12th November 2004 /bfi12

Scientology defeated in Cologne administrative court: Scientology Section at Hamburg's Department of Interior Affairs welcomes the court's decision: "Surveillance by intelligence service is justified"

The action brought by the Scientology Organisation against surveillance by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution was dismissed yesterday on all points by the administrative court in Cologne. Ursula Caberta, head of the Scientology Section at the Department of Interior Affairs, welcomed the decision: "This means that the court has confirmed one of the most important resolutions passed by the Conference of Ministers for the Interior with regard to the Scientology Organisation. The ideology and actual behaviour of the SO indicate anti-constitutional objectives."

The surveillance of the Scientology Organisation (SO) by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution that has been conducted since 1997 was declared lawful by the administrative court in Cologne. The court thereby dismissed the Organisation's suit, the aim of which had been to obtain a prohibition order on such surveillance activities. The judges clearly stated that the "anti-constitutional objectives" of the Organisation justified continued surveillance by the intelligence service. According to the court, the intention of Scientology was to restrict or eliminate significant constitutional and human rights.

The judges at the administrative court in Cologne emphasised that the Organisation was attempting to limit or override human dignity, the right to equal treatment and the free development of personality. These endeavours were indicated by a large number of sources, some of them not accessible to the public. The court stated that there was evidence to show that the Scientology Organisation was pursuing aims that were counter to the free and democratic constitutional system. The Scientology Organisation announced that it would be lodging an appeal against the judgment.

For further information about the Scientology Organisation visit www.innenbehoerde.hamburg.de for the current report on the protection of the constitution published by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

Enquiries may be addressed to:

Arbeitsgruppe Scientology / Scientology Section Admiralitätsstrasse 54 D-20459 Hamburg

Tel: 0049 (0)40 - 42886 - 64 44 Fax: 0049 (0)40 - 42886 - 64 45 Email: fhhags@t-online.de

as well as

Department of Interior Affairs, Press and Public Relations Reinhard Fallak, Tel. 0049 (0)40-42839-2266 E-mail: Reinhard.Fallak@bfi-a.hamburg.de Marco Haase, Tel. 0049 (0)40-42839-2678 Fax: 0049 (0)40 - 42839-2797 E-mail: Marco.Haase@bfi-a.hamburg.de Website: www.innenbehoerde.hamburg.de

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