E/CN.4/1990/46 page 46 Syrian Arab Republic 80. In a communication of 10 November 1989 addressed to the Government concerned, the following information was transmitted by the Special Rapporteur: "It has been reported that the Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists are not free to practise their faith. It has also been reported that the Jewish population of approximately 3,500 persons face foreign travel restrictions and that the emigration of Jews is almost impossible." 81. On 29 November 1989, the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic communicated the reply of the Syrian Government to the Special Rapporteur's letter of 10 November 1989: "1. All Syrian citizens enjoy the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief without any restrictions. This is noticeable especially on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when mosques, synagogues and churches abound with worshippers. "2. All Syrian citizens, Muslims, Christians and Jews alike, enjoy freedom of movement: the right to leave and to return to Syria as they wish. If any restrictions exist, they are aimed at regulating travel abroad. "3. To grant privileges to a group of citizens simply because of their belief is inconsistent with the equality of rights conferred upon all citizens. "4. All States have the right to prevent their citizens from dealing with the enemy and to punish any violator of the law. The Syrian Arab Republic is acting accordingly in this respect." 82. In a communication of 22 March 1989 addressed to the Government concerned, the following information was transmitted by the Special Rapporteur: "It has been alleged that, on 30 October 1988, Bulgarians residing in Istanbul were deprived of the possibility to cross the threshold of the Church of St. Panteleimon in the "Evlogi Georgiev1 Bulgarian Hospital in Istanbul. The celebration of the liturgy in that church has reportedly been prohibited by the authorities upon an order from the Central Administration of the Wagf." 83. On 29 March 1989, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Turkey communicated the reply of the Turkish authorities to the Special Rapporteur's letter of 22 March 1989, stating in particular: "The 'Bulgarian hospital' is a minority foundation which belongs to the Turkish Treasury and operates under regulations and law concerning foundations. The said hospital has never had any statutory link with foreign countries. In 1878, it was created by a decree of the Ottoman Sultan. In the republican era, it acquired the status of foundation on the basis of the Foundations Law promulgated in 1936. The hospital was