Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ATHENS602
2006-03-02 17:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

GREEK SCIENTOLOGISTS SHARE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Tags:  PHUM PGOV GR RFREEDOM 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ATHENS 000602 

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SE AND DRL/IRF

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV GR RFREEDOM
SUBJECT: GREEK SCIENTOLOGISTS SHARE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
PROBLEMS

ENTIRE TEXT IS UNCLASSIFIED.

UNCLAS ATHENS 000602

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SE AND DRL/IRF

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV GR RFREEDOM
SUBJECT: GREEK SCIENTOLOGISTS SHARE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
PROBLEMS

ENTIRE TEXT IS UNCLASSIFIED.


1. On February 21 pol intern and senior FSN met with
Katarina Diamantara and Irene Karanbali, representatives of
the Church of Scientology in Greece, to discuss Scientology's
continuing struggle for state recognition. The
Scientologists reported that they were established in Greece
as a non-profit organization in 1993. They applied for a
house of prayer permit in 2000, but the application was
denied after they waited nearly two years for a response.
(Note: In Greece, a religious organization must obtain a
house of prayer permit to establish and legally operate any
house of prayer. Without the permit, worshippers risk arrest
and other legal consequences. End Note.) Since the denial of
the permit, Greek Scientologists have not reapplied, hoping
to press the issue at a more advantageous time. The two
mentioned Scientology's effort to gain recognition in Russia,
hoping that any positive developments there might set a
precedent for court decisions in Greece, or in the event that
the Greek Scientologists take their case to the European
Courts. The representatives said that the powerful Greek
Orthodox Church views Scientology negatively, as a sort of
"American cult." This could certainly have an impact on the
denial of their request for a house of prayer permit, since
the responsible authority, the Ministry of Education and
Religion, can base its decision on the opinion of the local
Orthodox bishop.


2. In the meantime, the Scientologists detailed that in 2006
they plan to recruit more members, buy property to establish
themselves permanently, and push for greater recognition from
the Greek government and society. While Greece is home to
only a small number of Scientologists (roughly 500, almost
all of whom reside in Athens),the representatives said that
Scientology is among the fastest growing religions in the
country.


3. In order to educate Greeks about their religion,
Scientologists have written pamphlets to hand out on the
streets, hoping to encourage more understanding of, and less
discrimination against Scientology and non-Orthodox religions
in general. Another focus of the Scientologists' outreach
efforts is Greek children, in an attempt to counteract
information in school textbooks which describes Scientology
as a "sect." While they have not taken a public stand on the
issue of separation of Church and state, Scientologists are
concerned about Orthodox instruction in schools and religious
classes that focus solely on Orthodox beliefs.


4. COMMENT: How the GoG ultimately responds to the
Scientology issue is a good bellwether of religious freedom
in Greece. There have been improvements in recent years --
such as less harassment of practitioners (the same is true
for Mormon missionaries) -- but there is still discrimination
and a stigma attached to religions and beliefs different from
Greek Orthodoxy.
Ries