A/HRC/16/53/Add.1 (b) No response received from the Government (c) Observations by the Special Rapporteur 361. The Special Rapporteur regrets that he has so far not received a reply from the Government of the Republic of Moldova concerning the above mentioned allegations. He would like to recall that in its resolution 6/37, the Human Rights Council urges States “(a) To ensure that their constitutional and legislative systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief to all without distinction, inter alia, by the provision of effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, or the right to practice freely one’s religion, including the right to change one’s religion or belief, is violated; […] (j) To ensure that all public officials and civil servants, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military and educators, in the course of their official duties, respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief, and that all necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; […] (l) To take all necessary and appropriate action, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, as well as incitement to hostility and violence, with particular regard to religious minorities […]”. S. Saudi Arabia Communication sent on 2 February 2010 jointly with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression (a) Allegations transmitted to the Government 362. The Special Rapporteurs brought to the attention of the Government information regarding threats made against members of the Shi’a community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to the information received, Mr. Mohammed Al-Arifi, who has been appointed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs as Imam of Riyadh mosque, delivered a Friday prayer speech in Al-Bourdi mosque on 1 January 2010 in which he called for the elimination of all Shi’a believers in the world, including those residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, Mr. Al-Arifi stated that Shi’a believers were not true Muslims, their doctrine was based on blasphemed principles and that they were remnants of an old Persian religion. Mr. Al-Arifi called Shia’s “traitors” and argued that their affiliation was to Iran rather than to their respective countries. 363. One week earlier, Mr. Al-Arifi, while wearing a Saudi military uniform, had reportedly urged the Saudi soldiers in the border area to Yemen to kill all Shia’s they can see in their fight against al-Houthi rebels. Reportedly, the Saudi authorities have not taken any legal action against Mr. Al-Arifi, who continues to receive a monthly salary from the Government and still delivers speeches on national television and radio. In addition, Mr. Al-Arifi’s speeches are available online on Internet websites. 364. The Special Rapporteurs highlighted the principle that the right to freedom of expression carries with it special duties and responsibilities. In this regard, they referred to Human Rights Council resolution 12/16 on freedom of opinion and expression, in which the Human Rights Council expresses concern that “incidents of racial and religious intolerance, discrimination and related violence, as well as of negative racial and religious stereotyping continue to rise around the world, and condemns, in this context, any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence” (para. 4). In the same paragraph, the Human Rights Council urges States to “take effective measures, consistent with their obligations under international human rights 68