E/CN.4/1995/91/Add.1 page 27 The note in question contains a summary of alleged incidents, together with dates, that have obviously been distorted and/or completely fabricated by the source or sources that provided this fallacious information. The entire world knows that this doctrinaire sect inculcates an anti-patriotic attitude in its members: failure to salute the national flag, failure to recognize other symbols of the homeland and refusal to receive blood transfusions. Such negative behaviour occasionally produces a feeling of rejection among the population. Nevertheless, the Jehovah’s Witnesses are able fully to exercise the rights guaranteed to the citizens of the Republic of Cuba, which include freedom of conscience and religion. Article 55 of the Constitution in force in the country stipulates that the State shall guarantee freedom of conscience and the right of everyone to change religion or to have no religion, as well as the right to practise the religion of his choice within the bounds of the law. However, in Cuba as elsewhere, practising a religion does not guarantee impunity to those who violate the legal and constitutional order of the State. For years, the leaders of this sect have attempted to elude the laws in force in our country and have repeatedly, under different pretexts, prevented standards and regulations from being applied. They finally decided, on their own initiative, to close their places of worship in order to make the members of the sect and public opinion believe that the closing had been ordered by the Government and that the Jehovah’s Witnesses were being persecuted by the State. Offences are punished in Cuba independently of the religious convictions of their perpetrators, whether they are Jehovah’s Witnesses or the followers of African-based religions. The Government of the Republic of Cuba refutes the validity of the above-mentioned figures and incidents, which are totally false and/or distorted. It simply wishes to add that it is not Government policy to seize a religious object or book belonging to an individual." SPAIN 11. In addition to its reply of 5 November 1993 (E/CN.4/1994/79, para. 47), on 7 January 1994 the Government of the Kingdom of Spain sent its observations concerning the communication of 11 October 1993 (E/CN.4/1994/79, para. 46), which had been transmitted to it by the Special Rapporteur: "Pursuant to my letter No. 153/93 of 9 November 1993 and in order to supplement the information furnished by the Government of Spain concerning allegations of religious intolerance with respect to Spain as regards the case involving the religious movement called ’The Family’, I have the honour to inform you that, in accordance with the communication