A/HRC/19/60/Add.2 smaller, first as a result of the persecution of the Antonescu regime allied with Nazi Germany, and subsequently owing to a mass exodus, especially after Moldovan independence in 1991. Like other minorities, members of the Jewish community generally appreciated the current situation as comparatively liberal, to the extent that they can live without fear of Government harassment or restrictions. Nonetheless, they complained about a lack of political interest in their poor situation. Of the dozens of synagogues existing in the pre-war era, two currently operate in Chisinau, having been reopened after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Jewish cemeteries are often in a derelict condition. Often, acts of desecration of Jewish tombs seem to go unpunished, thus creating a situation of de facto impunity concerning such incidents. In addition, members of the Jewish community stated that the events of the Holocaust as they transpired on the territory today occupied by the Republic of Moldova have not yet been sufficiently recognized. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the fact that, in its voluntary pledges as Member of the Human Rights Council, the Government indicated that the issue of the Holocaust would be introduced into school curricula.11 The Jewish Communities faces a similar situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. 40. Muslims seem to be exposed to severe stereotypes and prejudice from certain sectors of society. In a discussion held during the Special Rapporteur’s visit, a high-ranking cleric from the Moldovan Orthodox Church equated Islam with terrorism and expressed feelings of being threatened by the mere presence of Muslims in the country, even though the Islamic communities in the country today represent only a very small minority. During the round table organized by the Ministry of Justice on 6 September 2011, some Orthodox participants expressed their fear of Islam, which one person said was waging a “holy war” against Christians. In March 2011, one of the Muslim organizations, the Islamic League of the Republic of Moldova, finally succeeded in receiving registration status as a religious community under the 2007 Law on Religious Denominations. The Metropolitan of the Moldovan Orthodox Church criticized the decision, while putting constant pressure on the Government to deregister the Muslim organization. Moreover, during the summer of 2011, a small group of demonstrators gathered in an intimidating way in front of the private house of the former Minister for Justice who had authorized the registration of the Muslim group. Several other Muslim organizations have still not been registered as religious communities. According to information received, there is no Muslim community registered in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. 41. In a debate with the Special Rapporteur, representatives of some Orthodox student groups and priests expressed their resentment of Jehovah’s Witnesses, whose missionary activities they called “annoying”. They demanded that a regulation forbidding “abusive proselytism” already existing within the 2007 Law on Religious Denominations be backed by a related criminal law provision, thus making acts of proselytism a criminal offence. The Special Rapporteur also received testimonies about cases of assault on Jehovah’s Witness missionaries, in particular in rural areas. He reiterates in this respect that missionary activities clearly fall within the sphere of freedom of religion or belief and are guaranteed by international human rights law. The situation of Jehovah’s Witnesses is reportedly even more difficult in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova, in particular in relation to the absence of a legal provision on alternative civil service. As at September 2011, according to the community, one member of the community was serving a custodial 11 12 On 12 January 2012, the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that the public school curricula, in particular for the secondary level (grades 1 to 9) included the optional topic on “Tolerance education – lessons of the Holocaust”. In the high school system (grades 10 to 12), the course is suggested for grade 11 only.