E/CN.4/1995/91 page 147 The Special Rapporteur is concerned at the abuse of legislation against blasphemy and the groundless accusations of blasphemy in certain countries. Such abuses foster a climate of religious intolerance and even acts of violence, including murder. In Pakistan, he was informed, the blasphemy law was amended to make the admissibility of blasphemy proceedings dependent on sufficient evidence and to make it easier to prosecute spreaders of false accusations of blasphemy and abusers of the law. Notwithstanding these amendments, however, there were reports that the Ahmadiyya and Christian minorities and even Muslims continued to be the victims of serious acts of religious intolerance. In Bangladesh, Mrs. Taslima Nasreen, a writer charged with blasphemy and sentenced to death by religious extremists, was compelled to leave her country in order to escape persecution. In Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, writers were also allegedly prosecuted and convicted for their work which was viewed as blasphemous. Finally, in Canada, a writer was allegedly stabbed, apparently because of a novel that had been considered blasphemous. The Special Rapporteur believes that special attention should be paid to these distressing situations and recommends that a study should be made of blasphemy from the human rights standpoint. The Special Rapporteur also notes with concern the many cases of harm caused to places of worship, special religious sites and religious property of all denominations. These include damage to and confiscation or destruction of places of worship, profanation of cemeteries and denial of authorization to build places of worship or to renovate, restore or use such places. In this connection, the Special Rapporteur draws attention to paragraph 10 of resolution 1994/18, in which the Commission on Human Rights calls upon all States in accordance with their national legislation to exert their utmost efforts to ensure that places of worship and shrines are fully respected and protected. The Special Rapporteur once again notes that real estate claims by several churches in a number of eastern European countries, such as Albania, have still not been successful despite the progress made in terms of religious freedom since the changes in those countries’ regimes. The Special Rapporteur is concerned at the role which the media play in some countries in developing a climate of religious intolerance, and he recommends that specific action be taken under the programme of advisory services in order to remedy the situation. He also deplores that the media suffer from acts, or even policies of intolerance and religious discrimination in other countries, including in particular Algeria. The Special Rapporteur has continued to receive communications describing violations in several countries of the rights and freedoms of sects and other similar or comparable communities. He wishes to point out first of all that the 1981 Declaration is intended to protect not only religions, but also theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs. He also wishes to point out, bearing in mind article 1, paragraph 3 of the Declaration, that freedom of religion and belief does not prevent the State from fulfilling, to the extent necessary and in accordance with pre-established rules consistent with international norms, its inherent obligation to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.