The Local Germany

German spies investigate if Scientologists 'infiltrated' major museum

Thu, 02 Mar 2017 10:21:04 +0100

The secret service in Bavaria have been called in to deal with a most unusual case - the suspicion that Scientologists have too much power in one of Munich's most famous state art galleries.

Anti-drugs campaign is Scientology in disguise: spies

Fri, 22 Jul 2016 17:07:33 +0200

Germany’s domestic security agency has warned Hamburg residents to be wary of information stands with the slogan ‘say no to drugs - say yes to life’.

Man denied security clearance at work for being Scientologist

Wed, 13 Jul 2016 11:44:22 +0200

A Berlin court ruled that it was okay to deny a man security clearance due to concerns about him being a Scientologist.

Scientologists try to board Pirate Party

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:52:00 +0100

Scientologists are trying to join Germany’s upstart Pirate Party, it has emerged, just weeks after it was revealed that two regional party figures had previously belonged to the neo-Nazi National Democratic Party (NPD).

Scientology struggles to find followers amid recruitment drives

Thu, 05 May 2011 16:18:00 +0200

The Church of Scientology is losing members in Germany but is campaigning to recruit more followers and increase its size, the German government says.

Scientology recruiting kids through Facebook

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:47:00 +0200

The Church of Scientology has been using social networks such as Facebook and SchülerVZ to gain young German followers, prompting intelligence officials to ramp up surveillance on the controversial group, a media report said this week.

Push for Scientology ban looks wobbly

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:48:00 +0200

The prospect of a ban on the controversial Church of Scientology dimmed on Friday with a campaign by Bavaria’s Interior Minister failing to gain traction.

ARD TV drama sparks Scientology's ire

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:34:00 +0100

Trouble is brewing between the Church of Scientology and German public broadcaster ARD ahead of the TV premiere of a drama portraying the controversial faith as dangerous and unethical.

Scientology cases Berlin schools for vague project

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:59:00 +0200

The Church of Scientology is targeting Berlin and Brandenburg schools for a vague fact-finding mission, sending more than 500 letters to various institutions in recent weeks, daily Der Tagesspiegel reported on Thursday.

Tom Cruise 'deeply moved' by playing would-be Hitler assassin

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:30:00 +0100

US actor Tom Cruise was "deeply moved" by playing the would-be assassin of Adolf Hitler in the movie "Valkyrie," he said in an interview with a German celebrity magazine this week.

Extras cruising for compensation from Valkyrie star Tom Cruise

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:37:00 +0200

Twelve extras injured during the filming of WWII drama Valkyrie are now suing the movie’s studio and its star, seeking €7.4 million in damages after tumbling out of a truck in front of Germany’s Nazi-era finance ministry building in Berlin.

Stauffenberg photo allegedly altered to resemble Tom Cruise

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:39:00 +0200

A publicity photo for the upcoming Tom Cruise film in which he plays German WWII resistance hero Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg might have been altered to resemble the Hollywood star, according to the US internet magazine Slate.

Scientologists face closer scrutiny

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:40:00 +0100

Scientologists in Germany will face closer scrutiny after a decision in a higher constitutional court of North Rhine-Westphalia. The court found that Scientology is engaged in activities that are subversive to freedom and democracy and thus should be subject to further surveillance.