Germany was the only western country noted by Rapporteur Professor Abdelfattah Amor, an internationally recognized legal expert on religions, where there are allegations of control on religious activities which can take the form of prohibitions. Other countries in this category were Armenia, Belarus, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar, Russian Federation and the Ukraine.

Although the 1995 report was restricted by new rules limiting its length, Amor’s 1994 report gave light to a broad range of abuses against Scientologists in Germany, including instances of human rights violations against children, parents, businessmen and members of political parties, because of their membership in the Scientology religion.

President of the Church of Scientology International, Reverend Heber C. Jentzsch, described the 16-page report as “showing insight in its support for religious freedom.”

“The U.N. report is a clear acknowledgment of human rights abuses and discrimination by government bodies and officials against members of the Church of Scientology, but the German government arrogantly has refused to acknowledge there is even a problem,” stated Rev. Jentzsch.

The findings of the rapporteur will be taken up at the annual meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Commission in March.