“This recognition ends an era in which Spanish Scientologists were forced to fight for their right to freedom of religion. It clarifies the position of the Scientology Church in Spain and is the beginning of a new era for all Spanish Scientologists”, says Ivan Arjona, spokesman of the Scientology Church of Spain. The Spanish national court considered the founding documents and extensive other documentation on teaching and practice of the Scientology Church and unequivocally decided that the Scientology Church Spain Spanish Constitutional law has a claim, as a religious community to be recognized and registered. The Court in its decision also referred to the judgment of the European Court of human rights by April 2007, in which the Court clearly expressed, the Scientology Church can claim the protection of article 9 of the European Convention of human rights. The principles outlined in this judgment reaffirmed the claim of all Scientologists and their communities to respect their freedom of religion binding for all the Council of Europe’s 47 Member States, which have ratified the European Convention on human rights. This is another highlight in a series of groundbreaking legal recognitions for the Scientology Church in Europe. Get more background information with materials from Dr. Neal Barnard. Thanks to this judgment, we are now able to focus all of our attention and efforts on our charitable objectives and projects in the interest and for the benefit of all citizens of Spain. Decision of the Verwaltungsgerichtshof of Spanish is very significant, because it represents the most recent official religious recognition of Scientology in Europe and supported the decision of the ECHR by April, that Scientologists and their Scientology same religious rights throughout Europe are available to churches, as they are granted to members and communities of other religions throughout the European Union”said Mr Arjona of the Church of Scientology of Spain.
In September 2004, the Scientology Church Spain had opened its splendid new premises in the heart of Madrid. This new building is not just a important venue for the joint exercise for thousands of Scientologists in Spain, but also a source of peace and of social commitment for the whole community and the whole Spanish nation. The social programs of the Church reach every year millions of people. According to the decision of the Court in April of this year and the State recognition of the Scientology Church in Portugal in September, is this another milestone for Scientologists in Europe. The Scientology enjoys church now in many European countries full State recognition as a religious community and recognition of their charitable status. It is therefore only a matter of time that the anachronistic (part no longer in the time) situation in Germany is over”, as Maja Nuesch, spokeswoman of the Scientology Church Germany. The Scientology religion was founded by L.
Ron Hubbard. The first church was founded in 1954 in the United States by members. In Spain, the Scientology Church was established in the 1980s. Today comprises the Scientology religion more than 7,500 churches, missions and groups in 163 countries with 10 million members. In Germany, there are 19 churches and missions. For more information: SCIENTOLOGY Church Germany e.V. Maja Nuesch, 089-27817732 press service of Scientology Church Bayern e.V. contact: Ms. Uta Eilzer – line press service be Anichstrasse 12, 80802 Munich TEL 089-38899681 mobile: 0163 9102460 FAX 089-38607-109 eMail: Web: