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The resolution failed to pass the congress in 1997 and therefore died.

105th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 22

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the discrimination by the German Government against members of minority religious groups, particularly the continued and increasing discrimination by the German Government against performers, entertainers, and other artists from the United States associated with Scientology.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 13, 1997

Mr. Payne of New Jersey (for himself, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Pastor, Mr. Becerra, Ms. McKinney, and Mr. Ney) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the discrimination by the German Government against members of minority religious groups, particularly the continued and increasing discrimination by the German Government against performers, entertainers, and other artists from the United States associated with Scientology.

Whereas the German State of Baden-Wuerttemberg barred Mr. Chick Corea, the Grammy Award-winning American jazz pianist, from performing his music during the World Athletics Championship in 1993;

Whereas in April 1996, the Minister of Culture of the German State of Bavaria declared Bavaria's intention to bar Mr. Corea from all future performances at State-sponsored events;

Whereas the Young Union of the Christian Democratic Union, the governing political party in Germany, orchestrated a boycott of the movie ``Mission: Impossible'' solely because the lead actor, Tom Cruise, is a Scientologist;

Whereas the Young Union of the Christian Democratic Union and Renate Rennebach, a member of the Bundestag and the Social Democratic Party, attempted to orchestrate a boycott of the movie ``Phenomenon'' solely because the lead actor, John Travolta, is a Scientologist;

Whereas members of the Young Union of the Christian Democratic Union disrupted a 1993 performance by the American folk music group Golden Bough by storming the stage because the band members are Scientologists;

Whereas the 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996 United States Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights in Germany all noted the persecution of Scientologists in Germany;

Whereas the 1996 Report states the government of Bavaria will reject applicants that apply for civil servants positions solely on their religious affiliation.

Whereas the 1996 Report observes that the State of Bavaria refuses to fund cultural and artistic events featuring Scientologists.

Whereas the 1994 and 1995 Reports to the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations on the Application of the Declaration on the elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion and Belief by the Special Rapporteur for Religious Intolerance criticizes Germany for restricting the religious liberty of certain minority religious groups, specifically mentioning Scientology;

Whereas the 1993 report on Human Rights and Democratization in Unified Germany by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe notes that the German government has engaged in discriminatory policy directed at Scientologists from the United States and Germany;

Whereas Germany, as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Helsinki Accords, is obliged to refrain from religious and artistic discrimination and to foster a climate of tolerance; and

Whereas Germany's policy of discrimination against Scientologists violates German obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Helsinki Accords: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

(1) continues to hold Germany responsible for protecting the rights of German national and foreign visitors in Germany, including people from the United States who are performing, doing business, or traveling in Germany, in a manner consistent with Germany's obligations under international agreements to which Germany is a signatory;

(2) condemns the actions and statements of Federal and State officials in Germany who have fostered an atmosphere of intolerance toward certain minority religious groups;

(3) expresses concern that performers, entertainers, and other artists from the United States who are members of minority religious groups such as Scientology continue to experience discrimination by the German Government;

(4) urges the Government of Germany to take the action necessary to protect the rights guaranteed to members of minority religious groups by international covenants to which Germany is a signatory; and

(5) calls upon the President of the United States to--

(A) assert the concern of the United States Government regarding violations by the German Government of the rights of members of minority religious groups, including Scientologists;

(B) emphasize that the United States regards the human rights practices of the German Government, and in particular the treatment of United States citizens who are performing, doing business or traveling in Germany, as a significant factor in enhancing the ``pacta sunt servanda'' good faith relations between the United States and Germany;

(C) encourage the governments of other countries to appeal to the German Government, and to cooperate with other governments and international organizations (including the United Nations and its agencies), in efforts to protect the rights of minority religious groups in Germany;

(D) continue to document discrimination against religious minority groups by the German Government and German Federal and State officials in the annual reports of the President of the United States to the Congress on human rights practices in Germany; and

(E) report to the Congress on efforts by the executive branch of the United States Government to discourage discrimination against minority religious groups in Germany.