Why have Germany and France given Scientology special scrutiny?

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Father of Scientology — Scientology L. Ron Hubbard's seminal – and controversial – work was *Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health*, written in 1950.

Scientology faces special scrutiny in Germany and France primarily due to the rise of contemporary anticult activity in those nations, which was significantly fueled by the 1994 murder-suicides involving the Order of the Solar Temple.1

In response to these concerns, both countries have maintained a firm stance by refusing to recognize Scientology as a religion. The scrutiny has manifested in several ways:1

Germany: Interior ministers of German states have requested that the country’s domestic intelligence agency investigate the church, notably in 1997 and 2007.1
France: In 2009, a French court convicted church officials of fraud, although the court did not order the organization to suspend its operations.1

These actions reflect a broader European caution toward groups perceived as cults, particularly following high-profile tragedies that prompted governments to increase oversight of non-traditional religious movements.1