E/CN.4/1991/56 page 106 recently freed. None of these persons have been arrested for their belief; rather they have committed offences. For instance, Mr. Hussainghol Roshanzamir was arrested on charges of traffic in antiques belonging to the Organization of cultural heritage. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to extend its invitation to the Special Rapporteur to visit Iran in order to get first-hand information on the cultural, social, economical and political life of religious minorities as well as Baha'is in the country. In any case the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to extend its full co-operation to the Special Rapporteur." Israel 71. In a communication of 3 October 1990 addressed to the Government of Israel, the following information was transmitted by the Special Rapporteur: "It has been reported that Israeli settlers in the West Bank have impeded the practice of religion by Muslim worshippers or have attacked their holy places and destroyed articles of worship. The following cases have been denounced in this connection: 1. On 29 December 1989, settlers from Hebron evicted Muslim worshippers from the Patriarchs' Cave and conducted Jewish prayers at the site where the Muslim prayers were usually held. This followed an incident in which a Muslim youth attacked a Jewish worshipper. 2. On 6 February 1990, in Janiya village, near Jenin, a settler whose car had been stoned is said to have opened fire at an empty mosque. 3. On 5 March 1990, settlers who visited Joshua's Tomb in the village of Kifl Harith are reported to have damaged an adjacent Muslim shrine and allegedly damaged Koran volumes and cloth curtains bearing Koran verses." 72. In a communication of 6 November 1990 addressed to the Government of Israel, the following information was transmitted by the Special Rapporteur: "According to the information received, Shaikh Ahmed Yassin, a 52-year-old Muslim clergyman, has been imprisoned in Israel since 18 May 1989. It is alleged that he has been subjected to torture despite the fact that he is paralysed from the neck down. It is also reported that his 15-year-old son was imprisoned simply for attending to the needs of his father." 73. On 11 December 1990, the Government of Israel sent its comments to the Special Rapporteur regarding the above-mentioned information: "... Israel's policy has always been to uphold religious freedom and the sanctity of religious sites. Free access to places of worship is a cardinal principle of this policy. Since the beginning of the intifada, the Israeli police, responsible for public order in the State of Israel, has not restricted or prevented the access of worshippers to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Fridays or on Islamic holidays.