105th Congress

2nd Session

H. Con. Res.



IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES



Mr. Salmon (for himself and Mr. PAYNE) submitted the following

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on ___.



CONCURRENT RESOLUTION



Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to government

discrimination in Germany based on religion or belief, particularly

against United States citizens.



Whereas government discrimination in Germany based on religion or belief

violates Germany's obligation as a signatory to the Helsinki Final Act

which provides that Germany respect "human rights and fundamental

freedoms, including the freedom of though, conscience, religion, or

belief" and violates Germany's obligation as a signatory to the

Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on

Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee that "everyone shall have

the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion";



Whereas the 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997 State Department Country

Reports on Human Rights Practices identified in Germany acts of federal,

state, or local government discrimination against minority religions,

including acts against American citizens;



Whereas the January 1998 interim report of the State Department's

Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad warned that unless the

German Government's Parliamentary Enquete (Inquiry) Commission on

"so-called sects and psycho groups", which has sought information on

groups such as the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Charismatic Christians,

and Scientologists, "focuses [its] work on investigating illegal acts,

[it] runs the risk on denying individuals the right to freedom of

religion or belief";



Whereas the January 1998 interim report of the State Department's

Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad stated that, "[I]n

Germany, members of the Church of Scientology and of a Christian

charismatic church have been subject to intense scrutiny by the Enquete

Commission there, and several members have suffered harassment,

discrimination, and threats of violence";



Whereas in February 1997, a United States Federal Immigration Judge

granted a German woman asylum in the United States because the court

found sufficient evidence that she would be subjected to religious

persecution if she returned to Germany;



Whereas the 1997 and 1996 State Department Country Reports stated that

"major political parties exclude Scientologists from membership," and

that "the State of Bavaria screens applicants for state civil service

positions for Scientology membership";



Whereas the 1996 State Department Country Report stated that "Business

firms whose owners or executives are Scientologists may face boycotts

and discrimination, sometimes with government approval', and, the 1997

Country Report stated that "so-called `sect-filters,' statements by

individuals that they are not affiliated with Scientology, are used by

some business and other organizations to discriminate against

Scientologists in business and social dealings";



Whereas the 1996, 1995, and 1994 State department Country Reports stated

that "artists have been prevented from performing or displaying their

works" because of their religious beliefs, including artists who are

United States citizens;



Whereas the 1997 State Department Country Report stated that the

Charismatic Christian Church of Cologne, led by an American pastor, had

reported that it had been "subjected over several years to vandalism,

threats of violence and public harassment or scrutiny by sect

commissioners," and that authorities in Cologne ruled that the Church

"did not contribute to the cultural, religious, or spiritual values of

German society";



Whereas the 1997 State Department Country Report noted a Berlin state

government ruling that held the Jehovah's Witnesses' doctrine of

political neutrality to be anti-Democratic;



Whereas in 1997, the President of the Muslim's Women's League testified

before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki

Commission) that "[t]he main problem facing Muslims in

Europe - particularly a problem in Germany" is "police brutality, which

includes assault, murder, harassment [and] intimidation";



Whereas the 1997 Report to the Human Rights Commission of the United

Nations by the United States Special Rapporteur for Religious

Intolerance concluded that the Government of Germany "must implement a

strategy to prevent intolerance in the field of religion and belief,"

and that "sustained efforts are required to promote and develop a

culture of tolerance and human rights"; Now, therefore be it



1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress:

3 (1) urges the Government of Germany to take

4 necessary action to protect the right of freedom of

5 religion or belief guaranteed to everyone in Germany

6 by international human rights covenants to which

7 Germany is a signatory;

8 (2) continues to hold the Government of Ger-

9 many responsible for protecting the right of freedom

10 of religion or belief of United States citizens who are

11 living, performing, doing business, or traveling in

12 Germany; and

13 (3) calls upon the President of the United

14 States to assert the concern of the United States

15 Government to the Government of Germany regard-

16 ing government discrimination in Germany based on

17 religion or belief.