Church of Scientology International Opens European Office in Brussels

Launches Europe-wide human rights education program; Pledges to triple the number of social betterment programs

Guests at the opening. Hundreds toured the newly renovated building, which contains the first permanent European exhibition on the Scientology religion and the many social betterment programmes that utilise the discoveries of L. Ron Hubbard.

The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology International today opened a new European Office for Public Affairs and Human Rights in Brussels near the European Parliament and European Commission in the heart of the city. Rev. Heber C. Jentzsch, President of Church of Scientology International, made the announcement in Los Angeles.

“The rapid growth of the Church’s human rights and social betterment activities across Europe made it necessary to establish a central coordinating point in Brussels. From the new Public Affairs and Human Rights Office, we will increase our actions to bring religious freedom and human rights to every country in Europe,” said Rev. Jentzsch.

Guests at the inaugural event included 450 representatives from government, religion, human rights, community organizations and the diplomatic corps, touring the building after a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony. The three-story building at 91 rue de la Loi was fully renovated by the Church to maintain its 19th-century neoclassical Regency style.

Special keynote speakers at the opening ceremony spoke of their experience with the Church’s work in the fields of human rights and religious freedom. Fabio Amacarelli, newly appointed director of the Brussels office who was formerly public affairs and human rights coordinator for the Church in Italy, introduced them. The speakers included:

The ribbon is cut at the Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology International European Office for Public Affairs and Human Rights. Left to right: Mr. Chris Brightmore, lecturer at Leicester University and former Scotland Yard Detective Chief Superintendent; Rev. Kurt Weiland, member of Board of Directors, Church of Scientology International; Fabio Amacerelli, Director of the new Brussels office; opera diva Julia Migenes, and Mr. Bashy Quraishy, President of the European Network against Racism.

Capping the formal ceremony, Kurt Weiland, a member of the Board of Directors of Church of Scientology International, explained that the Church’s decision to create a Brussels Human Rights office was motivated by a commitment to help create a social climate in which the rights and freedoms contained in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights can be realized. “We firmly believe that a threat to the freedom of any one individual is a threat to the freedoms of all,” he said.

Mr. Weiland released the Proclamation on Religion, Human Rights and Society, the Church’s definitive statements on the vital issue of the role of religion in society; freedom of belief; freedom of expression; democracy; justice; church-and-state relations; freedom of information; multicultural society; parents and children’s rights, and many others. The 22-point declaration articulates the Church’s commitment to human rights and declares, “neither states nor religious groups possess the right to control, either directly or indirectly, a person’s religious convictions. Nor may states impede a person’s freedom to associate with or leave religious groups.”