Scientologists In Berlin Subject To Sunday Closing Laws

In Germany, residents of an upscale area in Berlin are upset about a new center recently opened by the Church of Scientology. Friday's Spiegel reports that city officials have found a creative way to limit the center's activities. In 1995, the German Federal Labor Court ruled that Scientology is "neither a religion nor an ideology", but merely a business. (Opinion full text in German.) This means that Germany's Sunday closing laws can be applied to the group, preventing it from offering courses or selling postcards, books, educational or fundraising goods on Sundays. Scientology has been under observation by Germany's domestic intelligence officials for a long time because of its aggressive recruitment practices.