IV
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 325
Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to government discrimina-
tion in Germany based on religion or belief, particularly against United
States citizens.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 6, 1998
Mr. SALMON (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. NEY, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. ROGAN,
Mr. GEPHARDT, Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania, Mr. GEJDENSON, Ms. JACK-
SON-LEE of Texas, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. FORBES, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. SCAR-
BOROUGH, Mr. THOMPSON, Mr. FOLEY, Ms. SANCHEZ, Mr. WELLER, Mr.
CUMMINGS, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. BECERRA, Mrs. CHENOWETH, Mrs. CAPPS,
Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr.
FORD, Mr. DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. GUTIERREZ,
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. OWENS, Mr.
CLYBURN, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. BISHOP,
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. FATTAH, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. WYNN,
Ms. LEE, Mr. HILLIARD, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mrs. CLAYTON, Ms.
MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. EVANS, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut, Mr.
SESSIONS, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Mr. METCALF, Mr. STOKES, Mr. GUT-
KNECHT, and Mr. ROTHMAN) submitted the following concurrent resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to govern-
ment discrimination in Germany based on religion or
belief, particularly against United States citizens.
Whereas government discrimination in Germany based on re-
ligion or belief violates Germany’s obligation as a signa-
tory to the Helsinki Accords which provides that Ger-
•HCON 325 IH
many respect ‘‘human rights and fundamental freedoms,
including the freedom of thought, 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 De-
partment Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
identified in Germany acts of federal, state, or local gov-
ernment discrimination against minority religions, includ-
ing acts against American citizens;
Whereas the 1997 Report to the Human Rights Commission
of the United Nations by the United Nations 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’’;
Whereas the January 1998 interim report of the State De-
partment’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 infor-
mation on religious groups such as the Mormons, Jeho-
vah’s Witnesses, Charismatic Christians, and others, ‘‘fo-
cuses [its] work on investigating illegal acts, [it] runs the
risk of denying individuals the right to freedom of reli-
gion or belief ’’;
Whereas the January 1998 interim report of the State De-
partment’s Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom
Abroad specifically stated that, ‘‘[i]n Germany, members
•HCON 325 IH
of the Church of Scientology and of a Christian char-
ismatic 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 Immi-
gration Judge granted a German woman asylum in the
United States finding that she had a well-founded fear of
persecution based on her religious beliefs if she returned
to Germany;
Whereas the 1997 and 1996 State Department Country Re-
ports 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’, state-
ments by individuals that they are not affiliated with
Scientology, are used by some business and other organi-
zations to discriminate against Scientologists in business
and social dealings’’;
Whereas the 1996, 1995, and 1994 State Department Coun-
try Reports stated that ‘‘artists have been prevented from
performing or displaying their works’’ because of their re-
ligious 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
•HCON 325 IH
an American pastor, had reported that it had been ‘‘sub-
jected over several years to vandalism, threats of violence
and public harassment or scrutiny by sect commis-
sioners’’, 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; and
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 the
main problem facing Muslims in Europe, particularly a
problem in Germany, is police brutality, which includes
assault, harassment, and intimidation: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) urges the Government of Germany to take
necessary action to protect the right of freedom of
religion or belief guaranteed to everyone in Germany
by international human rights covenants to which
Germany is a signatory;
(2) continues to hold the Government of Ger-
many responsible for protecting the right of freedom
of religion or belief of United States citizens, and for
not barring such citizens from living, performing,