germany moves to ban scientology
Germany's federal and state interior ministers have declared the
Church of Scientology unconstitutional, clearing the way for a possible
ban.
The ministers have asked Germany's domestic intelligence agency to examine whether the Church's legal status as an association could be challenged.
Scientology is not recognised as a religion in Germany.
A Church spokesman in Berlin said the move was a reaction to the increasing acceptance of Scientologists in Europe.
"It is very, very clear that the true picture of what Scientology is about is pushing its way through. The interior ministers are clearly reacting to that," said Sabine Weber, president of the Church of Scientology in Berlin.
Critics accuse the organisation of cult-type practices and exploiting followers for financial gain.
But Scientologists reject this and say that they promote a religion based on the understanding of the human spirit.
Cult-type practices
Since January, when the Church of Scientology opened a new centre in the German capital, Berlin, Scientologists have come under intense public scrutiny.
People living near the centre complained that its
members were actively trying to recruit and some politicians called for
the organisation to be banned, accusing it of cult-type practices.
For years, Scientology has been monitored by German intelligence agencies, who claim the movement's structures and methods could pose a threat to the rule of law and "democratic order".
Under the new plan, the intelligence services have been asked to draw up a report on Scientology, and ministers will then have to clarify whether there is a legal basis for a ban.
But the BBC's Tristana Moore in Berlin says given the lobbying power of Germany's 6,000 Scientologists, who say they have a right to freedom of religion, it will be difficult to introduce a ban.
Scientology was founded in the United States in the 1950s by science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard.
