German Scientologist’s Day in Court Ends in Victory

A Scientologist, wrongly dismissed from his position as personnel director at the Haus der Kunst modern and contemporary art museum in Munich, has prevailed in Court on his demand for justice and religious freedom.

Haus Der Kunst museum in Munich, Germany (Shutterstock, by Luisa Fumi)

The Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution pressured the museum’s executive branch into firing the highly respected and popular 22-year museum employee in March 2017 solely because of his religion.

In July 2018, the Munich Labor Court found in favor of the Scientologist in a decision not subject to appeal, determining there were no valid grounds for his dismissal. The Labor Court also found him to be an employee, not an independent contractor as the museum tried to portray him. He was thus entitled to full protection against unlawful dismissal solely because of his religion—an act of blatant discrimination in violation of the German Constitution. The Court advised the parties to negotiate a settlement.

The House of Art appealed the case, but the 22-page decision of the State Labor Court of Appeal rejected the appeal in full.

He was thus entitled to full protection against unlawful dismissal solely because of his religion—an act of blatant discrimination in violation of the German Constitution.

On April 3, 2019, the museum agreed to compensate the Scientologist with a severance payment of €110,000 ($124,000) and a pension worth several hundred thousand more.

Over the past three decades the German courts—in some 50 decisions—have decided that the Church and its members enjoy the protection of freedom of religion guaranteed by Article 4 of the Basic Law (Constitution) of Germany.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution, whose mandate is to ensure the Constitution is upheld in full, has a long and sordid record of operating in direct contravention of its authority. Former sect commissioner Dr. Peter Schulte, in his book Dei Akte Scientology (The Scientology File), documents the agency’s history of collusion to violate the rights of Scientologists and the Scientology religion.

Germay’s Office for Protection of the Constitution Munich Haus der Kunst Dei Akte Scientology The Scientology File
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