Agreeing with Scientologists

Bern, Switzerland
August 24, 1999
Tages-Anzeiger

Zurich/Bern. - After months of time-consuming contact, the Scientology Church Zurich and the Swiss Federal Justice and Police Department (EJPD) have agreed to add two attachments to the Scientology report of the EJPD. In one attachment to the report several small translation errors to the German edition were corrected and some facts were brought up to date, said Martin Keller, Vice Director of the EJPD. In addition Scientology was given the opportunity to give its view of the matters in the report in a one-page counter-presentation. (SDA)

[The supplements can be viewed at books/trn1033.htm.]

Counter-presentation to the Federal Report

Bern, Switzerland
August 24, 1999
Berner Zeitung

Scientology obtained a right to make a counter-presentation to the Scientology Report of the Justice and Police Department (EJPD).

This method of procedure was agreed upon in order to "avoid a legal dispute which would have lasted for years," Scientology announced yesterday. Martin Keller, Vice Director of the EJPD, confirmed the procedure. A supplement consisting of two pages had been added to the report which corrected a few translation errors in the German edition and brought some other facts up to date, said Keller. In addition, a second, one-page supplement gave Scientology the opportunity to give their view of the matters in the report in the form of a counter-presentation.

To be sure, nothing in the fundamental findings and conclusions of the report have been changed for the EJPD. The corrections mostly concerned the status of Scientology in foreign countries. For instance, the group is an acknowledged religious group in the Australian State of Victoria and not, as announced in the report, still prohibited. The report, "Scientology in Switzerland," was published in August 1998 by the State Security Advisory Commission of the EJPD. In it the Commission had recommended against surveillance of Scientology by the Federal Police because the "church" did not present an immediate danger for the internal security of Switzerland. sda.

[The supplements can be viewed at ../books/trn1033.htm.]

Letter to the Editor

St. Gallen, Switzerland
July 8, 1997
St.Gallen Tagblatt

"Scientology not successful in Federal Court, either"
"Tgbl. of 6.25.97

Creating Enlightenment

The Federal Court made it easy on itself here, in that it took on a formal aspect for the purpose of not having to decide whether Scientology should be classified as a religion or not in the sense of the Anti-Racism law.

A decision of that sort in the partly unobjective discussion about Scientology would have contributed an enlightening word. Various courts and agencies in Switzerland have verified that Scientology enjoys the protection of religious freedom. The St. Gallen Cantonal Court was of a different mind, whereby its judgment was also criticized in expert circles. The reason being that Buddhism or parts of Confucianism would no longer be religion. We are disappointed in that no judgment has been handed down here. That is to say, with a court decision, all sides would have been served.

Joerg Stettler
Scientology Kirche Badenerstrasse 141 8004 Zurich

Scientology planning operation in Buchs

Buchs, Switzerland
June 29, 1999
Tagblatt Lokales

(sda) Scientology is not permitted to use unfair or deceptive advertisement on pedestrians on public land in Buchs. Scientology, however, intends to regularly hand out information to the public, as it said in a message released on Monday. So three or four Scientologists will be bringing their material to people's attention this coming Wednesday evening - at the evening market. The message further stated that there was no intention of selling books. The Buchs Town Council had recently decided to restrict the activities of Scientology on public land. Upon their decision, the Scientologists requested a look at town records and a meeting with council officials. It was reported that this will be possible after the council chairman gets back from his vacation.

Abomination Propaganda Campaign of the Scientologists

From: "Hamm" Switzerland
August 4, 1998

KSA e.V. Referat Sekten- und Weltanschauungsfragen

At the end of July, 1998, the "Commission for Offenses of Psychiatry against Human Rights" (KVPM) sent mass mailings to establishments of both large churches. The addressees included ministers, convent and monastic offices, university teachers, convalescent and elderly homes.

The KVPM is one of the organizations whose membership in Scientology is not obvious at first glance, but is clearly dominated by Scientologists. Inside the compartmented system of Scientology organizations, the KVPM is subordinate to the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE), which coordinates the socio-political operations of the Scientologists.

With the cost-intensive broadcasting action, the Scientologists have undertaken the miscarried attempt of closing ranks with Christians, who make up part of Scientology's classic enemy picture. In a 70 page brochure the "merchants of chaos" (the psychiatrists) were accused of the intentional infiltration and weakening of religion. The booklet consisted of a confused combination of Bible quotations and a tirade of hate against psychiatry. Pictures of Radovan Karadzic, visions of hell from the Middle Ages and cremation ovens of German concentration camps were used to illustrate the Scientology message, "Genocide by Psychiatrists."

These pathological judgments by Scientology have approximately the same reality content as does the Scientology comparison of the country of Germany with the Third Reich of the National Socialists. Do the Scientologists really believe that thinking people can be taken in by this kind of clumsy defamation campaign? Perhaps the KVPM directors are giving us an example of the zombie-like obedience which the German Scientologists have for their American squad leaders.

Scientology-Adherents protest in front of UNO building in Geneva

© dpa
July 16, 1998

Geneva (dpa) - On Thursday, about 100 people demonstrated for religious freedom in front of the UNO building in Geneva. The demonstration was part of a "European March for Religious Freedom" that is being held by the Scientology organization.

The demonstrators declared that the United Nations must urge Germany and France, especially, to respect religious freedom

The protestors stated in Geneva that new religious movements must be respected to the same degree that traditional religions are. The march began on June 25 in England, and is scheduled to end in Frankfurt am Main on August 10.

About 60 Scientologists demonstrate in front of the UN delegation in Geneva

© AFP
July 16, 1998

Geneva, July 16 (AFP) - About 60 adherents of the Scientology organization demonstrated for denominational freedom in Europe and especially denounced "religious discrimination" in Germany. The adherents of the association brought up the International Declaration of Human Rights and complained that several countries had violated it. The demonstrators belong to a group of Scientologists who started on their protest march on June 25 in Great Britain which is to take place in several European countries. The 3,500 kilometer march is supposed to come to its conclusion in Frankfurt. [about 2,200 miles]

The Ministers of Interior for nation and states had decided the beginning of June to have the Scientology organization put under surveillance nationwide by domestic intelligence. They suspect the association of pursuing totalitarian, and thereby constitutionally hostile, goals. Scientology regards itself as a religious community and compares the measures of the federal government with persecution of the Jews under the Nazi regime. In late June, the US actor and acknowledged Scientologist, John Travolta, together with several members of congress, again demanded the recognition of Scientology in Germany.

nau/igl

Scientology Demand Dismissed

From: "Blue Window"
September 23, 1998

The State Security Advisory Commission (KSK) will not change their report on the activities of Scientology. Scientology had described the report as "manipulation" and "public disinformation," and demanded corrections.

The KSK based their decision on the fact that the Scientologists had not been able to present any new facts that would justify an alteration of the report of August 31. They had not been able to point out any errors in the report, stated KSK Secretary Martin Keller to the SDA news agency.

© 1998 News-Window

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