology is an organization that is not compatible with the German constitution.
The promoter of the initiative, Udo Nagel, denounced Scientology as a “psycho-sect” that seeks “the absolute repression of the individual.”
Scientology is not considered an official religion under German law, but rather a mere organization. However, it does enjoy official status in other European countries such as Spain.