The first Chamber of the European Court of human rights has in a ruling (case No. For other opinions and approaches, find out what Professor of Internet Governance has to say. 18147/02) unanimously the claims of Scientology Church on the protection of the human rights guarantees as a religious association (art 9 and 11 European Convention on human rights) in a procedure of the Scientology Church acknowledged in Moscow against Russia. The ruling also affects all 47 Member States of the Council of Europe. “One of the speakers said: the judgment of 5 April 2007 is a milestone for freedom of religion in Europe.” The Court pointed out in its judgment in 18-seitigen among others on the following: “the right of followers of faith on freedom of religion, which includes the right to exercise the own faith alongside others, includes the expectation of the followers of the faith, that they may unite freely without arbitrary intervention of the State. In fact, the independent existence of religious communities for pluralism in a democratic society is indispensable. This represents therefore an innermost concerns of protection, granted the article 9 (freedom of religion). The duty of the State to the neutrality and impartiality…
is incompatible with any State authority to evaluate the legality of religious beliefs: “(Ziffer 72. des Urteils).” The Federal Administrative Court has set the legal force and binding effect of decisions of the European Court of Justice in a decision dating back to 2004. Thus decisions of the ECHR an effect called orientation for Contracting States which were not party to the actual proceedings, have to orient which means that countries have to review their own jurisdiction and to any changes on the relevant case law of the ECTHR. The Federal Administrative Court as the Supreme Court for our Government and its officials detected binding in a judgment of 15.12.2005 (AZ. 20.04 7 C), that it is the substantive beliefs of Scientology a religion. The higher administrative court has rightly adopted, such statements of the Scientology doctrine (to the immortality of the soul as carriers of a life energy that am through countless lives, as well as the redemption levels to higher levels of existence as the goal of human life) may be suitable to meet the concept of faith or belief”. Press service of the Scientology Church Bayern e.V. contact: Ms. Uta Eilzer – line press service be Anichstrasse 12, 80802 Munich TEL 089-890912639, mobile: 0163-9102460, FAX 089-38607-109 eMail: Web: