National Church of Scientology recognized in Spain
{{date|November 5, 2007}}
[[Image:Iglesia Cienciología Madrid.jpg|thumb|A Church of Scientology in [[Wikipedia:Madrid|Madrid]].]]
On 31 October 2007 the National Court in [[w:Madrid|Madrid]] issued a decision recognizing that the National Church of [[w:Scientology|Scientology]] of [[Spain]] should be entered in the Registry of Religious Entities. 

The administrative tribunal of Madrid's High Court ruled that a 2005 justice ministry decision to scrap the church from the register was "against the law." Responding to a petition filed by the church, the ruling said that no documents had been presented in court to demonstrate it was anything other than a religious entity.

"This recognition marks the end of an era in which Spanish Scientologists were forced to fight for their rights to religious freedom. It vindicates the Church of Scientology and is a new beginning for all Spanish Scientologists," said Ivan Arjona, spokesperson for the National Church of Scientology in Spain.

The National Court examined the Church's formative documents and aims and purposes to determine that the National Church of Scientology of Spain has the right to be registered as a religion under Spanish law. 

Last April, the [[w:European Court of Human Rights|European Court of Human Rights]] ruled that [[Russia]] had blocked Scientology from registering as a church in Moscow and [[w:Church of Scientology Moscow versus Russia|ordered payment of 10,000 euros (13,000 dollars)]] in damages. In September, [[Belgium]] federal prosecutors announced that they had finished an investigation which would likely lead to charges against the Church of Scientology including blackmail, breaking privacy laws, unlawful practice of medicine, and formation of a criminal organisation. 

{{haveyoursay}}

==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=Belgian justice prosecutes Scientology|date=September 4, 2007}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-V0Ui506lPl-r8ImubpdUjFbuYA
|title=Spanish court rules Scientology can be listed as a religion
|author=
|pub=AFP
|date=November 1, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://scientologytoday.org/press/711011905151_scn-int.html
|title=National Church of Scientology Recognized in Spain
|author=
|pub=Church of Scientology International
|date=November 2, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/Audiencia/Nacional/reconoce/Cienciologia/iglesia/elpepusoc/20071101elpepisoc_8/Tes
|title=La Audiencia Nacional reconoce a la Cienciología como iglesia
|author=
|pub=El Pais
|date=November 1, 2007
|lang=Spanish}}
*{{source|url=http://www.publico.es/espana/012067/cienciologia/religion
|title=La Audiencia Nacional acredita a la Cienciología como una religión
|author=Miguel Á. Marfull
|pub= Público
|date=October 31, 2007
|lang=Spanish}}
*{{source|url=http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1413222007
|title=Scientology branded a 'criminal organisation' and may face charges
|author=Alastair Dalton
|pub=The Scotsman
|date=September 5, 2007}}
{{archive}}
{{Publish}}

[[Category:Scientology]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Spain]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Madrid]]
[[Category:European Court of Human Rights]]
Madrid.
On 31 October 2007 the National Court in Madrid issued a decision recognizing that the National Church of Scientology of Spain should be entered in the Registry of Religious Entities. 

The administrative tribunal of Madrid's High Court ruled that a 2005 justice ministry decision to scrap the church from the register was "against the law." Responding to a petition filed by the church, the ruling said that no documents had been presented in court to demonstrate it was anything other than a religious entity.

"This recognition marks the end of an era in which Spanish Scientologists were forced to fight for their rights to religious freedom. It vindicates the Church of Scientology and is a new beginning for all Spanish Scientologists," said Ivan Arjona, spokesperson for the National Church of Scientology in Spain.

The National Court examined the Church's formative documents and aims and purposes to determine that the National Church of Scientology of Spain has the right to be registered as a religion under Spanish law. 

Last April, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia had blocked Scientology from registering as a church in Moscow and ordered payment of 10,000 euros (13,000 dollars) in damages. In September, Belgium federal prosecutors announced that they had finished an investigation which would likely lead to charges against the Church of Scientology including blackmail, breaking privacy laws, unlawful practice of medicine, and formation of a criminal organisation.
Scientology Religion Politics and conflicts Spain Europe Madrid European Court of Human Rights