United States Department of State

“ Difficulties sometimes arise between religious groups and the State over tax matters and zoning approval for building places of worship. The state government has repeatedly denied an Islamic organization in Berlin approval to build an Islamic cultural center due to the government's allegation that the organization has ties to the "Muslim Brotherhood" extremist organization. ”

“ The U.S. Government expressed its concerns over infringement of individual rights because of religious affiliation and over the potential for discrimination in international trade posed by the screening of foreign firms for possible Scientology affiliation. Embassy officers at all levels consistently and repeatedly supported German Church of Scientology requests for direct dialogue with German Government officials. The U.S. Government consistently maintained that only an organization itself can determine whether it is religious. ”

“ The Church of Scientology, which operates 18 churches and missions, remained under scrutiny by both federal and state officials, who contend that its ideology is opposed to the democratic constitutional order. Since 1997 Scientology has been under observation by the federal and state OPCs. In observing an organization, OPC officials seek to collect information, mostly from written materials and firsthand accounts, to assess whether a "threat" exists. ”

“ The generally amicable relationships among religions in society contributed to religious freedom. Members of minority religions, including Scientologists, reported an improving climate of tolerance. However, senior government officials continued to refuse to enter into direct dialogue with the Church of Scientology. The Lutheran Church as well as the state governments of Bavaria, Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Hamburg continued their information campaign against Scientology and other alleged "cults." ”

“ A nonreligious ethics course or study hall generally is available for students not wishing to participate in religious instruction. The issue of Islamic education in public schools has become topical in several states. In 2000 the Federal Administrative Court upheld previous court rulings that the Berlin Islamic Federation qualified as a religious community and as a result must be given the opportunity to provide religious instruction in Berlin schools. ”

“ Organizations must register at a local or municipal court and provide evidence, through their own statutes, that they are a religion and thus contribute socially, spiritually, or materially to society. Local tax offices occasionally conduct reviews of tax-exempt status. On January 27, 2003, the Federal Office for Finances granted the Church of Scientology an exemption from taxes on license fees paid to U.S.-based Church of Scientology organizations for copyrighted materials, based on a decision by the Cologne Court issued on October 2002 ”

“ Bavaria announced in 2000 that it intended to offer German-language Islamic education in its public schools starting in 2003. In the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year, they began a trial phase of Islamic education at a public school in Erlangen. State-wide Islamic education is not possible, as the Education Ministry has no legitimate partner representing Muslims in Bavaria with which it can deal. ”

“ States defend the practice by noting their responsibility to respond to citizens' requests for information about these groups. While many of the pamphlets are factual and relatively unbiased, some groups fear that inclusion in a report covering known dangerous cults or movements could harm their reputations. Scientology is the focus of many such pamphlets, some of which warn of alleged dangers posed by Scientology to the political order and free market economic system and to the mental and financial well being of individuals. ”

“ Jewish congregations have approximately 87,500 members and make up 0.l percent of the population. According to press reports, the country's Jewish population is growing rapidly; more than 100,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union have come to the country since 1990, with smaller numbers arriving from other countries as well. Not all new arrivals join congregations, resulting in the discrepancy between population numbers and the number of congregation members.
The Unification Church has approximately 850 members; the Church of Scientology has 6,000 members; Hare Krishna has 5,000 members ”

“ Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Church of Christ, Christian Scientists, the New Apostolic Church, and the Johannish Church are characterized in less negative terms but nevertheless are singled out as "sects."The Catholic Church also employs sect commissioners, who generally restrict their activities to providing counsel to individuals who have questions about "sects." ”

“ Ananda Marga has 3,000 members; and Sri Chinmoy has 300 members.
Approximately 21.8 million persons, or 26.6 percent of the population, either have no religious affiliation or belong to unrecorded religious organizations.
Section II. Status of Religious Freedom Legal/Policy Framework The Basic Law (Constitution) provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice; however, discrimination against minority religious groups remains an issue. ”