E/CN.4/1995/91 page 33 In July 1993, 28-year old Georgios Anastasi Petrou, from Strogolos in Nicosia, was reportedly sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. Nese Yasin, a Turkish Cypriot poet and writer was allegedly detained for 24 hours, on 28 September 1993, for his prominent role in the support committee to protest against the detention of the conscientious objector, Salih Askerogul. The latter was said to have been arrested on 27 September 1993 and condemned early in November to three years’ imprisonment on a charge of spreading propaganda against the security forces. Upon his release, Nese Yasin was reportedly subjected to close police surveillance. Cuba In a communication dated 17 August 1994 addressed to the Government of Cuba, the Special Rapporteur transmitted the following information: "The Special Rapporteur has been informed that serious attacks on the right to freedom of religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists have apparently continued. In 1993, the Jehovah’s Witnesses were allegedly accused of clandestine printing after searches of their homes revealed the existence of religious material. Some Jehovah’s Witnesses have also reportedly been accused of forming illegal associations after holding religious meetings. They are also said to have been accused of contributing to juvenile delinquency, ’not complying with duties related to respect and love of country’, and ’abuse of the freedom of religion’ after refusing to honour the symbols of the Cuban State because of their religious beliefs. The Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists, considered as active religious enemies of the revolution, are alleged to be under surveillance and frequently ill-treated by the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution (CDR). The following cases were brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur: several Baptists were reportedly arrested early in February 1994 and accused of ’counter-revolutionary activities’. On 1 February 1994, two security agents in civilian clothes reportedly went to the Salvador Allende Hospital in Havana and took Dr. Eliezer Veguilla (aged 35) away to an unknown destination. Dr. Veguilla is said to be a lay leader of the World Brotherhood of Baptist Youth. On 3 February, his family reportedly heard that he was being held with other Baptists in Cienfuegos. After six weeks of pre-trial detention, Dr. Veguilla was apparently released without explanation. The other Baptists arrested appear still to be detained. According to numerous reports, the authorities are endeavouring to restrict and control religious activities. It seems that all religious organizations must be registered and officially recognized. In addition, the authorized religious organizations are reported to be able only to carry out their activities in officially-designated places of worship. The building of new churches is reportedly forbidden, thus obliging many believers to meet in private. Religious holidays have apparently been banned since 1961. In addition, religious processions are allegedly not permitted outside places of worship, nor may religious organizations have access to the mass media."